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MINUTES OF THE HOUSING, PLANNING& DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE <br /> NOVEMBER 8, 2021 <br /> AUDITORIUM <br /> Present: Councilmembers Shachner, Rader& Kepple <br /> Also Present: Melissa Meehan, Co-Chair of Keep Lakewood Beautiful, Building Commissioner <br /> Chris Parmelee, Clerk Bach taking minutes <br /> Call to Order: 6:00 pm. <br /> Approval of the minutes of the October 4, 2021 Housing, Planning & Development <br /> Committee meeting. <br /> Motion made and seconded to approve the minutes of the October 4, 2021 Housing, Planning & <br /> Development Committee meeting. All members voted in favor. Motion passed. <br /> ORDINANCE 32-2021 -AN ORDINANCE to take effect immediately provided it <br /> receives the affirmative vote of at least two thirds of the members of Council to amend <br /> Section 1775.01, Weed, tall grass, nuisance vegetation or growths over sidewalks of the <br /> Codified Ordinances of the City of Lakewood, to amend what is considered a noxious or <br /> poisonous weed. (P'read and referred to HPD 917121; 2"d reading 9120121) <br /> Councilmember Shachner introduced Ordinance 32-2021 and explained his rationale for <br /> proposing it. He has heard from residents on both sides regarding bamboo. Bamboo is a plant <br /> with roots that spread far and wide. Ordinance 32-2021 does not prohibit all bamboo but <br /> prohibits bamboo from infringing on a neighbor's property. The ordinance also removes <br /> milkweed from the list of invasive/noxious plants. For some time, milkweed has been considered <br /> an important butterfly habitat. Councilmember Shachner consulted the Ohio Administrative <br /> Code and the Department of Agriculture sources in his drafting of the legislation. <br /> Councilmember Shachner acknowledged the substitute version offered by Commissioner <br /> Parmelee which includes a new Section 3 which stipulates limits on the height of all vegetation <br /> in order to protect sight lines for drivers and pedestrians. He expressed that this is important for <br /> safety and will improve the Building Department's ability to respond to complaints of this <br /> nature. <br /> The committee and Commissioner Parmelee discussed the potential effect of the substitute <br /> language as it relates to the grade of the property. <br /> Through discussion, the committee and Commissioner Parmelee established that the proposed <br /> substitute is not intended to restrict the height of vegetation when not interfering with the right of <br /> way and also, that corner lots need not be specifically called out. <br /> The committee discussed alternate language that could better clarify the intent. <br /> 1 <br />