At its March 29, 2022 meeting, the Public Safety and Neighborhood Quality of Life Committee (PSNQLC) held a discussion regarding "heritage" hedges and vegetation on islands and single-family neighborhoods that have no sidewalks.
Certain hedges, some dating back many years (and inherited, or passed along from property owner to property owner,) have either been planted on City property, or have grown over time so as to encroach onto the City's right-of-way. Property owners often view these hedges as an integral part of their property, and as such, the hedges may provide a sense of privacy, security, and/or improve the aesthetics of the property.
Committee members, in order to assist property owners with their existing hedges that encroach onto City property, made a motion for the Administration to proceed to the full Commission with an Ordinance that would set forth additional criteria to be considered in an application for a Revocable Permit for these hedges, thereby permitting qualifying hedges which would otherwise violate the City Code to remain in place as long as the qualifying criteria is maintained.
The amendments set forth in the attached Ordinance, are necessary to accomplish the objectives identified above.
At its October 26, 2022 meeting, the City Commission members had the title of the "heritage" hedge Ordinance read for the record and approved the Ordinance as amended:
Adding two Whereas clauses to the Ordinance: 1) providing the Public Works Director authority to grant or deny a revocable permit, rather than having the request go to City Commission for approval; if denied 2) Appeal the request to the City Commission; and 3) to change the word “their” to “the” hedges.