neighborhood news: Vegetation ordinance on lawn extensions periodically enforced

His offense? A bush that was too tall.

Petiet was ordered to pay for trimming of his four-foot bush, as city code prohibits vegetation on lawn extensions — the piece of land between the sidewalk and the road — that is taller than 36 inches above the roadway.

Petiet fought the charges in court, arguing that the city doesn’t uniformally enforce the ordinance. He lost, and the city attorney advised him to remove the bush entirely.

“I understand the ordinance to prevent neglected yards with tall grass and weeds and also to prevent sightline problems for drivers,” Petiet said. “But there are so many beautiful, well-manicured bushes and flowers that I’ve seen on the extensions more than three feet high.”

On June 21, Petiet spoke before Ann Arbor City Council and suggested adding exceptions to the ordinance that would allow for some leeway.

According to Community Standards Supervisor Mike Rankin, the ordinance is in place to maintain a safe line of sight for pedestrians and drivers, and also to ensure road signs are not blocked.

City ordinance Chapter 40, regarding trees and other vegetation, says property owners are responsible for “grading, planting, mowing and raking the extension.” The ordinance states the grass cannot be above 12 inches in height while other ground cover vegetation must have an average height “not in excess of 36 inches above the adjacent road surface.

“Safety is obviously the first consideration,” Rankin said. “Small children on walks near crosswalks, driveways, as well as folks pulling in and/or backing out of driveways.”

The amendment that Petiet is proposing states that “Exceptions to the three foot height should be granted where decorative bushes and flowers are maintained which do not hinder automobile sightlines at corners and impinge on walkways and roadways.”

He also suggested the ordinance extend the 24-hour time period given to the property owner to fix the violation.

Petiet said his amendment would give the city more flexibility in ticketing violators, which would allow for well-maintained plants to remain at their current height.

“This particular ordinance doesn’t have any leeway,” Petiet said. “These changes would give the officers more discretion.”

In Petiet’s case, he received multiple notices that a bush on the lawn extension at his rental property at 720 Arch St. needed to be cut.

Petiet said the city put a violation notice on the door last year that gave him 24 hours to trim the bush. He didn't respond within that time period, so the city cut the bush and charged him a $100 fine plus a fee for the maintenance. When Petiet still did not respond, he was charged an additional fine. He was given a violation notice again this year after the bush grew a few inches.

Ann Arbor City Council Member Sabra Briere said she supports reviewing the ordinance, particularly the 24-hour time allotment after a violation is given.

“I think Petiet’s point about the 24-hour notice is extraordinarily important,” Briere said. “The notification process is a problem.”

City Council members Marcia Higgins and Margie Teall also said they are going to look at the ordinance and hopefully offer some changes.

Petiet said now that he has addressed City Council he’s going to wait and see if his suggestions are well received before he “rattles the cage” again.

Lizzy Alfs is a senior at the University of Michigan majoring in English. She is also a news reporter for the Michigan Daily. Email her with events and news relating to Ann Arbor’s North Side.