TO: Honorable Mayor & Members of the North Port Commission
FROM: Jonathan R. Lewis, ICMA-CM, City Manager
TITLE: Ordinance No. 2017-09, first reading, amending Part II, Chapter 42, Article II of the City Code, repealing Article II Lot Clearing in its entirety, enacting a new Article II Lot Clearing.
Recommended Action
Continue Ordinance 2017-09 to the March 28, 2017 Commission Regular Meeting for a second reading.
Background Information
At the February 21, 2017, Special Meeting the Commission discussed the current city code and potential revisions as it pertains to excessive growth and dead trees.
Prior to changes made to Chapter 42 Article II sec. 42-21 by adoption of Ordinance 2012-27 in February 2013, it had been a violation for growth of vegetation to impinge upon neighboring properties and property owners were required to remove any, and all dead trees on their property. Ordinance 2012-27 removed language pertaining to dead trees as well as impinging growth on neighboring properties therefore eliminating code enforcement action and instead by default corrective action would require civil action. The code changes were primarily driven by staffing and budgetary challenges during that time as well as to address the issue of property owners being restricted from allowing their land to return to its natural state.
Over time there has been public feedback expressing the desire to restore language in the code regarding dead trees and impinging growth on neighboring properties. At the February 21st meeting Mayor Yates mentioned that she had drafted a revised version of Article II in its entirety to address impinging growth and dead trees and also, clean up some of the language that appeared inconsistent, irrelevant and or unclear. Commission directed that she present a revised Article II in an Ordinance for first reading at the March 7th Commission Regular Meeting and also provide a draft strike through and underlined version of the language changes.
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