Open-space encroachments under active review; committee to coordinate inspections and policy comparison

Committee members reported progress on five primary encroachment cases affecting township open space and agreed to conduct site inspections with township staff to verify remediation steps. "For another one, driveway removed from open space property. Hay and seed shown on property for grass growth," a staff member reported. Members expressed concern about instances where property owners planted turf grass after remediation rather than native plantings the committee prefers.

Why it matters: Encroachments affect open-space health, tree canopy and trail connectivity; in one case residents cut down multiple trees and planting requirements remain unsettled. The committee emphasized the need for clear expectations and on-site confirmation of remediation work.

Enforcement process described: A township staffer summarized the notice and reinspection procedure: initial notice, a 14-day reinspection, a second notice, and a third inspection 14 days later; failure to comply typically leads to an in-house ticket and could escalate to the local district court. "We... give them a notice saying, you know, this needs to be rectified within... we give them 14 days usually," the enforcement staff said. The committee noted surveys are often required to determine property boundaries and that surveys can be costly for complainants.

Policy coordination: The committee said Grosel Nature and Land Conservancy is finalizing its encroachment policy and will share a draft. "They're finishing up their policy. And so I told them it would be great if they would share a copy and then we can compare that to ours and see if either one of us wants to... learn from each other," one member said. Members discussed whether a unified approach across the township and local conservancy would be preferable, especially when conserved easements overlap township land.

Next steps: Members agreed to schedule joint site visits with township enforcement staff (Ross and Julie were named as contacts) to verify whether required plantings or remediation work had been completed and to coordinate planting plans with landscapers. The committee asked staff to circulate the conservancy draft and confirmed it wants an official presence during on-site inspections.

Ending: The committee will set inspection dates by email and follow up with the township enforcement officer to confirm survey records and outstanding remediation items.