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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple style='word-wrap:break-word'><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:16.0pt'>Hi, Corrin:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:16.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:16.0pt'>This sounds like it should be a general bylaw, not necessarily zoning. Curious, what IS the maximum height of turf grass specified?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:16.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:16.0pt'>Maybe a more acceptable approach in “Long”meadow would be to require the height limit AFTER May. Everybody loves our pollinators, right?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:16.0pt'>Jeff Lacy<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:16.0pt'>Rural Planning Associates<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:16.0pt'>896 Graves Road<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:16.0pt'>Conway, MA 01341<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:16.0pt'>ruralplanningassociates@crocker.com<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:16.0pt'>(413) 230-9693<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:16.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><div style='border:none;border-top:solid #E1E1E1 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal><b>From:</b> Corrin Meise-Munns <cmeisemunns@longmeadow.org> <br><b>Sent:</b> Monday, July 15, 2024 8:42 AM<br><b>To:</b> Kristina Johnson <kjohnson@townofhudson.org>; dmcknight@northreadingma.gov; Carolyn Britt <cjbritt@comcast.net><br><b>Cc:</b> Barbara Carboni <bcarboni@truro-ma.gov>; Nate Card <card24@csld.edu>; Jeff Lacy <ruralplanningassociates@crocker.com>; Daniel Fortier <daniel.j.fortier@gmail.com>; massplanners@masscptc.org<br><b>Subject:</b> Re: [Massplanners] mowing requirements<o:p></o:p></p></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><div><p class=MsoNormal>Hi all,<o:p></o:p></p><div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal>Thanks for the robust conversation. I was on vacation last week and am back reviewing responses now. Firstly, I want to clarify that Longmeadow <i>already</i> has these regulations in place -- I am trying to find ways to rewrite and amend them to accommodate the sentiments I am seeing that I share with many of you, while making my Code Enforcement's team job easier and more defensible. To Danielle McKnight's point, I am sure no one who is passingly familiar with our town is surprised that this is an issue in Longmeadow, and that residents here seemingly want the Town to enforce aesthetic regulations such as lawn height requirements. Danielle -- I was almost blushing when I sent the original question to the listserv!<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal>For what it's worth, Longmeadow did pass an outdoor water use bylaw last year that was meant to address excessive irrigation of lawns, which is reducing our ability to respond to fires due to drops in volume and pressure in our water tower. It was a huge controversy at Town Meeting and it was essentially stripped to a barebones shell before it passed. According to DEP, Longmeadow is the #2 per capita water user in all of Massachusetts -- largely due to our huge lawn sizes and irrigation. So, Longmeadow loves its lawns.<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal>It's sounding to me like this is something that many MA communities haven't dealt with in their zoning code (unsurprising). Since some people seem interested, I will share any best practices I discover regarding sensible and environmentally friendly regulations around lawn conversations and grass height. <o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal>Best,<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal>Corrin<o:p></o:p></p></div></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><div><div><p class=MsoNormal>On Fri, Jul 5, 2024 at 10:05 AM Kristina Johnson <<a href="mailto:kjohnson@townofhudson.org" target="_blank">kjohnson@townofhudson.org</a>> wrote:<o:p></o:p></p></div><blockquote style='border:none;border-left:solid #CCCCCC 1.0pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 6.0pt;margin-left:4.8pt;margin-right:0in'><div><div><div><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Garamond",serif;color:#1F497D'>Hello and Happy 4<sup>th</sup>,</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Garamond",serif;color:#1F497D'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Garamond",serif;color:#1F497D'>I’m with Jeff and some of the others.</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Garamond",serif;color:#1F497D'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Garamond",serif;color:#1F497D'>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. Although valid in its intent, it would be impractical in its enforcement. 