Guelph-Eramosa council has a new boulevard alteration policy.
Approved at the May 1 council meeting, the policy aims to encourage property owners in urban areas to maintain the grass municipal boulevard in front of their property.
The boulevard is the non-travelled portion of the right of way immediately in front of private property.
“Boulevards contain buried and surface fixtures which include both municipal and non-municipal services, including but not limited to watermains and services, sanitary sewer mains and services, gas, telephone, hydro, etc.,” the corporate policy manual states.
“Maintenance of boulevards fronting private property is the responsibility of the resident; however, due to the presence of the various services, certain restrictions are required for the surface treatment of the boulevard.”
The boulevard alterations policy lays out what is and is not permitted in a municipal boulevard (typical treatment is grass cover).
Guidelines for non-standard treatments include:
– identify all municipal services and utilities before commencing work, maintaining clear and easy access;
– plant only perennial or annual plants that do not exceed a height of 60cm (24in);
– no trees are permitted without municipal approval;
– artificial turf not permitted;
– all plants must be 30cm away from sidewalks, curbs, roads and driveway edges;
– the township “reserves the right” to give 30 days notice to require the boulevard to be returned to turf grass at the owner’s expense;
– retaining walls and fences must be 0.3m from any property line abutting the street and hedges must be set back 1m; and
– the township will give 30 days notice before scheduled boulevard works; however if it is an emergency or unscheduled no notice is required.
“We do realize that there are existing boulevard treatments out there,” director of public works Harry Niemi said at the meeting.
“Some will be non-conforming at this point but they’ll be grandfathered until they present any proposed work that would occur; (then) you’d pull them into compliance with municipal policy.”
The township will look at addressing any boulevards with hard treatments, such as rocks or retaining walls, that could be dangerous for drivers, pedestrians or winter maintenance to reduce risk, the report states.
For the full policy visit get.on.ca/living-here/roads.aspx.
