This concern was assigned to the traffic safety supervisor, Sgt. Santanella.

This property is in violation of zoning regulation Article III Section 3.30.3 Corner Lot Visibility:

Stockade fence ( 6 ft), several trees over three feet in height
3.30.3 Corner visibility.

On a corner lot, no fence, wall, hedge, or other structure or planting more than three feet in height shall be erected, placed or maintained within the triangular area formed by the intersecting street lines and a straight line adjoining said street lines at points which are 50 feet distant from the point of intersection, measured along said street lines.

R Santanella - Code Enforcement assigned this issue to Ginny Higley

Need to verify growth is not in town right of way. V. Higley, ZEO

Asst. Town Engineer looked at the subject frontage (see attached photos). Based on the marker I found, it appears the fence is on/or behind the right of way line while the shrub branches have grown over the fence into the right of way. I also noted that these items do not appear to be a sight line issue at this corner of Buchanan and Harding.

Second picture.

Third picture

Last picture taken by Asst. Town Eng.

Per comment from G. Higley, the fence on this property is not a sight line issue, however the traffic safety supervisor Sgt. Santanella has noted that the property is in violation of zoning regulation Article III Section 3.30.3 Corner Lot Visibility.

The street sign is blocked by the overgrown hedges also noted, services such as deliveries, repair services, school buses, even police patrols have had difficulties determining street name.

So two issues are at hand:

- the final decision of the fence inhibiting safe passage by and into Harding Circle, zoning says this is not an issue but the police department states this is a violation;

- overgrown hedges that are into the street blocking the street sign - is this to be handled by the property maintenance officer as a blight issue?

The Assistant Town Engineer went out on June 14, in an attempt to verify property lines and sight line issues. He found the fence appeared to be either on/or right behind the right of way line. The shrubs have grown over the fence and partially into the town right of way. The shrubs did not hinder the sight line at the corner of Buchanan and Harding. If Public Works has not already added this to their list to trim, I am asking that they add this to their list. Thank you.

Thank you for following up on this issue. Can you please advise, if the shrubs are on private property and growing over the fence onto the town right of way, why is the Public Works department being used at the taxpayer's expense to clean up privately owned property? Shouldn't the property owner be responsible for maintaining the property? Does this mean that the town will need to trim these shrubs when they are allowed to grow wild again? Also, would the town need to cut the grass on the right of way that the property owner neglects, as this is a common issue and the grass is only cut to the street sign. For clarification, is maintaining a right of way common courtesy or the accountability of the property owner.

Again, I do not hope that taxpayer dollars that are needed elsewhere are being spent to maintain privately owned property under which the resident should be held to accountability as the rest of us are.

I will be checking with other departments in an attempt to find an answer to your question.

V. Higley, Zoning Enforcement Officer

Following up on this issue, the overgrown shrubs are still protuding into the street and have grown longer. Regardless of who trims these back, will this overgrowth be removed anytime soon?

7/30/12 - Thank you for the follow up See-Clix-Fix. In my last comments Public Works was asked to add this location to their list for trimming. I will ask them via email for a trimming date. When I get a date, it will be added to See-Click-Fix under comment.

V. Higley, ZEO

Thank you Miss Higley for your quick reply.

To confirm then, the Town will be trimming the privately owned hedges and not the property owner? So every time these grow into the street then a request would need to be made of the Town of Enfield to remedy this and not the residents that own the hedges which are on their property?

To quote the comment below, "Again, I do not hope that taxpayer dollars that are needed elsewhere are being spent to maintain privately owned property under which the resident should be held to accountability as the rest of us are."

Asking for the status of this situation, is any action planned to address the overgrowth at this property?

Thank you.

Ginny Higley assigned this issue to dtuttle

8/15/12 - Good morning. I have asked Dave Tuttle to look into this for you. V. Higley, ZEO

Hello,

Is there an ETA of when these hedges will be trimmed? Not only at the corner where the street sign is, but along the entire fence.

Also, can you please advise as to who is responsible for maintaining the right of way; current property owner neglects maintenance outside of the fence and does not cut the grass nor remove fallen branches, etc.

Thank you.

The trees and brush have been cut back.

Ken Boulette
Highway Crew Leader
kboulette@enfield.org
860-763-7523