[Massplanners] mowing requirements

Mon Jul 8 15:58:31 EDT 2024

  And see this case, for which Miami Shores, FL received a 2019 ZiPLeR
Award!

https://www.npr.org/2019/07/02/738131948/after-6-year-battle-florida-couple-wins-the-right-to-plant-veggies-in-front-yard#:~:text=An%20appeals%20court%20had%20ruled,Ricketts%20said%20in%20a%20statement
.

https://mynews13.com/fl/orlando/news/2019/07/08/new-florida-law-allows-residential-vegetable-gardens#:~:text=But%20those%20who%20are%20worried,vegetable%20gardens%20on%20residential%20properties
.

https://laws.flrules.org/2019/120

Regards,
Dwight Merriam, FAICP
www.dwightmerriam.com

On Mon, Jul 8, 2024 at 3:50 PM Mark Hamin via MassPlanners <
massplanners at masscptc.org> wrote:

> For the record, this would be a great topic for a TEDTalk! 😀 I fully
> agree that any regulatory action that was based on prescribed dimensional
> requirements of lawn (maximum height, lot coverage, density) would be a
> nightmare.  It seems to me that a lot of the recommended actions have more
> to do with addressing the owner care-to-neglect spectrum.  Regulating
> neglected property is well within the wheelhouse of planning for health,
> safety, & welfare. People who don't want to mow for ecological reasons
> should be able to demonstrate care satisfactorily to neighbors and town
> officials.
>
> Mark Hamin PhD (he/him)
> Principal Consultant, Sustainability Designer
> https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-hamin/
> https://www.sustainabilitydesigner.com/
> <https://secure-web.cisco.com/1MLmvRFjWMJmQMr_yWrjBH8BklHd_NXr9vAlfagDgAbD-u3L7nPvAQK9a3KxpzBqsKxz5TD7mEF2up_kRfbuzebh_4Ivn9AgOj8C6AI6SBC1NFavPWgeTtHrsEicbF9TLxULXUzGQ2CP4wGPKVTHwfFNImxcULoxZn4U5Xxlwxk3lSSds2QDAk1exkU3EIhGYqT79tllAY-7qoeguUykzFnIEXZr1acaD1UIN6Aom_7T3FeioiQWq1n13bi8ojHIK094YPvBofLfz7abd7uWnBmuwhUZluC0SKzqCT_L6ZivpBHI9d64hjH8PQY3dgPsA2kPdLQ4vRamN57_J_j5_7wj8mzCymgzaMn00t5LX2vu9smI0quu4qHlKq5wYaXkQSvejmg2UxPZGkaOGWrCN1IjxehfhYq9Dxr6ntnDOeOw/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.sustainabilitydesigner.com%2F>
> 413 387-9760
> ------------------------------
> *From:* MassPlanners <massplanners-bounces at masscptc.org> on behalf of
> Kristina Johnson via MassPlanners <massplanners at masscptc.org>
> *Sent:* Monday, July 8, 2024 1:01 PM
> *To:* MassPlanners at masscptc.org <massplanners at masscptc.org>
> *Subject:* Re: [Massplanners] mowing requirements
>
>
> I’m with many of you who contributed to this thread.
>
>
>
> I believe what is being proposed (as I understand it) is a bit of
> overreach here, and not sure is the best use of enforcement authority to
> protect the health, safety and welfare of the community.  The basic
> enforcement of zoning, codes, noise by-laws, etc. is tough enough as it is
> for local officials, and then you want to add enforcing “lawn height” to
> the mix. Could you even imagine the civil disputes between neighbors that
> local officials would have to mediate? That already plays out now here with
> warring neighbors tattling on each other, and then sending us, the local
> government, videos and copies of social media diatribes and expect us to
> resolve disputes.
>
>
>
> Thank you for reading my TED Talk.
>
>
>
>
>
> *Kristina Johnson**,* *AICP*
>
> Director of Planning and Community Development
>
> Town of Hudson, Massachusetts
>
> 978-562-2989
>
> kjohnson at townofhudson.org
>
> ****New Town Hall Hours****
>
> Monday, Wednesday, Thursday:  8AM-4:30PM
>
> Tuesday: 8:00AM- 6:30PM
>
> Friday: 8:00AM-Noon
>
>
>
>
>
> *From:* MassPlanners <massplanners-bounces at masscptc.org> *On Behalf Of *Madden,
> Nadia (DCR) via MassPlanners
> *Sent:* Monday, July 8, 2024 7:50 AM
> *To:* rebecca at rbladesign.com; Harry LaCortiglia <hlacortiglia at comcast.net>
> *Cc:* massplanners at masscptc.org
> *Subject:* Re: [Massplanners] mowing requirements
>
>
>
> Here are some additional resources on pollinator-friendly gardens: Choosing
> Pollinator-Friendly Native Plants in Home Gardening or Landscaping |
> Mass.gov
> <https://www.mass.gov/info-details/choosing-pollinator-friendly-native-plants-in-home-gardening-or-landscaping>
>
>
>
> Best,
>
> Nadia Madden, CFM
>
> Floodplain Management Specialist
>
> Flood Hazard Management Program
>
> MA Dept. of Conservation & Recreation
>
> nadia.madden at mass.gov
>
> phone: (857)287-1603
>
> www.mass.gov/guides/floodplain-management
>
>
>
> *From:* MassPlanners <massplanners-bounces at masscptc.org> *On Behalf Of *Rebecca
> Bachand via MassPlanners
> *Sent:* Friday, July 5, 2024 11:54 AM
> *To:* Harry LaCortiglia <hlacortiglia at comcast.net>
> *Cc:* Rebecca Bachand <rebecca.bachand at rbladesign.com>;
