Proposed ordinance to be considered at September 6 meeting
A Natural Landscape Pilot Program project approved by the City Council a little over a year ago was reviewed Monday by the council during a workshop meeting held at City Hall, 401 S. Johnstone Ave.
No action was taken on the item as “workshop” meetings are typically held for discussion only, but the council will consider final approval of an ordinance outlining the program during a regular meeting set for Sept. 6.
The council heard a presentation by City Manager Mike Bailey, who said Community Development Department staff has worked throughout the year-long project to identify which elements of the program were working and where improvements could be made.
As a result, he said, some recommendations to the council regarding the future of the program include the following provisions, which will be outlined in a proposed ordinance to be considered by the council next month:
- Required “transition area” between streets, sidewalks and side yards, containing either turf grass — defined as types of grasses that spread naturally to form a dense, continuous sod mass — or plants not exceeding 12 inches in height. Must be at least 10 feet from the edge of a roadway, or, secondarily, five feet from the inside edge of the sidewalk, whichever distance is greater
- Required borders, i.e., edging, rock, brick, fence or similar material (plant borders not acceptable)
- No more than 50 percent of the portion of the yard visible by the public will be permitted to contain vegetation taller than 12 inches in height
- Plants that are contained behind an opaque wall will not be subject to regulations
- Plants exceeding four feet in height must be located within 15 feet of a building or fence (does not include trees or shrubs)
- Enforcement of non-compliance would be investigated by City codes enforcement generally only upon complaint, except in cases where a fire or traffic hazard or interference or obstruction of sidewalk, street, or highway exists
Some discussion was also held on which types of plants should be allowed or restricted.
“We have two options — to list either the plants people can have or the ones they can’t,” Bailey said. “That is to say the ordinance can either list the plants that are permissible or the plants that are restricted. We think permissible is the way to go in this instance, and so we plan to recommend that the ordinance include plants permitted as those outlined by the Oklahoma State University (OSU) Extension Office’s Oklahoma Proven program.”
Following council input on the matter, the proposed ordinance will include plants appearing on other OSU Extension Office lists as well, and will give the Community Development director the authority to approve plants not included on the lists.
“It’s important to note that these are merely recommendations,” said Bailey. “The City Council will determine the parameters of the ordinance at their regular meeting in September. We simply wanted some input from the council in drafting the proposed ordinance to be considered next month.”
The September council meeting will be held Tuesday, Sept. 6, due to the Labor Day holiday. (City Council meetings are normally held the first Monday of the month, unless that day is a holiday.) Council meetings, which are open to the public, are held on the first floor of City Hall, 401 S. Johnstone Ave., and are livestreamed on the City’s webcast.
Photo from OSU Extension Office website