Laserfiche WebLink
V V r Z ffe 1880 514ain Street, Centerville, IWN55038 <br />`Fsta,6(shect 1857 651-429-3232or'ax,651-429-8629 <br />To: Planning & Zoning Commission <br />From: Athanasia Lewis, Assistant City Administrator <br />Subject: Native Landscapes <br />Date: September 5, 2023 <br />Honorable Chair Kuiper, <br />During the 2023 legislative session, a bill, requiring cities to allow property owners to <br />install managed natural and native landscapes, passed. This legislation was enacted to <br />protect declining populations of bees and other pollinators. Effective July 1 native <br />landscapes that exceed 8 inches in height and go to seed, are allowed, if they are <br />maintained and do not include noxious weeds. Weeds and grasses that are not part of a <br />managed natural landscape cannot exceed 8 inches in height or be allowed to go to seed. <br />Municipalities across the state are working with their city attorneys to ensure that their <br />ordinances comply with this new legislation. Staff has researched what surrounding cities <br />are doing and a summary of these findings follow: <br />City of Lino Lakes <br />The city has not updated their ordinance to reflect the new legislation, however, they will <br />be working on this soon. <br />City of Circle Pines <br />The city's ordinance has provisions in place that allow weeds and grass to grow above six <br />inches on privately property adjoining public land and in designated areas on private <br />property. Individuals who want to naturalize portions of their property outside of <br />designated areas are required to submit a landscaping management plan for approval. <br />City of Lexington <br />The city recently revised their code of ordinances to include definitions from the new <br />state statue requiring cities to allow managed natural landscapes on private property. <br />Lexington's code of ordinances also includes a provision for property owners to establish <br />that a plant or plants, excluding noxious weeds, are not horticulturally out of place by <br />submitting a written landscape management plan for staff review. <br />Staff Consideration <br />Based on the Planning and Zoning Commission's initial review of the city's ordinance <br />and discussion on the city of Lexington's ordinance, staff recommends minimal changes <br />