A Thulin Street resident may be given an extension to remove a hedge deemed a traffic hazard by the city.
City Clerk Peter Wipper said the owner of the hedge, in consultation with a professional landscaper, has requested additional time so that he can relocate the hedge.
“The reason for the extension is so the hedge can be moved during the winter months when it is dormant,” Wipper wrote in a report to council.
At Tuesday’s council meeting, which took place after the Mirror went to press, council was expected to consider giving Steve Mitchell until January 31 to carry out the work which was ordered by council two months ago.
City council issued a remedial action notice against Mitchell in August after city staff advised council that Mitchell’s five foot tall hedge, which runs along the corner of Thulin and 3rd Avenue, reduces visibility for drivers pulling up to the intersection.
Mitchell appeared before council on Sept. 19 to appeal the remedial action notice.
Mitchell said he didn’t believe the hedge violated the city’s bylaw and questioned how council was interpreting the city’s bylaw related to sight lines.
He said that according to the bylaw, which he had researched and presented to council, his hedge should be 2.4 metres back from the intersection.
“It states very clearly, the intersection,” Mitchell said. “This hedge is 4.3 metres (14 feet) back from the intersection and it’s 1.6 metres in height – five feet.”
But Wipper told Mitchell at that September meeting that the bylaw regulations are not measuring the distance from the road.
“That 2.4 metres is from your property line,” Wipper said.
Seemingly out of options, Mitchell asked if instead of completely removing the hedge, if he could be given time to relocate it and give the hedge the best chance at survival.
Council agreed to Mitchell’s request and directed city staff to report back with options.
Wipper’s report, which was to go before council Tuesday evening, recommended the deadline extension Mitchell was asking for, but reiterated that the hedge must be removed from its current location, or else cut down to one metre high.
“Staff appreciate that Mr. Mitchell would like to move the hedge as opposed to cutting it down and re-planting a new one,” Wipper said.
“Obviously, the sooner this can be done the better in order to address the issue of safety.”
Wipper said if Mitchell does not comply with the requirement prior to the deadline passing, the city will undertake the work at the homeowner’s expense.
“The property owner will be advised that if the remedial action requirements to move the hedge out of the sight triangle have not been completed by the date set by council, then a city contractor will (without further delay) cut back the corner of the hedge to a height of one metre.”