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. </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Garamond",serif;color:#1F497D'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Garamond",serif;color:#1F497D'>Private homeowner associations have a lot authority over what can transpire on private property within their respective communities, like the “no hanging laundry outside” types of restrictions. Those too spillover to the local government, but at least we can peace out of most disputes as we do not enforce homeowners associations’ rules and regulations. </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Garamond",serif;color:#1F497D'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Garamond",serif;color:#1F497D'>Thank you for reading my TED Talk. </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Garamond",serif;color:#1F497D'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><b><span style='font-family:"Lucida Handwriting";color:#1F497D'>Kristina Johnson</span></b><b><span style='font-family:"Lucida Calligraphy";color:#1F497D'>,</span><span style='color:#1F497D'> </span></b><b><span style='font-family:"Cambria",serif;color:#1F497D'>AICP</span></b><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-family:"Cambria",serif;color:#1F497D'>Director of Planning and Community Development</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-family:"Cambria",serif;color:#1F497D'>Town of Hudson, Massachusetts</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-family:"Cambria",serif;color:#1F497D'>978-562-2989</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-family:"Cambria",serif;color:#1F497D'><a href="mailto:kjohnson@townofhudson.org" target="_blank">kjohnson@townofhudson.org</a></span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><b><span style='font-family:"Cambria",serif;color:#1F497D'>***New Town Hall Hours***</span></b><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-family:"Cambria",serif;color:#1F497D'>Monday, Wednesday, Thursday: 8AM-4:30PM</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-family:"Cambria",serif;color:#1F497D'>Tuesday: 8:00AM- 6:30PM</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-family:"Cambria",serif;color:#1F497D'>Friday: 8:00AM-Noon</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='color:#1F497D'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Garamond",serif;color:#1F497D'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><b>From:</b> MassPlanners <<a href="mailto:massplanners-bounces@masscptc.org" target="_blank">massplanners-bounces@masscptc.org</a>> <b>On Behalf Of </b>Corrin Meise-Munns via MassPlanners<br><b>Sent:</b> Wednesday, July 3, 2024 4:00 PM<br><b>To:</b> Barbara Carboni <<a href="mailto:bcarboni@truro-ma.gov" target="_blank">bcarboni@truro-ma.gov</a>><br><b>Cc:</b> Nate Card <<a href="mailto:card24@csld.edu" target="_blank">card24@csld.edu</a>>; <a href="mailto:massplanners@masscptc.org" target="_blank">massplanners@masscptc.org</a><br><b>Subject:</b> Re: [Massplanners] mowing requirements<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'> <o:p></o:p></p><div><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'>Love the support. Come and speak at my Town Meeting :)<o:p></o:p></p></div><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'> <o:p></o:p></p><div><div><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'>On Wed, Jul 3, 2024 at 3:57 PM Barbara Carboni <<a href="mailto:bcarboni@truro-ma.gov" target="_blank">bcarboni@truro-ma.gov</a>> wrote:<o:p></o:p></p></div><blockquote style='border:none;border-left:solid #CCCCCC 1.0pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 6.0pt;margin-left:4.8pt;margin-top:5.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:5.0pt'><div><div><div><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'>I’m with Jeff, on grounds of both property rights and pollinators. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'>No retreat; no surrender; no forced mowing. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'> <o:p></o:p></p><div><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'>Barbara Carboni AICP MCPPO<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'>Truro Town Planner and Land Use Counsel<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'>(508) 214 0928<o:p></o:p></p></div><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'> <o:p></o:p></p><div><div style='border:none;border-top:solid #E1E1E1 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><b>From:</b> MassPlanners <<a href="mailto:massplanners-bounces@masscptc.org" target="_blank">massplanners-bounces@masscptc.org</a>> <b>On Behalf Of </b>Jeff Lacy via MassPlanners<br><b>Sent:</b> Wednesday, July 3, 2024 3:41 PM<br><b>To:</b> Nate Card <<a href="mailto:card24@csld.edu" target="_blank">card24@csld.edu</a>><br><b>Cc:</b> <a href="mailto:cmeisemunns@longmeadow.org" target="_blank">cmeisemunns@longmeadow.org</a>; <a href="mailto:massplanners@masscptc.org" target="_blank">massplanners@masscptc.org</a><br><b>Subject:</b> Re: [Massplanners] mowing requirements<o:p></o:p></p></div></div><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'>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. <o:p></o:p></p><div><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'>Jeff Lacy <o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'>Rural Planning Associates <o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'>(413) 230-9693<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'> <o:p></o:p></p><div><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'>Sent from my iPhone<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:12.