Home › Forums › Open Discussion › Planting Strip can anyone advise? Help?
- This topic is empty.
-
AuthorPosts
-
January 13, 2011 at 12:24 am #597612
BBGuestMemberI am dumbfounded. I appealed to the Board of Commissioners of Seattle Housing Authority not to remove plants in the planting strip. Instead I am given an ultimatum, … with respect (?) “…and to move forward in a peaceable manner as neighbors.”
I have a retreat lot and have no street frontage other than my driveway. The SHA yard is an eyesore. It is not maintained and the plants are there to beautify the street 3-4 feet from my driveway on either side. I am the only one to mow or maintain that planting strip in over 10 years.
I have been notified, on behalf of the Board of Commissioners, that SHA owns the planting strip in front of the house and to:
“…please provide a specific date and time to remove or have removed the plants from the planting strip…” and goes on to say “Be advised that this is the only time we are giving you permission to enter Seattle Housing Authority Property. – Please provide the date and time by January 31st….”
Yes, I did plant 2 trees in the back yard of that property 3+ years ago when the house was vacant (for almost a full year). I only went on the property this summer (between tenants) to add compost, soil and thoroughly water as they were now fully established and would need no more care.
The SHA owns this 3 bedroom single family home with wheelchair access. Unfortunately my living room overlooks the back yard of the property and whatever weeds/appliances or trash that accumulates was something I never could have anticipated.
I don’t know what to do now. It goes against all that I thought the city wanted homeowners to do with the planting strip. I have also been advised that I am not allowed to put my trash containers on the strip either!! The City of Seattle told me that the strip is city property and that SHA can not prevent me from using it for my trash containers.
Within 3 weeks of moving in, the tenant took a machete to both 15 foot Cyprus trees in spite of my pleas to wait.
January 13, 2011 at 12:34 am #713878
transplantellaParticipantGovernment knows best how property should be maintained. Government operates in the citizen’s best interest don’tchaknow.
Now do as your told whether it makes sense or not. Or else.
January 13, 2011 at 12:40 am #713879
DPMemberBBGuest, I’m sorry this is happening. It sounds like you are morally in the right (trying to beautify the property) but technically in the wrong (planting on a strip that’s not attached to your property.)
There may be a covenant in force that prevents even SHA tenants from planting anything, or from planting certain species that aren’t approved for small spaces. (Cyprus trees can get pretty big, for example, and that’s why they’re not encouraged on small lots.)
More info on this side issue: http://tinyurl.com/48k5z72
Although I don’t think you have much leverage to force SHA to keep anything you’ve planted, you have quite a bit of leverage in terms of requiring SHA to keep the property in good order. For example, it’s not allowed for any SHA tenant to store junk outside or otherwise let the property become an eyesore.
I recommend that you contact SHA, politely explain the problem of junk in the yard, and ask them to require the tenant to comply with the rules. If they refuse to do that within a reasonable period, you can start turning up the heat.
Who knows, they may ultimately decide to plant a new screen around the property. Unfortunately, you’re not allowed to do it on your own.
–David
January 13, 2011 at 2:16 am #713880
JoBParticipantbut you are allowed to do so within your property line
January 13, 2011 at 4:20 am #713881
hooper1961Memberdo the plants obstruct driver sight lines? if yes it is a safety issue
January 13, 2011 at 4:21 am #713882
hooper1961Memberdo the plants obstruct driver sight lines? if yes it is a safety issue
January 13, 2011 at 4:43 am #713883
BBGuestMemberI hope that when they do take out all the plants that they put something down to replace it. The plants they took out so far they left the bare (well weeded) soil with nothing on it… and tossed the flowers and bush on top of all the plantings.
Unfortunately I am no longer well enough to dig them up, many of the plants were from the Furry Faces plant sales. Anybody who wants them are welcome to come and help yourself!
