WHEREAS the Use and Care of Roads By-law No. 2003-498 places an obligation on the owner of land zoned residential to cut the grass and weeds on the boulevard abutting the owner’s land; and,
WHEREAS the by-law also prohibits the digging up and removal of grass within a boulevard; and,
WHEREAS the Use and Care of Roads By-law was amended in 2023 to permit residents to replace the grass in a boulevard abutting the property with a garden, subject to parameters including setbacks from existing City and utility infrastructure, as well as trees; and
WHEREAS these amendments were done in part to recognize the environmental benefits of allowing alternatives to grass within the boulevard, while maintaining safe mobility and the continuance of City and utility operations within the right of way; and
WHEREAS there are other landscaping alternatives to grass within a boulevard that require less maintenance by abutting owners, provide environmental benefits and would not impact City or utility operations, or mobility within the right of way;
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT Public Works and Infrastructure Committee recommend Council approve amendments to the Use and Care of Roads By-law No. 2003-498 to:
(a) permit the owners of land zoned residential to replace the grass within the boulevard abutting their property with herbaceous ground cover defined as soft-stemmed plants that grow to a mature height not exceeding 20 centimetres and which die down to the root each year, and not including any of the species listed in Schedule “A” to the By-law, being the species prohibited within the City’s right of way; and,
(b) require the owners of land zoned residential to cut the herbaceous ground cover as part of an owners existing obligation to cut the grass and weeds on the abutting boulevard.