Ypsilanti Township considers ordinance requiring shorter height for lawns this summer
Ypsilanti Township residents could be asked to keep their grass cut a bit shorter this summer.
The township Board of Trustees approved the first reading of a grass and noxious weeds ordinance on Tuesday. It would require owners of subdivided residential, commercial or landscaped lots to keep their grass at an average height of 7 inches, as opposed to the current 8 inches.
Township officials said even though an inch may not seem like a big difference, the change will allow them to start enforcement action earlier and better control lots with overgrowth.
The ordinance would also require those who own fields or parcels adjacent to subdivided lots to maintain a height of 10 inches. The ordinance will come up for a second reading at the township’s March 15 meeting.
Mike Radzik, director of the township’s Office of Community Standards, said of all the complaints his office receives, those about grass, weeds and vegetation overgrowth are “the most prevalent and voluminous” in the summer months.
“It’s very common for our phones to ring off the hook starting in May,” he said.
The township will publish a notice in its newspaper of record stating that on June 1, officials can enter a property and cut overgrown lawns. Radzik said officials are permitted to do so by state law, but they typically post a notice on the property asking the owner to mow their grass within several days.
If the notice goes ignored, ordinance officers contact Heppner Landscaping, an Ypsilanti Township landscaper with whom the township contracts. Heppner then has three days to cut the overgrowth.
If the property is a vacant house, commercial space or lot, the township will post a notice on the building or on a stake in the ground and immediately contact Heppner.
In the intervening period, grass and weeds continue to grow, township officials noted. Until several years ago, the permitted length was 10 inches.
Once a property is mowed, the address is flagged and the township checks back on it every two weeks. The owner is invoiced for the mowing costs. Last year, the township sent out approximately $50,000 in invoices. Radzik said that figure is roughly half what it was the previous year because the township now receives better rates through a competitive bidding process. The township pays Heppner $25 to $126.50 for a job.
If a property owner ignores the invoice, the outstanding debt is added as a special assessment onto his winter property tax bill. The city also tacks on a 15-percent administrative cost fee permitted by state law. Radzik said the township’s total administrative costs associated with mowing are tough to determine and not available.
The ordinance would also help officials target properties that are overgrown and present a public health threat or risk to neighbors, but are not subdivided or landscaped. Radzik used the example of a field between Wendy’s and another commercial building at Michigan Avenue and Hewitt Road. He said the weeds and grass grow tall there every year and it becomes a haven for rats and vermin.
“We get complaints week after week, year after year, when it gets too tall,” Radzik said of the lot.
Radzik said complaints about overgrown grass and weeds originated with the neighborhood watch groups, though Angela Barbash, who is head of the New West Willow Neighborhood Association, said she doesn't support the ordinance.
She said the inch wouldn’t make much difference, and her neighbors complain because the grass is a foot high, not 7 to 8 inches. She questioned whether enforcing the ordinance is the best use of township resources and suggested officials consider employing neighborhood teens for lower rates than the landscaping service.
But Jason Gaus, who is part of the Old Orchard and Hawthorne Neighborhood Watch group, said he supported the ordinance and wanted to see it go further.
“I talked to my neighborhood watch group and they would like to see a number lower than 7,” he said. “A normal lawn is 3 inches. I mow it at that. My neighbor is at 6 to 7 inches and it looks like garbage.”
Tom Perkins is a freelance writer for AnnArbor.com. Reach The News desk at 734-623-2530. For more Ypsilanti stories, see our Ypsilanti page.
Comments
jcj
Fri, Mar 4, 2011 : 4:24 a.m.
Annie Your link shows lots of information. BUT like I said before you can not show me any recommendation for cutting your grass to 4" !
annie
Wed, Mar 9, 2011 : 7:30 p.m.
Never said any site recommendation for cutting your grass to 4" but the one said As a rule of thumb, it is best to stay at the high end of these suggested heights, especially during seasonal droughts and heat waves. I will try to write slower for you, so you can understand me, I said I will not cut my LAWN Shorter then 4 inches. So please tell me how a 1 inch difference between my lawn and your 3 inch lawn is going to make the neighborhood look like garbage?
Bill
Thu, Mar 3, 2011 : 5:36 p.m.
I hope the Township only involves itself when there is a real issue and not when one neighbor complains about another neighbor without cause. I have lived in a community before where a neighbor complained about my lawn one summer when I was out of town on business for 3+ weeks. Yes, it was overgrown but certainly not the same as an eyesore from a totally unkept yard or vacant lot. I agree with the statement about providing help for the eldery. I think it would be great if the Township would put together a group to citizens volunteers to help the elderly or disabled with their yard upkeep. This would be a great community service project and perhaps a portion of the $15 admininstrative fee could go into a fund to provide supplies for such a program.