SHA actually came and cleaned up the yard this past week so maybe they will begin to maintain the property from now on. My driveway basically goes right to the fence line with no area for planting (darn it).
The trees do get big! I have 3 that I planted on my own lot for speed of growth and fullness but have groomed them for privacy. SHA didn’t even notice they were there until November as far as I know. I just had taken for granted that they were appreciative if not indifferent.
I’ve been told that my lot was an orchard and I suspect that yard was as well. Sadly my lot was stripped of all life prior to the house being built. Amending the soil, and landscaping has been a labor of love.
The birds have a little bit of heaven back here with the volunteer trees and additions here and there. I feel very badly, had I any indications whatsoever over the years.. oh well.
January 13, 2011 at 4:46 am #713884
BBGuestMemberGood question Hooper, no they don’t. I actually took out the privacy fence that the developer put in and put in a picket so that it would be safer.
January 13, 2011 at 6:33 am #713885
SmittyParticipantYou mean the “parking strip”? Classic Seattle…….
January 13, 2011 at 2:10 pm #713886
anonymeParticipant“PLANTING STRIP” is correct. Classic Smitty…..
January 13, 2011 at 5:27 pm #713887
dawsonctParticipantYep, even if it’s paved over and has years of oil stains on it, it’s a planting strip.
I’ve had the parking ticket to prove it. Grrrr.
January 13, 2011 at 6:52 pm #713888
funkietooParticipantBB Guest–if the plants end of being removed, a few of us will help dig them up and get them either placed somewhere in your yard or take them to Furry Faces for their 2011 plant sales.
Hang in there…I have some thoughts to share with you.
January 13, 2011 at 7:56 pm #713889
hooper1961Memberif the vegetation is not effecting sight lines safety is not at issue.
are the plants the type with root structures that effect sidewalks and pavement?
January 13, 2011 at 8:04 pm #713890
funkietooParticipantHi Hooper…I can confirm that none of the plants in this 3′ area effect sidewalks or pavement. the vegetation is not effecting sight lines, so safety is not an issue.
January 13, 2011 at 9:12 pm #713891
hooper1961Memberi was simply inquiring, so it appears the issue of safety (sight lines) and maintenance (destructive roots) are not factors. thus begging the question why is there an issue?
January 13, 2011 at 9:28 pm #713892
KenParticipantIf you want to recycle the plants or use them in another location, grab them and go. Otherwise leave it to SHA. They will add it to the contracted landscapers work order. If you then make a practice of complaining about the site, they will make sure it is kept up or boot the tenant. If you don’t make waves it will eventually fall off the to-do list of whatever petty bureaucrat got annoyed by someone else complaining about your planting and you can go back to whatever moonlight gardening you want to do in the space as long as the complaining party does not see you doing it.
Whatever you do, don’t pay for someone to remove anything you don’t want or have a home for.
20 feet from the centerline of every street is city of seattle property unless it is handed off to another city entity (SHA) We are required to keep it cut back enough to not impede traffic , pedestrians or on street parking. We also are responsible for snow removal on the sidewalk if any.
If you plant trees, regrade or raise chickens in that space without a permit, you are liable for fines and the cost of repairs.
January 14, 2011 at 4:35 pm #713893
BBGuestMemberThanks everyone. The area in question is maybe 10% of the planting strip and is not in front of the house. I thought maybe I should mention that. It probably can not even be seen from inside the SHA house.
No, I won’t pay to have the plants removed. I still wonder why and guess I always will. Once they take out the plants, I may have to deal with the lack of maintenance issue ;-( and have an unattractive entrance to my property.
Why now after so many years? The city trees in that strip (2) clearly show the only one that has been watered and nurtured. It is twice as full as the other one that my hose couldn’t reach. I so don’t want to have it back to a foot of grass and weeds like the yard.
If the SHA would agree to actually maintain it, with their landscaping people, I would fell a whole lot better.
-
AuthorPosts
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.