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 SUNDAY, MARCH 14, 2010 11:55 pm |
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Local News 
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A tidy lawn could be law in Lynnwood LYNNWOOD — The city’s looking to regulate how tall grass can grow on lawns, whether semi trucks can be parked on the street in neighborhoods and if mother-in-law homes can be built separate from homes.At a meeting tonight, the Lynnwood City Council is considering three ordinances that aim to tidy up neighborhoods throughout the city. “There have been cases where there’s been so much overgrown vegetation that there’s a concern it’s a breeding ground for pests,” council president Ted Hikel said. “It also in some cases has brought up the question of whether that would present a fire hazard, especially in the summertime.” Community development director Paul Krauss said the city’s goal with its proposed yard maintenance law is to protect property values and public health. “The purpose of the ordinance is not to go after people who neglected to cut their grass for a month but rather toward homes where there has been little or no maintenance for years,” he said. The city hasn’t updated its rules for accessory dwelling units since 1995 and officials say the city’s only received five permit applications since then. City rules allow mother-in-law apartments that are attached to the main house. City Council members disagree on whether the city should allow detached apartments. Paul Krauss, the city’s community development director, said most cities place a variety of restrictions on commercial trucks and where they can park overnight. Lynnwood has no such restrictions, he said, except for a limitation on parking semi trucks for a few hours in the middle of the night. “We have also had problems with trucks parked on streets blocking sight distance on streets, cross-streets and driveways, creating a safety hazard,” Krauss wrote in an e-mail. Proposed changes could restrict commercial trucks to a maximum of 12,000 pounds and allow them to be parked on driveways but not residential streets. Trucks weighing more than 12,000 pounds would be allowed to park temporarily when providing business-related services. Contractors and other service providers who use a truck or van would be allowed to park at home, Krauss said. The new rules would not apply to recreational vehicles or noncommercial trucks. Councilman Jim Smith urged city officials last week to allow commercial trucks on private driveways. “Let’s not infringe on people’s personal property,” he said. The council also will consider proposals to limit the length of grass lawns to 12 inches or 6 inches. Oscar Halpert: 425-339-3429, ohalpert@heraldnet.com. |
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COMMENTS
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last time i checked lynwood had a hi crime rate drugs guns gangs and these pin heads want to pass a law regulating your grass.whats next a law regulating your dirty dishes, how about this lets forget about grass and worry about things that might make lynwood a nice place to live instead of the cesspool it is now . or is the city counsel afraid to take on the real issues because it might require them to bring up some unpopular topics
Randy johanson | Feb 8, 2010 7:07 am | 1 replies | Request removal
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I don't live there but if I did I would welcome the lawn ruling of 6". I get tired of moving into nice or new neighborhoods only to have people get lazy after a year and stop mainting their property. You get tired of looking at it!! Whats so hard aboiut mowing your lawn once a week during the growing season to preserve a decent looking community.
peggy mckay | Feb 09, 2010 11:14 am | Request removal
I am a resident in one of the zones that Lynnwood wants to annex. Is it any wonder why I don't want to be annexed in to Lynnwood.
Mike C | Feb 9, 2010 10:13 am | 0 replies | Request removal
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When is it going to stop..all these do gooder city council people getting their panties in a wad over what, one or two complaints? The squeeky wheel gets the grease, even if no one else hears it but everyone else suffers the effects.
How much you want to bet if you go back to the ordinances already on the books you will find a rule, ordinance or regulation already covering these instances..Enough with the rules already!!
Michael Seiber | Feb 9, 2010 8:49 am | 0 replies | Request removal
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I wish I could say I'm surprised, but I'm not. With all kinds of genuinely pressing matters to deal with, the city council is busy trying to decide how tall you have to set your lawn mower in order to avoid being extorted for fines. Sounds like a real money-maker for the city, not to mention a coup for anal-retentive, trouble-making, busybody neighbors with too much time on their hands and no lives.
A lot of people will be reading this story and be all outraged, and then you'll go right back to stuffing their faces with Doritos and plopping down in front of the boob tube. Before that happens, I suggest they try this:
Write a letter to the council *and* mayor telling them to get out of your private life and stop trying to tell you how to manage your own private property. Today it's how tall your grass can be. If they get away with it, next year it'll be what color decorative plants you are PERMITTED to plant on your own PROPERTY, what color schemes are permitted for you to paint your house, then before you know it, it'll be how many pine needles or leaves may be present on your driveway before it's considered an eyesore and, of course, you get fined. Etc., etc., etc.
There is always some busybody, trouble-making neighbor, in practically every neighborhood, who wants to prissily enforce this kind of stuff on everybody else. I say B.S.
At this rate you'll need to get a permit in order to install a new doorbell. And believe me, they'll get away with it so long as they don't hear from you that you'll vote them out if they try. Wake up, folks!
Jacques Klahaya | Feb 8, 2010 10:33 pm | 0 replies | Request removal
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Lynnwood has always been the armpit of the northend and always will be
Jay R Lind | Feb 8, 2010 8:58 am | 1 replies | Request removal
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I thought Everett was the armpit of the northend
Kathryn Harnecker | Feb 08, 2010 11:18 am | Request removal
Councilman Jim Smith says
"Let's not infringe on peoples personal property"
What do you think all three of these proposals do Mr Smith??
Rodney Hovde | Feb 8, 2010 8:27 am | 0 replies | Request removal
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First they get you on the bus, then they tell what to do. Glad I moved out of town.
camano kid | Feb 8, 2010 6:40 am | 1 replies | Request removal
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"Welcome to the People's Republic of lynnwood."
Jay Smith | Feb 08, 2010 7:33 am | Request removal