LYNNWOOD — The Lynnwood City Council Feb. 8 took a firm stand on quality of life issues within the city. The final debate came down to property rights versus quality of life, as reflected in city nuisance ordinances.
Two issues, one addressing yard maintenance informally dubbed the “grass ordinance” and the other defining accessory dwelling units, or mother-in-law apartments, each passed council 6-1. The other nuisance-busting agenda item, an ordinance regulating commercial vehicles parking in residential neighborhoods, passed narrowly 4-3.
Two citizens spoke to the yard maintenance issue during the Feb. 8 meeting, both in favor. A public hearing on the issue was held in January.
“It is unfortunate that this ordinance has been tagged as the ‘grass ordinance,’ since there is only a couple of lines in the whole ordinance addressing lawns,” said Councilman Loren Simmonds. “This is not government weighing in on little people. We are simply trying to encourage property owners to take pride in their property. We don’t have grass police to go measuring lawns. It was our attempt to look at a problem and give our code enforcement people some tools.”
The approved ordinance sets the maximum height of lawn grass at 8 inches. The bulk of the law cites “egress lack of yard maintenance” as the litmus test spurring code enforcement. Over the course of discussion a residence with blackberry brambles growing over the house and encroaching on the next door neighbor’s property was cited as an example of what city officials want to halt.
“People are tired of slipping property values because their neighbors have no pride of ownership,” said Councilwoman Kerri Lonergan. “I reluctantly support this ordinance because of what I heard while doorbelling this summer. It is a number one concern of residents.”
The dissenting vote was cast by Councilman Jim Smith.
“I don’t like the idea of government coming in and telling people what they can and cannot do with their yards. What’s next, regulating peeling paint? We already have a lot of nuisance ordinances. We took a big step with limiting trucks tonight,” Smith said, referring to the council action regulating commercial vehicles parking on city streets.
That ordinance allows commercial vehicles 16,500 gross vehicle weight and under to be parked in residential neighborhoods overnight. Only one such vehicle can be parked overnight on private property per address. The only exception allows for parking while providing services to a home. The council action followed public comment in January.
Council members Mark Smith, Kimberly Cole and Ted Hikel voted no on the measure.
The third quality of life issue the council addressed was to more closely define accessory dwelling units. These living spaces have new requirements in addition to the safety measures already on the books. The additions include: the unit must be attached to the primary home; the homeowner must live in the main space or the ADU; minimum ADU unit size is 800 square feet; the minimum property size is 8,400 square feet; and there must be one on-property parking space added for every bedroom in the ADU.
Simmonds cast the dissenting vote.
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