FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

April 24, 2007 Contacts: Fran Cantor

REB Committee Chair

(314) 567-1387

Creve Coeur First in St. Louis Area to Modify Weed Ordinances
Promoting Environmentally-Friendly Planting Methods

CREVE COEUR – After a year-long review by the Creve Coeur Recycling, Environment, and Beautification (REB) Committee, the city’s landscaping and weed ordinances are considered the first environmentally-friendly ordinances in the St. Louis area.

“Our goal was to modify city policy to encourage development, beauty, and individual creativity while promoting the long-term environmental health of the community,” said Fran Cantor, chair of the REB Committee. She added, “It took us a year to develop these changes because we were creating something new. We hope other cities will use us as a model.”

Perry Eckhardt, community conservationist with the Missouri Department of Conservation added, “The steps that Creve Coeur is taking illustrate an incredibly progressive mindset that help to ensure that natural spaces are an integral part of the urban place. Promoting the use of native plants and trees is beneficial to a city's economic interests. It has been shown that native plants and trees abate expensive stormwater problems, and they attract retail shoppers and increase property values.”

On April 9, the City Council approved recommended changes to Chapter 14 (Health & Sanitation), Chapter 26.5 (Vegetation), Section 26.62 (Landscaping) of the Zoning Code, and Section 22A-30-32.2 (Trees) of the Subdivision Code, which are the city’s landscaping and weed ordinances.

Changes to Creve Coeur Ordinances include the following:

· Adding specific text into the weed ordinance to allow for native planting and to restrict invasive plants.

· Modifying the weed ordinance to allow for ornamental grasses and native plants taller than 7 inches. (Certain exclusions exist, for example, the plants cannot obstruct sight distance and must have a five-foot set back from neighboring properties.)

· Modifying the desirable list of street tree species to promote diversity and increase the use of native trees.

· Allowing alternative low-impact stormwater techniques in commercial development.

· Creating an appeals process regarding the weed ordinances.

Background on native plants:

Native plants have been shown to reduce maintenance and effectively conserve water, soil, and other elements of the natural community. Moreover, the preservation, restoration, and management of native plant communities reduces the need for toxic pesticides, herbicides, fertilizers, and other pollutants into the environment.

Background on invasive plants:

The Missouri Department of Conservation and the Missouri Botanical Garden have documented exotic plants that spread aggressively in Missouri and are a threat to the Missouri native ecosystem. Invasive plants are considered weeds when left uncontained and uncontrolled on private property.

Background on street tree species:

A street tree survey was conducted in November 2004. The survey found that three species – green ash, pin oak, and sweetgum – make up 50% of the total tree population. Diversity is a sign of a healthy urban forest, and urban foresters typically recommend that one species should not compose more than 10% of a population. These trees, along with trees that are invasive in Missouri, were removed from the recommended street tree list.

The original inspiration to revise the ordinances came when Perry Eckhardt, Missouri Department of Conservation, spoke to the committee regarding native plants. Information was also gathered from Wild Ones, Dave Tylka with St. Louis Community College, and city staff from the Public Works, Planning, and Building Departments.

As part of their work, the committee designed a comprehensive landscaping guide, which can be downloaded here

Click here to visit the Shaw Nature Reserve's page on Native Plant School.

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