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Washington Park adopts amended noxious growth ordinance after discussion of mapping and fence impacts
Summary
The Board adopted option two of a proposed amendment to the town's noxious growth ordinance; discussion included concerns about subjective language and potential impacts on fences near the USACE line.
At the May 5 meeting, the Washington Park Board of Commissioners voted unanimously to adopt option two as amended language for the town's noxious growth ordinance.
Commissioner Lee Bowen moved to adopt option two; Commissioner Vail Rumley seconded the motion and it passed by all. The town attorney had provided three options for revised language and recommended option two.
During discussion, Bowen read an example provision from Badin, N.C., which included the phrase "not a threat to character of surrounding properties," language the Board noted is subjective and could generate differing interpretations. Derek Cooper, speaking for the Townscape Committee activities, raised a concern that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) delineation could affect property boundaries and a fence on his property; he urged flexibility in how the line is applied and recommended marking the line with stakes and providing a map.
The minutes record that the owners of 320 River Road have requested the USACE mark wetlands; the Board clarified that anything outside delineated wetlands will need to comply with the town's ordinance. No implementation timetable or enforcement schedule for the amended ordinance was specified in the meeting notes.
The Board's action replaces prior language with the selected option two recommended by the town attorney and signals the town's intent to adopt clearer standards for managing overgrown or noxious vegetation, while also seeking ways to accommodate property-specific issues around wetlands delineation.
