HomeMy WebLinkAboutAugust 8, 2011- Proposed Village Fencing Ordinance.PDFC.ayuga Landscape Company, fnc.
2712 North'friphammer Road * Ithaca, NY 14850
(607) 257-3000 * FAX (607) 2s7-s242
Memo
To: Board of Trustees
Village of Cayuga Heights
From: David Fernande,z
CeII:321-0243
Email : $!1nig4iez({rclr}gpt hncl seapq-qe!l
l)ate: August 8, 2011
Re: Proposed Villag;e Fencing Ordinance
My business, Cayuga L,andscape Co., is a contractor for many Village residents who seek to
protect their plantings fiom deer browsing. Although I am not a Village resident, I am a .
stakeholder in the outcome of this plocess. I have also been a reference fot .o"t" oilt Jr. or, /fubJ
debating,the mplilp of the proposed ordinance.
Car,/ f r1nt'r1
F'irst, I firml1, firvor a le:w{entfencing ordinance that allows permanent protection for
plantings againrst browsiing. Surely one primary goal of any Village fencing ordinance is to
protect and imp,rove the aesthetics of Village landscapes. A landscape marred by ugly
fences may be offensive but so is a l[ndscape of denuded vegetation. Some of the most
pleasing public vistas in the Village would not exist were it not for fencing to exclude deer.
For example:
1) The ban.ks of rhododendrons along 'fhe Parkway were particularly spectacular this
spring, but without the nettidg or fencing over the winter, they would have been
stripped to the trare branch.
2) Many V'illage properties are lounded on one or more sides by high thick green
hedges ,rf hemlock or yew. I; or the iack of a high fence, they would be stripped,
needle eLnd twig, leaving loolming cro\ /ns over ravaged skirts. Once so destroyed they
will ner,'er reco\/er. WithouX the allowance of higher fencing this is all but inevitable.
I argue that a generous height allor,vance will protect these green screens for the best
overall raesthetio advantase.
Ground,covers such as myrtlo and ivy, that are such an important part of Village
landscapes, were previously flgnored by deer but now are eaten to the ground.
Without fencing to exclude deer, the groundcovers have insufficient reserves to
recover in one 1,ear.
Summer landsc,apes: cottagQ gardens, banks of hydrangeas, hedges of lilac or rose,
and the lihe are also at risk. iWithout these spring and summer-blooming shrubs and
perenniills, our Village woulil not be the same. Without fencing, there are only two
alternatjLves: thr: onerous and expensive bi-weekly spraying with deterrents, or:
limiting the pak:tte of plants
[o
a tinV and boring group of tf se that arc unpalatable to
deer... so far.
14 /,n1r..il{ y frT ^,/:.:.'!tq-
4n t' 'tv) 'trn,Yl ln' hrV**l 'ttY"'n { 4 *PM
4)
4t'*,ffir,
(. l*,r|h'r- drv[7',, . kr\ *{trl 4{/r,fid{h?-
_ HlN,M,n,rW.r,w, r!, orl,Xf,#fu