Joint Statement from Mayor, Ward 6 Councillor & Environment Deputy Mayor on Naturalized Gardens & Environment Protection in the City of Burlington
*Please see below a joint statement issued by Burlington Mayor Marianne Meed Ward, Ward 6 Councillor Angelo Bentivegna and Deputy Mayor for the Environment Ward 3 Councillor Rory Nisan.**UPDATE (Aug. 10, 2023): Since the joint statement was released on Aug. 8, 2023, the Mayor's and Councillors' offices have received queries regarding the court case referenced. Staff have provided this additional information:
- The court ruled that the property owner was convicted for ‘Failure to remove and destroy all noxious weeds on the property’. The trial in this matter was held on January 26, 2022 and judgment/sentencing was issued February 4, 2022.
- Should you wish to obtain further information on the case, including copies of the transcripts or court documents, you can do so by contacting Halton Court Services (HCS). Further details on this process can be found here: https://www.burlington.ca/en/halton-court-services/order-transcripts-and-audio-recordings.aspx#Transcription-fee-schedule.
Burlington, Ont. — Aug. 8, 2023 — Our offices have been receiving questions from residents regarding the City of Burlington allowing for naturalized gardens on properties, based on an article that appeared in the Toronto Star over the weekend. We appreciate the concerns members of the community have been raising regarding naturalized gardens and environmental protections in Burlington – we share them. That is why the City of Burlington updated our Lot Maintenance Bylaw in 2018 to allow for naturalized gardens and again in 2022 to clarify regulations that apply to naturalized gardens.There are numerous examples of naturalized gardens in neighbourhoods across our City that are operating within our bylaw. Such gardens are regularly maintained and pruned, have no other non-conforming weeds growing, and no invasive species being grown. Examples of non-conforming weeds come from the definitions of noxious weeds that are set by the Province of Ontario under the Weed Control Act.We welcome and support these gardens and appreciate residents who maintain them within City and Provincial standards.We will do our best to continue to educate residents about naturalized gardens, invasive species, and lot maintenance responsibilities. Our bylaw allows for naturalized gardens and those gardens must conform to lot maintenance standards. Each complaint the City receives is investigated and treated the same under the terms of our bylaw. We will also defend our City bylaws in a balanced and impartial manner. When the City investigates a complaint, it provides the property owner with information regarding the requirements of the bylaw, where they may not be in compliance, and continues to work with them until compliance is achieved within reasonable timelines. Only when that process fails, and as a last resort, would charges be filed with the court. Fines, up to a maximum, established by the Province and adopted by the City, may be imposed by a Court on an owner of any property found in non-compliance with the bylaw. The amount of the potential fines is included in all notices for transparency.The recent Star story listed a property that does not comply with our bylaw for naturalized gardens. It has been under formal and extensive City of Burlington bylaw investigation and enforcement since 2015. The City has attempted to work closely with the property owners to bring their property into compliance with our bylaws. In doing so, the City consulted with experts in naturalized gardens. This matter was recently before the courts and the ruling was in the City’s favour.We invite Burlington residents to review our bylaws and provide feedback and suggestions, if they have any. We also recommend the community reviews the Province’s Table of Noxious Weeds and shares any suggestions they have regarding those regulations with their local MPP.We appreciate the opportunity to engage with the community on this important environmental matter, to reassure residents that naturalized gardens are welcome in Burlington and to share information about how residents can ensure these conform with our City’s bylaws.Sincerely,Burlington Mayor Marianne Meed WardWard 6 Councillor Angelo BentivegnaDeputy Mayor for the Environment & Ward 3 Councillor Rory Nisan—
- Media Contact for Mayor’s Office: John Bkila, Mayor’s Media & Digital Communications Advisor, Email -- john.bkila@burlington.ca
- Media Contact for Ward 6 Councillor’s Office: Email -- ward6@burlington.ca
- Media Contact for Ward 3 Councillor’s Office: Email -- ward3@burlington.ca
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