Cultivated garden or weedy lawn? NL resident appeals blight citation

She challenges city’s property maintenance code

New London — Environmental conservationists have united in support of a Montauk Avenue resident who has shunned the traditional manicured lawn in favor of an ecological landscape in her yard that earned her an abatement order from the city’s blight officer.

Maggie Redfern appealed the order and challenged portions of the city’s property maintenance code during a hearing Tuesday at City Hall held before hearing officer Gregg Wagman.

The hearing was attended by about 10 supporters, many of whom spoke in her defense. Some held signs reading, “Hell no we won’t mow,” in support of a definition of blight that allows for native plants that promote a more diverse and

natural environment.

City blight officer Kenyon Haye calmly argued that the city’s property code dictates that yards should be maintained free from weeds or plant growth in excess of 10 inches. The code exempts “cultivated flowers or gardens.”

“I’m just enforcing the laws on the books,” Haye said.

Haye said he served a notice of violation to Redfern after following up on a complaint from a neighbor. After several conversations and her refusal to cut back plants on her property, she appealed.

Redfern contends she maintains a cultivated garden on her 286 Montauk Ave. property and presented photos to Wagman that show an array of native perennials and wildflowers interspersed with fescue grass, which she said is low-growing, drought resistant and shade-tolerant.

Redfern also provided a list of more than two dozen weeds she had removed from the garden and said the landscape promotes pollinator health, minimizes water consumption and does not require chemical pesticides and fertilizers.

“I think it looks pretty good compared to most manicured lawns,” she said.

She said she has created a habitat that attracts bees, butterflies and birds and the approach is closely linked to her work at Connecticut College, where she is the assistant director of the arboretum. She said it is also part of a growing movement to reverse the destructive side effects of the obsession with manicured lawns and landscapes.

Redfern argued New London’s property maintenance code, part of a new blight ordinance passed in 2015, appears to be outdated. Other municipalities with blight ordinances provide for exemptions for things like substitutes to traditional lawn grass.

Bob Stuller, chairman of the city’s Conservation Commission, said the commission discussed Redfern’s plight and was open to the idea of working to modify and update the maintenance code.

Bud McAllister, an environmental justice advocate, said the city should mind its own properties “before they start picking on someone who is doing something good for the environment.”

“Naturalistic yards as an alternative to lawns ought to be encouraged rather than punished by the city,” Mary Beth Baker, a member of the city’s Beautification Committee, wrote in a letter of support of Redfern.

Baker said it would be shortsighted to classify the lawn as blighted.

Montauk Avenue resident Pam Collins disagreed and said Redfern’s yard looks to be a fire hazard and a prime environment for ticks. She also said a decision in Redfern’s favor could set a bad precedent for the city, allowing people without Redfern’s expertise to allow weeds to grow.

“I think it’s a safety hazard,” she said. “I think what you’re doing is great, but can you do it in your backyard?”

Redfern said she’s never had a tick in her garden because there are no mice or deer — common carriers of ticks — and that she maintains a vegetable garden in her backyard.

Wagman said he would have a written decision within five days.