COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – The City of Columbus is considering updating its weed code to relax restrictions on native plants that are beneficial to pollinating insects, such as bees and butterflies.
At a Columbus City Council meeting in late April, chairperson of the Public Utilities and Sustainability Committee Christopher Wyche introduced legislation that would help protect and encourage pollinator gardens in the city.
“About 75% of the world’s flowering plants and 35% of our food crops depend on pollinators,” Columbus Public Health policy analyst Karima Samadi said at the April meeting. “However, pollinator populations are declining dramatically due to habitat loss, pesticide use and climate change.”
While the current city code does not allow residents to grow weeds or brush taller than one foot, the legislation would allow residents to bypass these restrictions if they can demonstrate the plants are part of a native pollinator garden.
“Pollinator gardens provide food and shelter to many of our pollinators, increasing their chance for survival," Wyche said. "While some people do not like the look of pollinator gardens, our very own survival is tied with that of our pollinators.”
Multiple Columbus residents with pollinator gardens testified at the meeting that they have been hit with city code violations. One individual, Kellen Calinger-Yoak, shared she was threatened with a $1,000 fine and six months in jail if she did not remove her pollinator garden after a neighbor reported it to the city.
Ohio again ranks among worst states in country in list by U.S. News & World Report“My garden, as always, was well-maintained and clearly intentional,” Calinger-Yoak said. “All I’m asking is to be able to plant native species that thrive in Ohio, support biodiversity and do absolutely no harm to my neighbors, without them being able to use the government to threaten me.”
Wyche said he believes the update to the code would help keep residents out of court, as well as alleviate some burden off the legal system. However, his legislation still outlines rules for pollinator gardens. Under the proposal, a pollinator garden would have to leave a 30-inch buffer between neighboring properties, consist of plants that are native to Ohio, and not occupy more than half of a front yard.
Some who testified do not believe the legislation is doing enough, and spoke out against the section that would require the garden to take up less than 50% of a yard. Additionally, Calinger-Yoak said her garden was cited under Columbus’ solid waste code, which is not addressed in Wyche’s proposal.
Despite some criticism, most residents who testified conveyed that the legislation is a good start and has helped shine a light on the issue. Wyche said he will consider the feedback of those who testified when revising the proposed ordinance, while also stating all legislation is a compromise and he has to balance the concerns of all residents in Columbus.
Bodycam shows arrest of Ohio State women’s basketball coach for suspected OVILast year, the council removed milkweed – a critical host for monarch butterflies – from its definition of weeds in the city's housing code. Wyche said this is what started the discussion amongst the committee about what more can be done to help support pollinators.
The council’s Public Utilities and Sustainability Committee will meet again in one week, on May 21, to further discuss the proposal.
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( Columbus considers relaxing its weed code for native, pollinator-friendly plants )
Also on site :
- What to Know About Mohammad Sinwar, the Hamas Leader Targeted by Israel
- President Trump meets with Syrian leader in Saudi Arabia
- Justin Bieber's Unsettling Filtered Videos on 'Gucci,' Alaska & Faith Escalate Well-Being Concerns