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Residents ask Vienna council to allow taller deer netting and limited volunteer herbicide use
Summary
Two residents urged the council during public comment to change Vienna's fence-height rules for deer netting and to permit trained volunteers to use limited dab-on herbicides for habitat restoration; they cited zoning section 18-4-10 and requested training and safety protocols.
Two residents who identified themselves during public comment on June 2 asked the Vienna Town Council to adjust local rules to support conservation landscaping.
Dr. Maryam Dautka of 609 Alma St. SE told the council that deer overpopulation is undermining native plantings and that her household installed a see-through deer fence using netting and taller posts. She said Town of Vienna zoning code section 18 4 10 sets a 4-foot maximum fence height for corner lots and front yards but does not account for deer impacts. "In the absence of an effective deer program in Town of Vienna, I would demand the councilors to consider increased height for deer netting beyond 4 feet for corner lot and front yard and include changes in zoning code to address this concern," Dautka said.
Avril Garland of 917 Hillcrest Drive supported Dautka and asked the council to authorize trained volunteers to use limited herbicide application for habitat restoration. Garland described a small, four-ounce, dab-on applicator used by volunteer groups in Fairfax County and said short safety training and storage protocols would make volunteer efforts more efficient without broad spraying.
Council members did not act on either request at the meeting. The comments were recorded during the public-comment portion of the agenda and will be available in the meeting record; staff did not indicate a timetable for any zoning amendment or policy change on volunteer herbicide use.