JustSayin'
Thu, Mar 3, 2011 : 2:39 p.m.
Before picking up the phone to tattle on your neighbor, how about asking them if they could use some help? Maybe they don't have a working lawnmower, can't afford to rent a lawnmower, or are too elderly or ill to mow the lawn.
Rusnak
Thu, Mar 3, 2011 : 2:47 p.m.
Good point. I know the county does provide assistance to the elderly for snow removal using inmates from the county jail. Why not the same for yard upkeep?
Rusnak
Thu, Mar 3, 2011 : 2:29 p.m.
Myself I would like to see something like this enforced. I live next to someone that doesn't exactly take care of his yard. Whether it's snow or grass. He must have at least three lawnmowers. I don't mean to say your yard has to look like the palace garden but, keep up with it. The six to seven I would like to see lower after a while the grass gets matted down. To the naysayers on here think of it this way; your trying to sell your house and the hillbilly next door doesn't keep up with his property, not exactly inviting for the buyer. Instead of using a contractor to take care of the overgrown yards lets use some of the inmates in the county jail.
jcj
Thu, Mar 3, 2011 : 2:52 p.m.
I agree with everything you say except you could have said it without using the term "hillbilly". Some of the least kept lawns in my neighborhood are the lawns of "the educated"
jcj
Thu, Mar 3, 2011 : 1:59 p.m.
I cannot find anyone that recommends mowing your lawn at 4" or higher! The rule of thumb suggested by the Cornell Extension is, "Mow when your grass is dry and 3 to 3-1/2 inches tall. <a href="http://landscaping.about.com/cs/lawns/a/green_lawns_4.htm" rel='nofollow'>http://landscaping.about.com/cs/lawns/a/green_lawns_4.htm</a> Grass Height Chart <a href="http://www.greengardentools.com/pages/Grass-Height-Chart.html" rel='nofollow'>http://www.greengardentools.com/pages/Grass-Height-Chart.html</a> The Lawn Institute brings us a clear list on proper grass height. "No matter the kind of grass you have, there is a simple; rule of thumb to follow when mowing your lawn. Never remove more than one-third (1/3) of the leaf surface each time you mow. Leaf surface, or cutting height, refers to the length of grass above the soil. Cutting below the optimum height impedes root development, which is key to having a dense, healthy lawn. Use the following chart to determine the best growing height for your kind of grass and when to mow it again" The list can be read, simply by looking at the numbers. Type of Grass, the second number is the Best Mowing Height the third is Mow when it reaches. Bluegrass - 2in. - 3 in. Perennial ryegrass - 2in. - 3 in. Tall fescue - 2in. - 3 in. Fine Fescue - 2in. - 3 in. St. Augustine - 2in. - 3 in. Buffalograss - 2in. - 3 in. Bermuda - 1.5. - 2.25 in. Zoysia - 1.5. - 2.25 in. Centipede - 1.5. - 2.25 in.
annie
Fri, Mar 4, 2011 : 12:03 a.m.
Yes I see your numbers, and if you had read my reply, I had said I do not cut my lawn shorter then 4 inches, Which I believe is a happy medium, so if you want your lawn to be 3 inches why not just take your lawn out, but don't tell me 4 inches is going to be a problem. You can also read from Getting to Know Your Lawn, <a href="http://www.allaboutlawns.com/grass-types/getting-to-know-your-lawn.php" rel='nofollow'>http://www.allaboutlawns.com/grass-types/getting-to-know-your-lawn.php</a> We are in Zone 4 (Blue): Coverage - Mid & Upper Mid-West (Heartland) The Midwest is known for its hard winters and humid summers. Wide temperature variations are quite frequent and can make growing a lawn very interesting - to say the least. In this area, you will typically find an array of Cool-Season grasses that can better handle variations in weather. You will typically find a lot of Kentucky bluegrass, fescues, and an occasional Bent Grass. Mowing usually takes place from mid-spring through mid-fall, with watering emphasized during times of drought or high heat. Planting typically takes place during the early spring or fall for Cool-Season grasses, and early summer for Warm-Season Grasses. Grasses commonly found here: Kentucky Bluegrass, Bent grasses, Fescues, and Rye-grasses. Conversely,if you cut too low, your lawn may develop a shallow root system, making it susceptible to drying out and requiring more maintenance to stay healthy. Additionally, too low a cut may also provide just enough sunlight for weeds to germinate and gain a foothold. The only negative side effect to growing taller lawns is that your lawn may develop a large amount of Thatch over time and may need to be de-thatched or aerated seasonally
annie
Thu, Mar 3, 2011 : 12:02 p.m.
