[Adopted 11-9-2015; amended in its entirety 4-20-2020]
This article is for the purpose of furthering the control and
the eradication of noxious weeds and grass in the Charter Township
of Blackman, to impose obligations upon the owner, agent or occupant
of such lot with respect to said control and eradication, and to implement
the enforcement of said obligations by a lien on the lands involved.
As used in this article, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated:
NOXIOUS WEEDS
Includes all types of grass, Canada Thistle (Circium arvense);
dodders (any species of Cuscuta); mustards (charlock, black mustard
and Indian mustard, species of Brassica or Sinapis); wild carrot (Daucus
carota); bindweed (ConvolvuLus arvensis); perennial sowthistle (Sonchus
arvensis); hoary alyssum (Berteroa incana); ragweed (Ambrosia elatior
1); poison ivy (Rhus toxicodendron); poison sumac (Toxicodendron vermi);
oxeyes; daisies; ragweed; goldenrod; brush; rank vegetation; or other
plants, grasses or other plants which in the opinion of the Township
Board is regarded as common nuisance (such as grass that would otherwise
not be a weed, if over a twelve-inch height).
This article shall apply to all lands in the Charter Township
of Blackman which are in commercial, industrial, residential and agricultural
zones with residential use areas, and/or which are platted as subdivisions,
to a depth of 165 feet.
Exceptions from the provisions of this article are flower gardens,
plots of shrubbery, vegetable gardens, and small grain plots and agricultural
lands. An exemption under the terms of this section cannot be claimed
unless the land has been cultivated and cared for in a manner appropriate
to such exemption categories.
It shall be unlawful for the agent, owner, or occupant of any land in the Charter Township of Blackman to cause, or permit to grow, on said land any noxious weeds or grass higher than 12 inches in height. The presence of such weeds or grass (as defined in §
55-9 hereof) upon such land is hereby deemed to be detrimental to the public health, safety, and welfare of the Township, and shall constitute a public nuisance.
It shall be the duty of the occupant and owner of any premises
within the Township to cut and remove or destroy by lawful means all
such weeds, grass or other rank, noxious or harmful vegetation, as
often as may be necessary to comply with the provisions of this article;
provided, however, that cutting, removing, or destroying of such weeds,
grass or such vegetation that is done at least once in every three
weeks, from March through November, contingent upon the growing season,
shall be deemed to be in compliance with the requirements of this
article.