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Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION
Follow law of the land: city
Boulevard garden violates bylaw
Barrie Fraser must modify the attractive garden he planted on the boulevard near his Valour Road home. (KEN GIGLIOTTI / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS) Photo Store
A Valour Road resident's efforts to spruce up the boulevard in front of his home has drawn the ire of some of his neighbours and officials at city hall.
Barrie Fraser, 68, said he gave the boulevard a makeover four years ago but was recently told by a city official to dig up the work and plant grass.
"It was overgrown with dandelions and weeds and, of course, the city won't look after it so I did," Fraser said of the boulevard.
"Now, they're telling me to take everything out and only have grass."
Fraser said he doesn't understand the city's reaction, given how homeowners across the city have transformed the boulevard in front of their homes.
Jack Lubinski, the civic superintendent of park services for the north area and downtown, said the city has no objections to boulevard projects as long as they are done properly, adding Fraser's work is hazardous and violates the boulevard maintenance bylaw.
"Most people go about their non-standard boulevard treatment and we don't have any issues, but on occasion some people take it upon themselves to do it without checking with us and that's when we run into problems," Lubinski said.
Fraser's efforts violate several rules, Lubinski said, because he dug up the entire boulevard, planted shrubs and placed large rocks on the site.
Lubinski said a resident complained to the city after their vehicle door was damaged when it struck one of the rocks.
Tom Ethans, executive director of Take Pride Winnipeg, which promotes citizen beautification efforts and organizes the annual Winnipeg In Bloom contest, said boulevard enhancements are attractive but residents must do them according to the rules laid down by city hall.
"We encourage (boulevard beautification) because it enhances curb appeal but people have to follow the guidelines," Ethans said.
Fraser said he'll remove the stones and shrubs but will continue to plant flowers in the boulevard.
Curb appeal
SIMPLE rules to follow when beautifying the boulevard in front of your home:
-- Leave a grass strip one metre wide on the curb side and 0.5 metres wide on the sidewalk side.
-- Plants cannot exceed one metre in height.
-- Shrubs, fruit trees or vegetables are not permitted.
-- Do not block access to hydrants, utility boxes or mailboxes.
-- Do not place stones smaller than 20 mm (3/4") or greater than 40 mm (1.5").
-- Do not put anything down that weighs more than 10 kilograms.
-- Grade it so drainage flows toward the street.
-- Call before you dig.
More details are available by calling 311 or online at:
winnipeg.ca/publicworks/Boulevards/boulevard.asp
Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition May 31, 2012 A2
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