Lexington city council members are being asked to establish a naturalized garden ordinance. It would involve amending the current nuisance ordinance to allow for the growing of plants beyond the current specified height limit of 10 inches.
Vice Mayor Steve Kay said some residents have been cited by Code Enforcement. He said they think they are not violating the intent of the nuisance ordinance.
“I guess some neighbors think that what they see is just neglect as opposed to something that’s really planned and taken care of,” said Kay.
Kay said the change in the ordinance could offer more guidance for code enforcement officers. The amended language states naturalization does not include vegetation abandonment, which is defined as the lack of premise management.
But the amended ordinance establishes the current height limitation would not apply to native plantings for the purpose of intentional naturalization. That includes, among other things, plantings used for food or fiber, for aesthetic purposes, and to control soil loss.
The matter is scheduled to go before the General Government Committee.
