[HISTORY: Adopted by the Village Board of the Village of Shorewood 4-7-1986 by Ord. No. 1477 as Ch. 7, Arts. 6 and 7, of the 1986 Code. Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Health and sanitation— See Ch. 319.
Nuisances — See Ch. 389.
Solid waste — See Ch. 455.
Streets, sidewalks and public areas — See Ch. 466.
A. 
The owner, occupant and agent or person in charge of any lot, place or parcel of land within this Village shall cut and/or remove any unhealthful, unsightly or unsafe growths of grass, shrubs or other vegetation located on said lot, place or parcel of land or on any sidewalk, parkway or other public ways upon which said premises abut as required in order to maintain said premises in a healthful and sightly condition and to prevent such growths from obstructing the view of any pedestrian, motorist or cyclist.
B. 
In addition, every owner, occupant and agent or person in charge of any lot, place or parcel of land within this Village shall destroy all noxious weeds located on said lot, place or parcel of land or in any sidewalk, parkway, or public way upon which said premises abut. Noxious weeds shall include prohibited invasive species listed in the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Chapter NR 40. The most common noxious weeds include, but shall not be limited to:
[Amended 10-20-2008 by Ord. No. 1945; 9-19-2011 by Ord. No. 1992]
(1) 
Leafy spurge.
(2) 
Canadian thistle.
(3) 
Field bindweed, commonly known as "Creeping Jenny."
(4) 
Beggar ticks.
(5) 
Burdock.
(6) 
Nightshade.
(7) 
Common ragweed.
(8) 
Giant ragweed.
(9) 
Poison ivy.
(10) 
Garlic mustard.
[Amended 10-20-2008 by Ord. No. 1945]
A. 
The Director of Public Works (Weed Commissioner), Planning and Development Department Director, or designee, is hereby authorized and empowered to notify in writing the owner, occupant, agent or person in charge of any such lot, place or parcel of land within the Village of Shorewood to cut and/or remove such grass, shrubs, weeds or vegetation of a deleterious, unhealthful, noxious, unsightly, unsafe or of an obstructing nature found growing, lying or located on such lot, place or parcel of land, or upon any sidewalk, parkway or alley upon which said lot, place or parcel of land abuts.
[Amended 9-19-2011 by Ord. No. 1992]
B. 
If such owner, occupant, agent or person in charge of said lot, place or parcel of land shall neglect or refuse to cut and/or remove the grass, shrubs, weeds or vegetation of a deleterious, unhealthful, noxious, unsightly, unsafe or of an obstructing nature growing, lying or located upon said premises or upon the sidewalk, parkway, street or alley abutting said premises pursuant to the aforesaid written notice within three days after the notice has been received, said Director of Public Works (Weed Commissioner), or his/her designee, shall then proceed to cut down and/or otherwise destroy and/or remove such unhealthful or unsightly or unsafe or obstructing growths. The costs of such cutting, destroying or removal of the aforesaid unhealthful or unsightly, unsafe or obstructing growths of grass, shrubs, weeds or vegetation shall be billable to the property owner and shall be certified in the proper manner to have them levied as special charges against such property, and the proper officers of the Village are authorized and directed to enter such charges onto the tax roll. In addition, if any such owner, occupant, agent or person in charge of said premises shall fail to so cut and/or remove any such grass, shrubs, weeds or vegetation within three days after having received notice as herein provided, said owner, occupant, agent or person in charge of said premises shall, upon conviction thereof, be subject to the penalties as prescribed in § 115-1 of the Shorewood Village Code.
[Amended 7-28-1987 by Ord. No. 1507; 2-25-2008 by Ord. No. 1935; 10-20-2008 by Ord. No. 1945; 9-19-2011 by Ord. No. 1992]
A. 
Landscaping, plantings and other decorative surface treatments, including common species of grass, shall be installed, if necessary, and maintained to present an attractive appearance on every lot, place or parcel of land in the Village and in accordance with the provisions of § 220-1 of this chapter. Except with prior application to and approval of a natural lawn land management plan from the Village's Planning and Development Department, lawns shall be maintained to a height not to exceed six inches in length. Plantings shall be maintained so as not to present hazards or nuisances to adjoining properties or to persons or vehicles traveling on public ways and shall be maintained so as to enhance the appearance and value of the property on which located and thereby the appearance and value of the neighborhood and the Village.
(1) 
Lawns. Defined as an area of aesthetic and recreational land planted with grasses or other durable plants, which usually are maintained at a low and consistent height, not to exceed six inches.
B. 
Application for a natural lawn land management plan. Any owner, occupant, agent or person in charge of any lot, place or parcel of land within the Village may apply to the Planning and Development Department for approval of a land management plan for a natural lawn, one where the grasses or other plantings exceed six inches in height.
(1) 
"Land management plan" means a written plan relating to management of a lawn which contains a legal description of the area to be considered upon which the grass or planting will exceed six inches in height, a statement of intent and purpose of the lawn, general description of the vegetation types, plants and plant succession involved, and the specific management and maintenance techniques to be employed.
(2) 
All lawn and grass areas not exempted hereunder nor maintained consistent with an approved natural lawn land management plan shall be cut between May 15 and November 15 when the Director of Public Works, Planning and Development Department Director, or designee, in his/her discretion, so orders in accordance with authority granted under § 220-2 hereof.
C. 
Application requirements. Each application for a natural lawn land management plan shall be on a form provided by the Village's Planning and Development Department.
(1) 
A copy of the application shall be mailed by the Village Clerk and, in addition, may be given personally by the applicant to each of the owners of record as listed in the office of the Village Assessor who are owners of the property located in whole or in part within 100 feet of the boundary of the applicant's property.
(2) 
The Planning and Development Department shall prepare the list of the property owners who are to be notified of the application.
(3) 
If, within 15 days of receipt of a copy of the application, at least 51% of such property owners so notified file written objections to the application with the Planning and Development Department, said Department shall refer the application to the Design Review Board for hearing and decision.
D. 
Revocation of land management plan. The land management plan may be revoked for failure to comply with the requirements of Subsection B hereof. Notice of intent to revoke a land management plan shall be appealable to the Village's Design Review Board.
E. 
Application to appeal. The owner, occupant, agent or person in charge of any lot, place or parcel of land in the Village may appeal from a decision of the Planning and Development Department Director or Building Inspector refusing to grant a land management plan or revoking a land management plan previously approved. All appeals shall be to the Design Review Board of the Village, which shall hear such appeals.
Unless otherwise provided for in this chapter, any person, firm, partnership or corporation feeling aggrieved by any order, determination or ruling of any Village administrative official may appeal to the Board of Appeals in accordance with the provisions of § 535-56 of the Village Code. The fee for appealing in each case shall be as provided by the Village Fee Schedule.
[Amended 2-25-2008 by Ord. No. 1935]
Except where a penalty is otherwise prescribed, the penalty for violation of any provision of this chapter shall be as set forth in § 115-1 of the Village Code.