West U residents have until Dec. 1, 2014 to bring down hedges to three feet.
West U City Council approved the first reading of an ordinance that will require residents to take down fence-like hedges to 36 inches by Dec. 1, 2014.
The proposed ordinance would make changes to three areas of the city’s zoning code. One change would require doors or gates in fences made of masonry or stone for emergency personnel. Another change clears up the definition of “visibility triangles,” areas where the city restricts landscaping and other objects to protect drivers’ visibility. The third change includes bringing down hedges, foliage that has characteristics of a fence and grows higher than 36 inches, down to three feet.
The ordinance would allow access to all sides of buildings so firefighters or emergency personnel can enter the building, use ladders and fight fires.
West U residents spoke against the proposed ordinance during two public hearings held in March and December of 2009.
The ordinance would affect less than 10 West U single-family homes, said City Planner Debbie Scarcella.
The ordinance limits the height of hedges in the front yard on adjacent side yard properties and rear through lot sites without a principal structure, or an empty lot, according to the ZPC’s report.
Scarcella said some resident’s fence-like hedges are eight to 12 feet tall and this ordinance would ensure that no more are built.
Any fence-like hedges planted in the front yard after Dec. 1, 2009 would have to be three feet or less to conform to the code.
“I am convinced that this is good public policy,” Councilmember George Boehme said.
Boehme said he would like to give residents more time to comply with the new ordinance and proposed an amendment to change the date from Dec. 1, 2014 to Dec. 1, 2019.
Mayor Bob Kelly said he thought 10 years was too long because the hedges would just get bigger.
The amendment failed three-to-two for the change in compliance date.
This is the first of two readings that need to be approved by council before the ordinance goes into effect.
Ask George how is this “good public policy?” What public good or public interest is City Council protecting? Why is City Council interferring with a citizen’s right to have hedges in their front lawn area?
We need a recall election to get these socialists out of office.
Leave the pretty hedges! Looks like Palm Beach. Why not go after the super ugly utility poles in the yards. Bury them.
Enough is enough! WHY doesn’t City Council enforce laws already on the books, LIKE blocking sidewalks with automobiles parked in resident driveways?
Makes sense to me – assuming that their real beef is that the hedges are acting as “surrogate fences”. That is, does the law already prohibit regular fences from being this high in front of a house? If so, then giant hedges should come under the same rules!
If there’s access for emergencies, then why wouldn’t these hedges be allowed? They are all over some of the loveliest neighborhoods in America, including Beverly Hills, Montecito, and our own River Oaks. Please, City Council, concentrate on drainage, ugly above-ground utility lines that blow down in hurricanes, and other issues that really matter!
What a horrible ordinance to impose on the residents and future residents of West University. Our city is unique and the high hedges should be allowed to remain in place. There are certainly more pressing issues which City Council can focus on as mentioned by other concerned residents.
it sounds like an over reaching government is forming here like in Washington. I agree enforce the laws that exist and don’t get so concerned about the shrubbery!
Give me a break folks, though some people act like this is River Oaks, it isn’t. The tall hedges should never have been allowed in the first place and should be shortened now, not in 4 years.
The one in the photo is on our block and has been an eyesore since it was planted and allowed to grow to dizzying heights. When most homes are on 50-70ft wide lots, unlike River Oaks estates we don’t need tall hedges violating the front setback and blocking the streetscape and potentially effecting the safety of our little children. On the 4100 block of Rice, parents can not adequately watch their children as they venture past our local hedgerow unless the parents stand out in the street or on their front sidewalks.
If you go to the parts of River Oaks with lots closer to West U size, you will rarely, if ever (I can’t recall one) see hedges like this in front yards.
If these bushes were kept to the set back line, i.e. 20′ like a fence has to be, it would not be nearly the issue it is.
If people did not demand homes that left postage stamp size backyards, they wouldn’t have to buy lots behind them for $500,000 and reduce the tax rolls by making it unavailable for another home.
Lastly, for you property rights advocates, I agree, I want to take several of the empty lots that are selling around West U, buy them, and open up beer halls or build mini-storage. Property rights, right!
Yeah, I didn’t think so…remember, we all chose to live in West U with its zoning. The result is higher property values, not having to deal with neighborhood associations, and no beer halls in the middle of your block.