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></p><blockquote style='margin-top:5.0pt;margin-bottom:5.0pt'><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:12.0pt'>On Jul 3, 2024, at 3:18<span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'> </span>PM, Nate Card via MassPlanners <<a href="mailto:massplanners@masscptc.org" target="_blank">massplanners@masscptc.org</a>> wrote:<o:p></o:p></p></blockquote></div><blockquote style='margin-top:5.0pt;margin-bottom:5.0pt'><div><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif'></span> <o:p></o:p></p><div><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'>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. <o:p></o:p></p><div><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'> <o:p></o:p></p><div><div><div><div><div><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><b><span style='color:#222222'>Nathanael Card </span></b><o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='color:#222222'>M.S. Ecological Design, 2024</span><o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='color:#222222'>The Conway School, Northampton, MA</span><o:p></o:p></p></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'>-- <br>MassPlanners mailing list<br><a href="mailto:MassPlanners@masscptc.org" target="_blank">MassPlanners@masscptc.org</a><br><a href="https://linkprotect.cudasvc.com/url?a=http%3a%2f%2fmasscptc.org%2fmailman%2flistinfo%2fmassplanners_masscptc.org&c=E,1,suIUzhd8GnaDVvAJl4QRw35S61vst3cxYovLT4srEOnmtjz3S4yWMhNjT32v0xMUQlLpLnN6OH0_dJXqjgEy5nVfrNv1rNu7zREU58Jo6RDWZjRziN-2-hIQwZ3i&typo=1" target="_blank">http://masscptc.org/mailman/listinfo/massplanners_masscptc.org</a><o:p></o:p></p></div></blockquote></div><div style='border:solid #9C6500 1.0pt;padding:2.0pt 2.0pt 2.0pt 2.0pt'><p style='margin:0in;line-height:12.0pt;background:#FFEB9C'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;color:#9C6500'>CAUTION:</span><span style='font-size:10.0pt;color:black'> This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.</span><o:p></o:p></p></div></div><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'>This communication may contain privileged or other confidential information. If you are not the intended recipient, or believe that you have received this communication in error, please do not print, copy, retransmit, disseminate, or otherwise use the information. Also, please indicate that to the sender and delete the copy you received. When writing or responding, please remember that the Secretary of State’s Office has determined that email is a public record. Please take notice: All e-mail communications sent or received by persons using the Town of Truro network may be subject to disclosure under the Massachusetts Public Records Law (M.G.L. Chapter 66, Section 10) and the Federal Freedom of Information Act <o:p></o:p></p></div></div></blockquote></div><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><br clear=all><o:p></o:p></p><div><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'> <o:p></o:p></p></div><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'>-- <o:p></o:p></p><div><div><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><b>Corrin Meise-Munns</b> <i><span style='color:#444444'>(she/her)</span></i><o:p></o:p></p><div><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='color:#444444'>Assistant Town Manager / Director of Planning & Community Development</span><o:p></o:p></p><div><div><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='color:#444444'>Town of Longmeadow, MA</span><o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='color:#444444'>(413) 565-4110</span><o:p></o:p></p></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></blockquote></div><p class=MsoNormal><br clear=all><o:p></o:p></p><div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div><p class=MsoNormal><span class=gmailsignatureprefix>-- </span><o:p></o:p></p><div><div><p class=MsoNormal><b>Corrin Meise-Munns</b> <i><span style='color:#444444'>(she/her)</span></i><o:p></o:p></p><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#444444'>Assistant Town Manager / Director of Planning & Community Development</span><o:p></o:p></p><div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#444444'>Town of Longmeadow, MA</span><o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#444444'>(413) 565-4110</span><o:p></o:p></p></div></div></div></div></div></div></body></html>