Mt. Pleasant city commissioners are going back to the drawing board after several residents on Tuesday expressed concern over a proposed managed natural landscaping ordinance.
Worries about blight, enforcement and other issues prompted commissioners to vote 4-0 to send the ordinance back to staff and schedule a work session to work out the bugs, with commissioners Liz Busch, Grace Rollins and Maureen Eke absent.
While a few residents spoke in favor of the proposal to allow native plants and flowers to align with efforts to provide alternatives to manicured lawns that require less water and better manage resources, others were worried about the proposal’s lack of clarity and educational measures, and feared their property values would decrease if neighbors had unkempt yards.
Residents spoke during public comment at Tuesday’s regular meeting, and during a public hearing about the proposed ordinance.
Although the proposed ordinance does not allow for unmanaged grass that can harbor ticks, mosquitoes and rodents, those who spoke against it also expressed concern over the city’s ability to objectively enforce it, the 12-inch height restrictions and the punitive nature of possible violations.
Theresa Turner, a resident of South Kinney Street, told commissioners the proposed ordinance does not give guidance in accomplishing the stated goals, and used Ames, Iowa as an example of how a municipality can encourage managed natural landscaping by offering rebates for turf replacement, and help with installing gardens and rain barrels.
Turner encouraged city officials to work with local sustainability groups, the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe and Central Michigan University to come up with a better plan.
Jeffrey and Carol Ellis, who live on North Fancher Street, both commented on issues in the proposed ordinance.
Jeffrey Ellis asked if the ordinance would be part of a previous code that contained an extensive list of plants and trees that are considered noxious, and that the proposal does not include that, or a requirement to register.
Carol Ellis worried about maintenance, telling commissioners the way the proposed ordinance is written, residents could cut down trees and till their yards, neither of which would be natural or attractive.
A homeowner on South Fancher Street who is in favor of managed natural landscaping told commissioners she grows flowers that would be a violation under the proposed ordinance.
Peggy Brisbane, who lives in what some call the “tulip house,” grows perennials that are taller than 12 inches and has as many natural perennials as possible, and noted that her flowers do not create blind spots and that people often stop to look at her plants while they are in bloom.
After the public hearing, Commissioner Boomer Wingard said he’s soured a bit on the height enforcement and wants to revisit the proposal to better outline what is allowable.
Commissioner Bryan Chapman said it was clear cut that residents either don’t want the proposed ordinance or don’t want it as it is currently written.
Mayor Amy Perschbacher said the proposed ordinance was intended to encourage landscaping that requires less watering and that she agrees that the city should look into incentives.
Perschbacher also thanked residents for expressing their views and conceded that there are parts of the proposal that need to be ironed out.