A Windsor Park resident has been told she doesn't have to replace the native prairie plants in her yard with turf -- as long as she keeps the growth next to the curb trimmed.
"I could live with that," Janice Biebrich told the three committee members (including Winnipeg chief administrative officer Doug McNeil) after making an emotional appeal at city hall Thursday.
The appeal granted by the city says she's required to maintain vegetation within one metre of curbs on her corner lot to no more than one metre in height and to make sure that at no time vegetation spills out over the curb. Biebrich must also apply for a permit that allows the naturescape to extend to the curb.
City officials at the appeal committee hearing said the rule that requires turf for one metre to the curb is for safety and accessibility.
Get the full story.
No credit card required. Cancel anytime.
Join free for 30 days
After that, pay as little as $0.99 per month for the best local news coverage in Manitoba.
Already a subscriber?
Log in

Already a subscriber?
Log in
Subscribers Log in below to continue reading,
not a subscriber? Create an account to start a 30 day free trial.
Log in Create your account
Your free trial has come to an end.
We hope you have enjoyed your trial! To continue reading, we recommend our Read Now Pay Later membership. Simply add a form of payment and pay only 27¢ per article.
For unlimited access to the best local, national, and international news and much more, try an All Access Digital subscription:
Thank you for supporting the journalism that our community needs!
Your free trial has come to an end.
We hope you have enjoyed your trial! To continue reading, we recommend our Read Now Pay Later membership. Simply add a form of payment and pay only 27¢ per article.
For unlimited access to the best local, national, and international news and much more, try an All Access Digital subscription:
Thank you for supporting the journalism that our community needs!
We hope you have enjoyed your free trial!
To continue reading, select a plan below:
All Access Digital
Introductory pricing*
99¢
per month
- Unlimited online reading and commenting
- Daily newspaper replica e-Edition
- News Break - our award-winning iOS app
- Exclusive perks & discounts
Continue
Read Now Pay Later
Pay
27¢
per article
- Commitment-free
- Cancel anytime
- Only pay for what you read
- Refunds available
Continue
*Introductory pricing schedule for 12 month: $0.99/month plus tax for first 3 months, $5.99/month for months 4 - 6, $10.99/month for months 7 - 9, $13.99/month for months 10 - 12. Standard All Access Digital rate of $16.99/month begins after first year.
We hope you have enjoyed your free trial!
To continue reading, select a plan below:
Read Now Pay Later
Pay
27¢
per article
- Commitment-free
- Cancel anytime
- Only pay for what you read
- Refunds available
Continue
All Access Digital
Introductory pricing*
99¢
per month
- Unlimited online reading and commenting
- Daily newspaper replica e-Edition
- News Break - our award-winning iOS app
- Exclusive perks & discounts
Continue
Mon to Sat Delivery
Pay
$34.36
per month
- Includes all benefits of All Access Digital
- 6-day delivery of our award-winning newspaper
Continue
*Introductory pricing schedule for 12 month: $0.99/month plus tax for first 3 months, $5.99/month for months 4 - 6, $10.99/month for months 7 - 9, $13.99/month for months 10 - 12. Standard All Access Digital rate of $16.99/month begins after first year.
We hope you have enjoyed your free trial!
To continue reading, select a plan below:
All Access Digital
Introductory pricing*
99¢
per month
- Unlimited online reading and commenting
- Daily newspaper replica e-Edition
- News Break - our award-winning iOS app
- Exclusive perks & discounts
Continue
Read Now Pay Later
Pay
27¢
per article
- Commitment-free
- Cancel anytime
- Only pay for what you read
- Refunds available
Continue
*Introductory pricing schedule for 12 month: $0.99/month plus tax for first 3 months, $5.99/month for months 4 - 6, $10.99/month for months 7 - 9, $13.99/month for months 10 - 12. Standard All Access Digital rate of $16.99/month begins after first year.
We hope you have enjoyed your free trial!
To continue reading, select a plan below:
Read Now Pay Later
Pay
27¢
per article
- Commitment-free
- Cancel anytime
- Only pay for what you read
- Refunds available
Continue
All Access Digital
Introductory pricing*
99¢
per month
- Unlimited online reading and commenting
- Daily newspaper replica e-Edition
- News Break - our award-winning iOS app
- Exclusive perks & discounts
Continue
*Introductory pricing schedule for 12 month: $0.99/month plus tax for first 3 months, $5.99/month for months 4 - 6, $10.99/month for months 7 - 9, $13.99/month for months 10 - 12. Standard All Access Digital rate of $16.99/month begins after first year.