> massplanners at masscptc.org
> *Subject:* Re: [Massplanners] mowing requirements
>
>
>
> CAUTION: This email originated from a sender outside of the Commonwealth
> of Massachusetts mail system.  Do not click on links or open attachments
> unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.
>
>
>
> I love seeing so much interest from planners in more naturalized landscape
> approaches! You might all be interested in following Ben Vogt, whose
> efforts at growing and maintaining a prairie yard in a typical subdivision
> got him a lot of experience in addressing these concerns. He even has tips
> to avoid getting fined by the community/HOA: Monarch Gardens
> <https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/www.monarchgard.com/thedeepmiddle/simple-ways-to-avoid-fines__;!!CPANwP4y!SiYO8S3peLP22EkkmaqdQsEO8cvSGxjcFpSTEpSsaqZCW3GbT_skTjROaBCNfwpqlBAVXuQ885_eoL-GGWfri1g9HsGP$>
>
>
>
> "Cues to Care" are integral to the acceptance of these efforts, and as
> noted by others can be hard to define.
>
>
>
> Research from UMASS by Susannah Lerman and her team indicates mowing every
> two weeks is ideal for maintaining lawns at a "respectable" (to your
> neighbors) level while allowing growth of plants supporting birds, bees,
> and other insects. Unfortunately, the links to her easy to share graphics,
> etc seem to be broken, but maybe a hunt through her publications will offer
> good info:: Susannah B. Lerman, Research Ecologist, USDA.gov
> <https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/research.fs.usda.gov/about/people/sblerman*products-tab__;Iw!!CPANwP4y!SiYO8S3peLP22EkkmaqdQsEO8cvSGxjcFpSTEpSsaqZCW3GbT_skTjROaBCNfwpqlBAVXuQ885_eoL-GGWfri6nh-Z_s$>
>
>
>
> An article from PENN cites Minnesota Extension/UMN Bee Labs
> <https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/www.pennlive.com/life/2022/08/bee-lawns-a-lazy-mower-way-to-help-pollinators.html__;!!CPANwP4y!SiYO8S3peLP22EkkmaqdQsEO8cvSGxjcFpSTEpSsaqZCW3GbT_skTjROaBCNfwpqlBAVXuQ885_eoL-GGWfri0kDY6kL$>'
> 4-inch mowing height recommendation, but when I mow our lawn to 3" my
> husband doesn't think I've cut it at all!
>
> (The struggle is real, even for Landscape Architects!)
>
> *Rebecca Bachand*, RLA, LEED AP®, ASLA
>
> 781-686-4486
>
> *RBLA Design LLC*
>
> rebecca at rbladesign.com
>
> rbladesign.com
> <https://urldefense.com/v3/__http:/rbladesign.com/__;!!CPANwP4y!SiYO8S3peLP22EkkmaqdQsEO8cvSGxjcFpSTEpSsaqZCW3GbT_skTjROaBCNfwpqlBAVXuQ885_eoL-GGWfrizIMaNnN$>
>
> *Massachusetts WBE Certified*
>
> *DBE **Certified in Massachusetts, Rhode Island & New Hampshire*
>
> Member of *CREW Boston*
>
>
>
>
>
> On Thu, Jul 4, 2024 at 7:51 AM Harry LaCortiglia via MassPlanners <
> massplanners at masscptc.org> wrote:
>
> I would certainly hope that no government entity would infringe upon my
> right to grow the grass on my very own property, as tall as I need it to
> be, prior to my harvesting it for personal use.
>
> I cultivate my grass to a certain length to be as effective as possible in
> my garden bed as my primary mulch, thus preventing evaporation as much as
> possible. (So many communities are under to water conservation restrictions
> these days!)
>
> Although I guess I could bring my home grown vegetables to the ZBA Hearing
> when I ask for relief of any grass height zoning limitation.
>
> Does anyone have a Grass Height Setback Variance application I could use?
>
> Have a great day celebrating the Independence of our nation and our
> inalienable right to sarcasm!
>
> H. LaCortiglia
> Georgetown P.B.
>
>
>
>
>
> On 7/3/2024 3:40 PM, Jeff Lacy via MassPlanners wrote:
>
> Are we talking about private property? A homeowner’s little patch of the
> earth? I can’t see any legitimate role for government here, especially if
> the only complaint is appearance.
>
> Jeff Lacy
>
> Rural Planning Associates
>
> (413) 230-9693
>
>
>
> Sent from my iPhone
>
>
>
> On Jul 3, 2024, at 3:18 PM, Nate Card via MassPlanners
> <massplanners at masscptc.org> <massplanners at masscptc.org> wrote:
>
> 
>
> I don't know what it would look like, nor of any precedents (as far as
> regulations go) but I suspect you could establish an approved ratio of
> mowed to un-mowed lawn, essentially requiring some degree of cues-to-care,
> like mowed borders or pathways. Or perhaps waivers to the current
> regulations could be issued for households submitting a plan for some level
> of lawn conversion, to promote long-term pollinator support.
>
>
>
> *Nathanael Card *
>
> M.S. Ecological Design, 2024
>
> The Conway School, Northampton, MA
>
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