Council amends and tables managed‑natural‑landscapes ordinance after staff presentation and questions

The council took up Ordinance 49 20 25 on Dec. 1 to permit managed natural landscapes — plantings intended to increase biodiversity, improve stormwater retention and reduce maintenance — and to clarify enforcement standards.

City staff presented results from a city survey (288 respondents, roughly two‑thirds reported being very or somewhat familiar with the concept, and 66.8% strongly supported allowing managed natural landscapes). Staff said the proposed amendment removes a blanket 3‑foot restriction and focuses enforcement on plant growth that encroaches on neighboring property, sidewalks or streets. The proposed ordinance also changes enforcement timing (beginning when above‑ground growth encroaches) and narrows a prior 10‑inch reference to apply only to weeds and noxious plants.

Kathy Lozano, superintendent of parks, supported the ordinance and described the city’s experience with managed plantings in parks (Celery Bog, Cumberland Park) and the expectation that a well‑managed natural landscape requires staged work and patience during the first years of establishment.

Councilors asked whether the ordinance would be enforceable and whether code enforcement would have clear standards. Staff said they had worked to make the definitions and enforcement path clearer and retained a role for township trustees and Purdue Extension when disputes arise about whether plant species are noxious.

After discussion, the council amended the ordinance by substitution to incorporate clarifications and then voted to table the ordinance to Jan. 5 to allow time for final review and public scrutiny.

Next steps: Staff will refine the substituted language and return the ordinance for public hearing and additional council consideration on the scheduled date.