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Committee recommends rescinding 4-foot shrub-height cap in right-of-way; forwards change to council after 3–2 vote
Summary
Narberth committee voted 3–2 to recommend that council include language in Ordinance 10-71 removing the explicit 4-foot maximum height for shrubs in the right-of-way and instead emphasize keeping sidewalks clear and preserving sight lines; the recommendation does not itself adopt the ordinance.
The committee recommended that borough council include an amendment to Ordinance 10-71 removing a 4-foot maximum height for shrubs in the right-of-way, voting 3–2 to forward the change for council consideration. The motion replaces the numeric cap with a performance standard focused on maintaining a clear pedestrian path and visible house numbers for emergency services.
Staff said the proposal — “option 3” in their memo — would remove the strict 4-foot measurement and instead require that hedges, shrubs and similar vegetation adjacent to sidewalks be maintained so they do not obstruct walkways or impede emergency access. Staff and members emphasized that other code sections requiring clearance of sidewalks and sight-triangle protections would remain enforceable.
Supporters said removing the arbitrary height limit avoids creating widespread nonconforming properties while letting enforcement target actual safety hazards. One committee member said the aim is to “focus on a clear walkway” rather than forcing residents to trim to a fixed number. Opponents urged caution, citing sight-triangle and intersection-visibility risks and asking staff to ensure tools are in place to address hazardous obstructions.
Staff identified next steps for public messaging and enforcement: produce outreach materials (including short videos and one-pagers), use the MyGov portal for property-maintenance complaints and follow up with residents who asked for guidance. The committee instructed staff to draft the ordinance language for council advertisement; the committee’s vote was a recommendation only, not final adoption.
The committee recorded the recommendation vote as 3 in favor, 2 opposed and 0 abstentions. The council will consider the proposed amendment to Ordinance 10-71 at a later public meeting.
