Ocean City, Maryland – : The Town of Ocean City is reminding residents and property owners of the purpose and intent of the city’s landscaping requirements. Not only does landscaping help to protect, preserve and promote the aesthetic appeal, scenic beauty, character and value of Ocean City; but it also promotes public health and safety through the reduction of noise pollution, storm water runoff, reduces heat island effect, prevents erosion, and improves air quality, visual pollution and artificial light glare.
“There are a number of reasons that we have a landscaping ordinance,” commented Town of Ocean City Environmental Engineer Gail Blazer. “Landscaping contributes to scenic beauty and public health and allows us to visually screen parking areas and properties abutting public ways, as well as provide a buffer between non-compatible land uses.”
According to Blazer, the town, having required landscaping for over 40 years, has a bit of a dilemma. “Trees have reached maturity and some are too big for the location where they were installed,” Blazer continued. “Trees also get sick or diseased and storms uproot trees or break branches. It is important to realize that these trees were required at the time it was developed.”
The town’s landscaping code includes a maintenance provision. Although understandable that trees and landscaping may have had to be removed for various reasons, it is important that landscaping required at one time is replaced and maintained.
The town is required by code to inspect landscaping every three years, therefore, this summer inspectors for the town will be canvasing the community to insure that properties are up to code. “We will be sending out notifications to the property owners should the landscaping on their property be insufficient,” Blazer added. “If you are notified that the landscaping must be installed you will have a 60 day compliance period. If properties are not in compliance the town can assess fines and penalties.”
It is also important to mention that when a tree or large shrubs are removed, property owners can replace it with another similar sized tree or shrub of a difference species and in a different location. Replacement is required at a 1:1 ratio, with an exemption policy where replacement is not practical or reasonably achievable but this must be approved by the town.
In order to assist property owners, the town has developed a number of grant and rebate programs to offer incentives to plant more landscaping. For more information about these programs, please contact Gail Blazer in the Engineering Department at (410) 289-8825.
11 comments:
ha ha ha, this will be jakes next move.
force you to plant a tree, then pay to remove it in 20 years and pay again to replace it, just so it will look pretty
So glad I moved away from that joke of a town.
Wow
Now we are going to have the landscaping police
Give it a rest would you
Had to make up another B.S. job for a faimly member.
Government SUCKS
As an OC Native, who has lived in Salisbury/Wicomico County; I would much rather have ordinances to maintain landscaping than fences, satellite dishes and abandon cars.
Considering ALL the issues in Salisbury/Wicomico County, those residents have no reason to complain about any other area.
We used to be free
425 - BINGO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I'm just wondering which tree is intruding on which council members property THIS TIME. The last time a tree was removed, it received lots of pub...this time they are rolling out this inspection notice....HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
These moves are traditionally predictable and sad. Why? Bigger issues need addressed than the "pretty things" in life.
Lets see these fools inspect every property that was required to provide landscaping. How far back do they go? Do they pull site plans for every property? Wait until the Town finds every one of those "Gail Blazer" rain gardens gone. This will be more of a fiasco than 1000 inspectors could handle. Bet they will skip certain Council members properties, AS ALWAYS!
Salisbury should take this to heart with the recent planting of the medium on Rt 13 extending from Wendy's and all along in front of Salisbury State. These were planted with no thought to garden maintenance or the size they would eventually become. Any garden center would have advised them they were a mistake.
Resident to inspector, "Leaf me alone!"
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