TO: Honorable Mayor & Members of the North Port Commission
FROM: Peter D. Lear, CPA, CGMA, Interim City Manager
TITLE: Ordinance No. 2017-09, second 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
Approve Ordinance 2017-09, 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.
Background Information
At the March 7, 2017 Commission Regular Meeting the Commission continued Ordinance No. 2017 to the April 25, 2017 meeting for second reading and directed staff to review and provide notes to the Commission.
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, clean up some of the ...
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