@jcj What is true? cutting your lawn down to three inches? no it really depends on the type of grass you have as to how you cut it, and what part of the country you live in as well as the weather condition, ie if the grass is cut to short during a dry hot low water season it can cause the the grass to turn brown as well as soil dry out. I post the web site so you can read it. There are different site how the web, but they all seems to say about the same thing, But I quote from "How High Should I Cut the Grass?" <a href="http://www.allaboutlawns.com/lawn-mowing-mowers/how-high-should-i-cut-the-grass.php" rel='nofollow'>http://www.allaboutlawns.com/lawn-mowing-mowers/how-high-should-i-cut-the-grass.php</a> "In general, the longer you let your lawn grow, the deeper the root system will develop, thereby increasing its chance of withstanding periods of drought and severe heat. Higher grass also allows for increased ground cover to help protect soil from drying out and lets the grass absorb more sunlight. Conversely,if you cut too low, your lawn may develop a shallow root system, making it susceptible to drying out and requiring more maintenance to stay healthy. Additionally, too low a cut may also provide just enough sunlight for weeds to germinate and gain a foothold. The only negative side effect to growing taller lawns is that your lawn may develop a large amount of Thatch over time and may need to be de-thatched or aerated seasonally (see: Aerating). Basically, Thatch is collection of grass clippings, dead stems, and debris that collects on the ground level of the grass. " My question to people who cut their lawn 3 inches or shorter, do you use chemicals to help maintain it? My neighbor has a company come and spray and the smell from his lawn doesn't stay just own his lawn it comes all over the street and it make me sick. So why if you like have your lawn 3 inches why then don't you just remove it all together? then you wouldn't have to mow it at all Oh just in case your wondering my lawn is never higher then 6 inches but I will never cut it lower then 4 inches
jcj
Thu, Mar 3, 2011 : 12:57 p.m.
"""A normal lawn is 3 inches. I mow it at that. My neighbor is at 6 to 7 inches and it looks like garbage.", that is not actually true" What is true is that " it looks like garbage" at those heights. As far as what type of grass it is. In my opinion there is not a grass that grows that looks good at 6".
glimmertwin
Thu, Mar 3, 2011 : 10:06 a.m.
And all these years our association handled this. Now that we know the township will pay for this, I guess I can expect a reduction in my association dues.
KathrynHahn
Thu, Mar 3, 2011 : 9:07 a.m.
What really ticks me off is that I get those "crab-grass" like weeds that look like a tall stem with a wheat shaped top...last year after every rain those would pop up, but the rest of my lawn was it's nice 3-4 inches and the Twp rep kept posting warnings on my door that if I didn't "comply" they would mow and send me the bill! I was already mowing once a week! Jeez!
InsideTheHall
Thu, Mar 3, 2011 : 6:39 a.m.
How much of the $50K was actually collected?
Tom Perkins
Thu, Mar 3, 2011 : 5:30 p.m.
I'm told all of it was collected the previous year, though one of the trustees pointed to one exception. The money is tacked onto the property owner's tax bill, so it has to be repaid, unless a person doesn't pay their taxes.
DennisP
Thu, Mar 3, 2011 : 5:35 a.m.
"The city also tacks on a 15-percent administrative cost fee permitted by state law. Radzik said the township's total administrative costs associated with mowing are tough to determine and not available." That's another way of saying that there is no way the township can really justify a 15% administrative fee with actual costs and no one has ever even checked what they are, but it's going to charge the statutory maximum of 15% anyway just because it can.
zip the cat
Thu, Mar 3, 2011 : 1:34 a.m.
WOW, Whats next, you gonna tell people how to cut there hair or maybe no long beards This a total invasion of homeowners rights. If this passes muster I think a big time lawsuit against all parties involved is in order. Another waste of taxpayers money
Rusnak
Thu, Mar 3, 2011 : 2:33 p.m.
I think your flying off the handle a bit. It's not an invasion of homeowner rights. Using that argument your overgrown yard is invading my rights.
jcj
Thu, Mar 3, 2011 : 2:44 a.m.
Bring on the suit if you object! The ones complaining are the ones that are too lazy to cut their grass once a month!
annie
Wed, Mar 2, 2011 : 11:25 p.m.
