City of Madison - File #: 44602

• File #: 44602
• Version: 1
• Name: Remove Land management Plan Requirement for Certain Types of Natural Lawn
• Type: Ordinance
• Status: Passed
• File created: 9/27/2016
• In control: COMMITTEE ON THE ENVIRONMENT (ended 6/2020)
• On agenda: 10/4/2016
• Final action: 1/3/2017
• Enactment date: 1/13/2017
• Enactment #: ORD-17-00003
• Title: Amending Sections 27.05(2)(f), and creating 27.05(2)(f)7 of the Madison General Ordinances to remove the Land Management Plan requirement for certain types of natural lawn and landscaping areas.
• Sponsors: Ledell Zellers

Date	Ver.	Action By	Action	Result
1/3/2017	1	COMMON COUNCIL	Adopt	Pass
12/7/2016	1	MADISON FOOD POLICY COUNCIL	RECOMMEND TO COUNCIL TO ADOPT - REPORT OF OFFICER	Pass
11/21/2016	1	COMMITTEE ON THE ENVIRONMENT (ended 6/2020)	Return to Lead with the Recommendation for Approval	Pass
10/17/2016	1	COMMITTEE ON THE ENVIRONMENT (ended 6/2020)	Refer	Pass
10/4/2016	1	MADISON FOOD POLICY COUNCIL	Refer
10/4/2016	1	COMMON COUNCIL	Refer	Pass
9/27/2016	1	Attorney's Office	Referred for Introduction

Fiscal Note
The proposed resolution has no fiscal impact.
Title
Amending Sections 27.05(2)(f), and creating 27.05(2)(f)7 of the Madison General Ordinances to remove the Land Management Plan requirement for certain types of natural lawn and landscaping areas.
Body
DRAFTER'S ANALYSIS: Section 27.05(2)(f)7. has been created to provide an option for owners to have part of their yard maintained as a “natural landscape area” without having to go through the application, permitting and approval process previously established. This section provides owners with more flexibility to landscape their lawn with ecologically beneficial grasses, while the strict limitations as to size, placement and content of the natural landscape area addresses aesthetic concerns. The permitting process remains for owners who wish to have a natural landscape area comprised of grasses that may differ from the restrictions laid out in this new subsection. The remainder of the amendments are for the purpose of consistent terminology, shifting the nomenclature of “Natural lawn” to “Natural Landscape area.”
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The Common Council of the City of Madison do hereby ordain as follows:

The Common Council of the City of Madison do hereby ordain as follows:

1. Subdivision (f) of Subsection (2) of Section 27.05 entitled “Safe and Sanitary Maintenance of Property” of the Madison General Ordinances is amended to read as follows:

“(f) Landscaping, plantings and other decorative surface treatments, including but not limited to common species of grass, shall be installed if necessary and maintained to present an attractive appearance in all court and yard areas. Except with prior application to and approval of a Land Management Plan for a Natural Lawn from the Department of Planning and Community and Economic Development of the City of Madison, or as allowed by Sec. 27.05(2)(f)7, MGO and except for natural areas in...