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Shorewood committee approves ordinance allowing natural lawns to reach sidewalk, clarifies curb-area permitting
Summary
The Shorewood Public Works committee approved Ordinance No. 3082 amending Chapter 220 to remove a permit requirement for natural lawns and allow native plantings up to the sidewalk; trustees said parkway areas adjacent to the curb will still require permits and the village will provide clearer guidance for residents.
Shorewood — The Committee on Public Works voted to approve Ordinance No. 3082, amending Chapter 220 of the village municipal code to remove a permitting requirement for designated "natural lawns" and to allow those plantings to extend to the sidewalk without a special privilege.
Nicole Brazen, the meeting's presenter, told trustees the conservation committee drafted the change after about two years of discussion and research into peer communities. Brazen said the ordinance also inserts a statement of purpose that cites concerns about pollinators, wildlife corridors and declining plant biodiversity as reasons to encourage native plantings in Shorewood yards.
The ordinance change drew comment from an online resident identified only as Donna, who told the committee she saw a potential contradiction between the stated intent to allow right-of-way plantings and language in Section 220-3A that appears to continue to require a permit. "It appears to me that there's a contradiction about the right of way plantings ... down in section 220-3A it's stating that you still need a permit," Donna said.
Committee members explained the distinction between two types of right-of-way: the parkway area between the sidewalk and the street curb, and the area between the sidewalk and the start of a private front-yard property line. The committee said the ordinance would remove the need for a permit for plantings in the latter zone (the area between sidewalk and the property line), while plantings in the curb-adjacent parkway would continue to require a permit because of potential disruption in that zone. A trustee summarized that the ordinance does not prohibit curb-adjacent plantings but calls for a permit and review for those locations.
Donna also asked whether the permit for curb-adjacent parkway plantings would be permanent or annual; trustees did not confirm specific permit duration in the meeting and invited the resident to email the village manager (Ewald) or a trustee for follow-up. The committee agreed to clarify language distinguishing the two right-of-way types in the ordinance text and to prepare an FAQ or visual guide for the village website to reduce resident confusion.
A trustee moved to approve the amendment to Chapter 220 and the motion passed by a voice vote. The transcript records the chair's announcement "motion passes" and notes "626," but individual vote tallies and the names of the mover and seconder were not specified in the record.
Trustees thanked conservation committee members for their work and expressed enthusiasm about the change. Members and staff said they will follow up with clearer ordinance language and public-facing guidance to explain permitting limits, the three-foot height rule that remains for plantings in the public right-of-way, and the process for applying for permits where required.
