ARLINGTON — A homeowner in Arlington鈥檚 Forest Glen neighborhood says she plans to fight a county inspector鈥檚 order that the abundant plant life in her yard be dramatically trimmed.
Lori Brent says her front yard at 665 S. Harrison Street has been a certified wildlife habitat for well over聽a decade聽and is beloved by many of her neighbors.
But it was a complaint from a neighbor earlier this year that prompted a county inspector to pay her a visit.
鈥淚 found it really weird because I鈥檝e lived here for 15 years and everyone loves my yard,鈥� she said.
Acknowledging that her garden had become聽鈥渁 little overgrown鈥� after she had been away for three weeks, Brent聽said a 鈥渧ery adversarial鈥� inspector stopped by, called the yard 鈥渁 jungle鈥� and said聽鈥測ou鈥檒l be getting a letter from us.鈥�
According to Brent, the letter ordered her to trim all of the plant life, even bushes and trees (the county disputes that), to a height of 12 inches. A follow-up inspection, to ensure her compliance, is scheduled for tomorrow (Friday).
Brent, however, said she has trimmed all that she intends to trim, making the yard 鈥� which now include Halloween decorations 鈥� look 鈥渕ore like a proper garden,鈥� even if it might not meet the letter of the law.
鈥淚 cut聽more than I鈥檇 like to鈥� in good faith, to be a good neighbor,鈥� Brent said. 鈥淚t kills me to get rid of the food sources for the animals before the winter. We can鈥檛 have just grass, that鈥檚 horrible for wildlife.鈥�
鈥淚 flat out refuse鈥� to do more trimming, said Brent. 鈥淔rankly it鈥檚 against my religion, I鈥檓 Pagan. You can鈥檛 get me to rid our animal habits and put in cement or whatever they want.鈥�
Arlington County officials, as you might imagine, have a bit of a different story.
鈥淎lthough, it is not our practice to discuss the details of active enforcement cases, I鈥檇 like to provide clarity regarding the issues generated at this particular property,鈥� said Gary Greene,聽Code Enforcement Section Chief for the county鈥檚聽Inspection Services Division, via email.
鈥淚n 1988, the Commonwealth enabled localities to adopt an ordinance to deal with nuisance conditions like excessive vegetation overgrowth and vegetation that encroaches upon sidewalks and streets,鈥� he wrote. 鈥淲here adopted, the legislation has been effective in reducing the nuisances and public health hazards created by biting, stinging and jumping insects, increased pollen litter and harborage for rodents and the vast number of predators that prey on them.鈥�
鈥淎rlington鈥檚 Condition of Private Property Ordinance limits the height of grass or lawn areas to not more than 12 inch height, a limit consistent with international standards used to control vector related pest issues,鈥� Greene added. 鈥淥ur investigation of the complaint at the address provided, affirmed overgrowth in excess of five feet, vegetation encroaching onto the sidewalk and even extended onto county property immediately adjacent to the private parcel.鈥�
Long story short: Brent鈥檚 personal聽Garden of Eden聽could be an inviting home for a bunch of bad critters, and that鈥檚 why the county is on her case.
鈥淭he enforcement is not arbitrary or onerous, but it is equitable to ensure public health; and yes, there are considerations for cultivated areas,鈥� said Greene. (Similar enforcement has taken place .)
鈥淭he County鈥檚 issue is public health, not manicured lawns,鈥� he said.
Brent, for her part, is left to wonder why the enforcement is taking place now, even though her yard has been chock full of vegetation for a decade. As far as wildlife, she said the yard is primarily home to chipmunks, rabbits and birds 鈥� critters that aren鈥檛聽going to harm humans.
鈥淢y neighbors are all up in arms, they鈥檙e so upset,鈥� Brent said. 鈥淭he situation has been surreal to say the least.鈥�
