Photo by Flickr user Timothy Allen.
On Monday, Oct. 13, the citizens of the Delaware County town of Walton rose up in opposition to a proposed law that would have capped the height of grass and weeds in the town to ten inches, according to the Walton Reporter.
The proposed amendment was prompted by complaints about one particular house on East River Road.
But at Monday's town council meeting, multiple Walton residents criticized the idea of making rules about tall grass.
Some used pretty high-flown rhetoric, the Reporter reports:
The most resounding "no" came from Pines Brook Road resident Jim McLaughlan who told the board that the enactment of the law would constitute a "flagrant depravation of control" over who has access to private property ... McLaughlan said the council's proposal to amend the law equated to the creation of an "invasion clause" regarding property rights and an abuse of power under the guise of public safety ... The passage of the amendment, McLaughlan continued, would allow a person to enter his property without his permission. "If I am suspected of murder they have to get a warrant to search my property. I can't see the legality of this," he said.
The outcry worked. The Town Council voted to rescind the proposed amendment 3 to 1.
Update, 10/17/14: As it turns out, the entire debate over weed and grass height in Walton is moot. The property maintainence code of New York State already prohibits grass and weed height of over ten inches. From the code:
302.4 Weeds. All premises and immediate exterior property shall be maintained free from weeds or plant growth in excess of 10 inches (254 mm). All noxious weeds shall be prohibited. Weeds shall be defined as all grasses, annual plants and vegetation, other than trees or shrubs provided; however, this term shall not include cultivated flowers and gardens.
Thanks to a tipster for pointing this fact out to the Watershed Post.