Your free trial has come to an end.
We hope you have enjoyed your trial! To continue reading, we recommend our Read Now Pay Later membership. Simply add a form of payment and pay only 27¢ per article.
For unlimited access to the best local, national, and international news and much more, try an All Access Digital subscription:
Thank you for supporting the journalism that our community needs!
A Windsor Park resident has been told she doesn't have to replace the native prairie plants in her yard with turf — as long as she keeps the growth next to the curb trimmed.
"I could live with that," Janice Biebrich told the three committee members (including Winnipeg chief administrative officer Doug McNeil) after making an emotional appeal at city hall Thursday.
The appeal granted by the city says she's required to maintain vegetation within one metre of curbs on her corner lot to no more than one metre in height and to make sure that at no time vegetation spills out over the curb. Biebrich must also apply for a permit that allows the naturescape to extend to the curb.
City officials at the appeal committee hearing said the rule that requires turf for one metre to the curb is for safety and accessibility.
"The issue here is really about boulevard maintenance," said bylaw enforcement manager Winston Yee. "We're looking at a public right of way."
Officers are checking out sightlines and visibility, and making sure people parked at the curb don't have vegetation in their way, he said.
Biebrich's property is on a corner lot, in an area with no sidewalks and on the side of the street where there is no parking allowed.
In August, she received an order from the city saying she was in violation of section 89 (3) of the neighbourhood livability bylaw that requires homeowners to keep at least a one-metre strip of grass adjacent to the curb.
The order came as a surprise to Biebrich because the native landscape — certified as a naturescape by FortWhyte Alive nature centre — was planted eight years ago, and was checked out by bylaw enforcement officers twice several years ago, she said.
"This yard has been a labour of love," said the retired teacher-librarian, adding it is a way station for monarch butterflies, drought resistant and a sanctuary for endangered tallgrass prairie. "Our garden supports so much life... It's a place for our family, our children and grandchildren to commune with nature."
She said neighbours have been invited to garden parties and have shared seeds from their native prairie plants with people all over Winnipeg.
Want to get a head start on your day?
Get the day’s breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every morning.
Subscribe to Head Start
She and her estranged husband, Rod Biebrich, replaced the grass in their Lochinvar Avenue yard with more than 100 different local native plants eight years ago.
Testifying at the hearing in support of his former spouse, Rod Biebrich told the committee they decided to replace their lawn with native prairie habitat when they replaced the furnace with an energy-saving geothermal heating and cooling system, which required them to dig up the yard.
"It took us three years to do everything," he said, crediting Janice Biebrich with doing extensive research and consultation to make sure it was certified as a prairie habitat. "It's a home for butterflies, bunnies and bees."
St. Boniface ward city Coun. Matt Allard's office sent an email to the committee, expressing his view it should approve Biebrich's appeal. The message pointed to the precedent for permitting the naturalized garden in recent years, the restoration of native species to the area, the positive impacts for the climate and air quality from more vegetation, and "the reasonably-applied right of a homeowner to make decisions about the use of their property."
"I live my life with a concern for the environment," said Biebrich, who drives a hybrid vehicle and is a vegetarian. "We depend on biodiversity for our lives."
carol.sanders@freepress.mb.ca
Carol Sanders
Reporter
Carol Sanders’ reporting on newcomers to Canada has made international headlines, earned national recognition but most importantly it’s shared the local stories of the growing diversity of people calling Manitoba home.
Read full biography
You can comment on most stories on The Winnipeg Free Press website. You can also agree or disagree with other comments. All you need to do is be a Winnipeg Free Press print or digital subscriber to join the conversation and give your feedback.
Have Your Say
New to commenting? Check out our Frequently Asked Questions.
Have Your Say
Comments are open to The Winnipeg Free Press print or digital subscribers only. why?
Log in SubscribeHave Your Say
Comments are open to The Winnipeg Free Press Subscribers only. why?
SubscribeThe Winnipeg Free Press does not necessarily endorse any of the views posted. By submitting your comment, you agree to our Terms and Conditions. These terms were revised effective January 2015.