The City has opened discussion on a policy that would allow naturalized landscaping – as an alternative to traditional Shaker landscaping – provided it is well maintained and does not pose nuisance or safety risks. The proposed Managed Natural Landscaping policy was discussed by City Council and several residents at a Council meeting on March 10.
Next, the proposed policy will be taken up by the Safety and Public Works Committee on April 3, the Tree Advisory Board on April 8, and the Sustainability Committee on April 17. Both the Public Works and Sustainability meetings start at 8:00 am via videoconference; Tree Advisory is at 4:00pm in City Hall. All three meetings will include opportunities for public comment. They will make recommendations to Council, which will take up the issue again in April or May. Find committee agendas with video links and watch for Council meeting agendas on the Agenda Center page of the City's website.
A managed natural landscape is generally defined as a planned, intentional, and maintained planting of native or nonnative grasses, wildflowers, forbs, ferns, shrubs, or trees, including but not limited to rain gardens, or vegetation common to meadows or prairies. Proponents cite advantages including:
- Reduced need for mowing, watering and pesticides
- Reduced greenhouse gas emissions
- Improved stormwater retention
- Increased water quality and biodiversity
- Improved habitat for wildlife such as birds, butterflies, and other beneficial insects and species
- Aesthetic qualities of native plants and natural landscaping
In recent years, Council members and residents have encouraged the City to review its current landscaping policies and ordinances. In his memo to Council, Law Director William Ondrey Gruber outlines more than a dozen existing Shaker Heights ordinance sections pertaining to landscaping.
Many Shaker residents have already established natural landscaping in their yards and adjacent tree lawns. Others have raised concerns regarding safety, especially if visibility is obstructed; aesthetics; and conflicts with City grass, brush and leaf pickup on tree lawns, particularly when naturalized landscaping is not well maintained.
The City’s Law, Planning, Public Works and Building and Housing departments contributed to the development of the proposed policy, which begins at the bottom of page 5 of Gruber’s memo.