@Jason Gaus, you said and I quote ""A normal lawn is 3 inches. I mow it at that. My neighbor is at 6 to 7 inches and it looks like garbage.", that is not actually true, there are many variables like what type of grass you have (warm season grass,cool season grass) as to how you should cut it. Please read, How High Should I Cut the Grass? by Dawn West, All About Lawns Columnist <a href="http://www.allaboutlawns.com/lawn-mowing-mowers/how-high-should-i-cut-the-grass.php" rel='nofollow'>http://www.allaboutlawns.com/lawn-mowing-mowers/how-high-should-i-cut-the-grass.php</a> I am really glad I don't live next to you, because to me a Dandelion is a wild flower and I love it when my lawn has them all over.
dading dont delete me bro
Wed, Mar 2, 2011 : 11:01 p.m.
even though these fees or invoices get 'leaned' onto a property, the township foots the initial invoice. at our neighborhood watch meetings, the township has stated that the lawn cuttings really eat into their budget. so WHY increase the frequency? i'm speaking for foreclosed homes. duh
kochmann
Wed, Mar 2, 2011 : 10:38 p.m.
they are going to love my prairie sisters lawn
sbc1944
Wed, Mar 2, 2011 : 10:30 p.m.
Didn't Ypsi Twp appoint a new Trustee last night? Why has this not been covered by AnnArbor.com yet?
Kelly Davenport
Wed, Mar 2, 2011 : 10:35 p.m.
sbc1944, thanks for your question. We had a story on that this morning. Here's the link: <a href="http://www.annarbor.com/news/ypsilanti/ypsilanti-township-board-of-trustees-appoints-new-board-member/">http://www.annarbor.com/news/ypsilanti/ypsilanti-township-board-of-trustees-appoints-new-board-member/</a>
ffej440
Wed, Mar 2, 2011 : 10:29 p.m.
"Radzik said complaints about overgrown grass and weeds originated with the neighborhood watch groups" I think your supposed to look out for crime, not the size of grass. Prehaps this explains the crime problem in Ypsi. Township.
jcj
Thu, Mar 3, 2011 : 2:40 a.m.
I think the neighborhood watch can look out for anything they want that affects their neighborhood!
City Confidential
Wed, Mar 2, 2011 : 10:27 p.m.
While this may seem like a non-issue to some, I have a next door neighbor who does not maintain his lawn. His property is an eyesore, it generates seed producing weeds which infest my lawn & garden, it attracts vermin and it is just annoying to those of us who care for our property. Have you ever heard of the "broken window" theory? When seemingly insignificant issues like keeping lawns mowed or broken windows fixed falter, then comes litter, then vandalism, then break-ins, etc. You can sit back and watch your property values drop as people start to think that if no one else cares about how things are kept up, then why should I? If you don't want to mow your lawn, buy a condo or rent an apartment that maintains the grounds for you.
Rusnak
Thu, Mar 3, 2011 : 2:35 p.m.
Well said. I'm all for it. I have to maintain my sidewalk when it snows so what's the difference.
billw
Wed, Mar 2, 2011 : 10:24 p.m.
Someone needs to look closely at the deal with Heppner Landscaping and the Township. They seem to bill the maximum amount (126?) for even a small residential lot. And, apparently they are allowed to measure ONE WEED that is over the 8 in limit, rather than take a sample of an entire property. There is ALWAYS an occasional stray high weed, even on a 4 in high maintained lawn. This is just an attempt to generate revenue (or take property) from people who sometimes work out of town for the summer. The state attorney general needs to get involved here NOW! Ypsilanti Twp is not a gated community! We have to work where we can find it! Please Contact the Michigan AG office at <a href="http://michigan.gov/ag/0,1607,7-164-17331-42077--,00.html" rel='nofollow'>http://michigan.gov/ag/0,1607,7-164-17331-42077--,00.html</a> Also, if you see these profiteer landscapers in your neighborhood, let them know your feelings.
Mike
Wed, Mar 2, 2011 : 10:13 p.m.
This is a great idea. We can start a "lawn police" department and hire someone to patrol with a calibrated measuring tape for a reasonable sum of money. That job should be worth $50,000 per year plus a pension and benefits and of course a car or truck would be necessary while patrolling for lawn scofflaws. Was this the result of some bureaucratic study on how to spend council time better and be a more efficient city or did someone come up with this all by themselves? Whoever cme up with this brillaint idea should be recognized and make it the cornerstone of their next re-election campaign. I want to apply for the job if it hasn't been filled already, that is if I have the proper qualifications.............
Fraya
Wed, Mar 2, 2011 : 9:58 p.m.
Wish I had enough time on my hands and nothing else to worry about then the hight of my grass or my neighbors. If it looks will-kept and nice, then don't worry about it.
Hillbillydeluxe
Wed, Mar 2, 2011 : 9:42 p.m.
Three inches is normal if you want a large water bill. Four to four and half is healthier and greener .