(i) Naturalized lawns; land management plans.
(1) Any owner or operator of land in the city may apply for approval of a land management plan for a natural lawn (one where the grasses exceed eight inches in height) with the department of community development.
(2) As used in this subsection, "land management plan" means a written plan relating to management of naturalized area which contains a legal description of the naturalized area upon which the grasses will exceed eight inches in height, a statement of intent and purpose for the naturalized area, a general description of the vegetational types, plants and plant succession involved and the specific management and maintenance techniques to be employed. The management plan must include provisions for cutting, at a length not greater than eight inches, the terrace area, that portion between the sidewalk and the street or a strip not less than four feet adjacent to the street where there is no sidewalk and at least a three-foot strip adjacent to the neighboring property lines unless waived by the abutting property owner on the side so affected.
(3) The land management plan may be revoked for failure to comply with the requirements thereof. A notice of intent to revoke a land management plan is appealable to the environmental board. An application for such an appeal shall be submitted within 15 days of the notice of intent.
(4) Each application for a land management plan shall be on a form provided by the department of community development. A copy of the application shall be mailed by the applicant or given personally by the applicant to each of the owners of record, as listed in the office of the assessor, of the property situated in whole or in part within 200 feet of the boundaries of the properties affected. The director of community development shall provide the list of the property owners who are to be notified of the application. The applicant shall certify, under oath, on a form to be furnished by the director, that such owners have been duly notified and the manner in which they have been notified. If, within 15 days of receipt of a copy of the application, any of such property owners files written objections to the application with the director, the director shall refer the application to the environmental board for hearing and decision. If no objections to the application are filed, the director shall grant a permit for the land management plan.
(5) The owner or operator of land in the city may appeal from a decision of the director refusing to grant a permit for a land management plan. Any such appeal shall be to the environmental board, and the application therefore shall be submitted within 15 days of the notice of denial of the land management plan.
(6) The granting of a permit for a land management plan shall give the owner or operator no vested rights in the plan and, should this subsection be notified, repealed or otherwise amended, the owner or operator shall forthwith comply with this subsection, as so modified, repealed or amended.
(j) The remedies provided for herein are not exclusive and civil action, or any other enforcement action allowed by law may also be brought immediately upon violation of this section.
(Ord. No. 00-10, § 670.04, 9-5-2000; Ord. No. 04-05, 2-22-2005)