Martyr to a Notion
In the words of a great poet, “Let seed be grass and grass turn into . . .” Hey! What’s going on in Arvada, Colorado?
Some years ago, the city of Arvada began promoting “water-wise landscaping.” To do this, they worked with Luanne Stehno to make her yard more environmentally friendly. The city planted native blue grama grass on her yard, which, for the last few years has grown anywhere from six inches to 20 inches high, and requires she water it every three weeks or so for about 30 minutes.
Ms. Stehno liked the look. And the city was apparently happy.
Until somebody wandered by and complained that her lawn was untidy.
Now the city is telling her to cut the grass or pay to have the city do it. Her grass, you see, is over the 12-inch limit.
When the city instigated her enviro-friendly lawn, Ms. Stehno says no one talked about law codes. And now the people at the city who helped her with her project are keeping mum, not defending her at all. She states, “The city is buckling because one person doesn’t like it.” And she doesn’t like that.
Who would? Cities should not engage in encouraging behavior that other divisions of the same government consider illegal.
Should cities be in the zoning business or the lawn regulation business? Maybe. I doubt it, but maybe. But I think this case suggests, just perhaps, that cities shouldn’t be in the lawn development biz.
This is Common Sense. I’m Paul Jacob.
