spoke with Property owner - they are working on it

Funny, I see dozens of people who walk by unencumbered everyday. I guess it's those without a life that strung.e

Very simple,,,, if you are the property owner , it is your job (responsibilty) to trim any overhanging shrubs or trees over a public sidewalk.. If it is not done, it is suppose to be done by the city and charged to the property owner,,,,,,, simple job, simple enough for almost all to do. Thank you for ;posting this issue and also thank you for fixing it very soon.......

Ah, simpletons, with a crusade no less.

It is simply about keeping the public thorough fare accessible to all members of the public. I fail to understand your objection Patricia.

Just because some can does not mean everyone can. Try passing through in a wheelchair or walker or with a stroller or wagon. And even for those that can, just because they can does not mean it is not a nuisance and annoyance. I love wild growth more than most, but the sidewalk is not the appropriate place for it.

For reference:

http://www.codepublishing.com/VT/Burlington/html/BurlingtonCH/BurlingtonCH03.html#48

"ARTICLE 19. POWERS OF CITY COUNCIL
§ 48. Enumerated.
(23) To compel all persons to remove from the sidewalks and gutters in front of the premises owned or occupied by them all snow, ice, dirt and garbage, and to keep such sidewalks and gutters clean, and to compel the owners or occupants of any land or premises in the city to cut and remove from the streets and sidewalks in front of such land or premises all grass, brush, thistles and weeds growing or being thereon, under such regulations as may be prescribed therefor, except as herein otherwise provided."

To be blunt, we all pay for and share the public right of way; it is not one person's personal plant storage area. The vote count on this issue speaks for itself...

If you really cared about those with strollers (who do walk by unencumbered) or those in wheelchairs or using walkers, you should complain about the condition of the sidewalks on this section. Unlike those on the lake side of the street (where toxic pesticides are used), the sidewalks on this section have all but deteriorated. They've been like this for years. I keep bees and the growth is what they forage in as well as offer protection for passers by. No one has ever been stung. It isn't just about people.

Clearly Patricia Ferreira is ignorant about and derisive towards the needs and limitations of disabled members of our community. People in wheelchairs can't simply "walk around" the obstructions she puts into the sidewalk. It is particularly dangerous to force wheelchairs and strollers and even children on bikes into the street at this intersection. The City should take note that she does not appear to acknowledge the problem or her responsibility, but instead defends her refusal to take any action to fix the problem.

Not true Working Mom. As the city says at the top I've been notified and will take action. I trim the vines regularly, as recently as this weekend, and will do so again. Even the picture demonstrates that no one has to "walk around." I see dozens walk, run, stroll, bike as the side walk is NOT obstructed. The sidewalk itself, however, is cracked, missing in some places which would unfortunately cause someone in a wheel chair to struggle. That's your issue.

Just because the sidewalk is in poor repair and your bees need to forage does not make your overgrowth in any way acceptable. I cross the street instead of walking this stretch both for the bees and the overgrowth. For the record I was stung twice twice last time I walked that stretch. Brushing against the overgrowth must've disturbed some foraging bees who must've felt threatened.

I've been stung by hornets, wasps, bees, all over the city. In front of City Market too where they help those lovely flower beds. Check em' out and see how many are in that bustling part of Burlington. They inhabit the world. And gosh they make the city beautiful and on my street the flowers thrive. Check out how much food we eat that wouldn't be possible without pollinators, mostly honey bees. Like I said, I trim the vine. Told the city I would again. Did it this weekend, did it last month. Won't use pesticides though to keep it from growing.

The idea that a property owner can dictate what is and is not passable; place her desire to be an apiarist in an urban area above the needs of her neighbors and then become outraged when someone protests....this is an excellent metaphor for what is wrong in the Old North End.

It's not only in the old north end, This is true for the city in general.... there is no reason to call somebody ignorant because they might not agree with you . The issue at hand is the blockage of a city sidewalk,,, a right a way for people, kids, no matter handicapped or not, to walk freely along this sidewalk...... Thank you for drawing the attention to this hedge and thank you patricia for hopefully fixing this issue and keeping it trimmed from now on and hope others with same type problems see this and will take the hint. Thanks for the see it click it team. On to the next issue.

As for my bees, most who walk by the hives love them. I've been told so directly. And many of my neighbors buy the honey in fall. Most also appreciate that humans must find ways to live constructively in our habitat rather than destroy it. Destroying bees or their foraging areas is doing precisely that. Like I say, see what's in the grocery store to eat when they no longer exist. I've put my name on every post. Walk buy and chat with me.

Hello Everyone in the vicinity of 3 Berry street, Lake View Terrace,

What a hullabaloo certain people in our neighborhood, who do not sign their name, are making about a hedge growing over into the sidewalk, which Patricia Ferreira, the owner of 3 Berry Street, is now making sure will not imped anyone, even on wheelchairs or walkers.

How unseemly that these people do not give their names.

But even more unseemly is the criticism about Patricia and Dan Delanty's bee hives. We should be praising and thanking Patricia and Dan for this. The environment is in real trouble. We needed the bees for our food and for our plants...... And, there is a dreadful bee problem throughout the world-- the death of the bees is something we do not want, even if we are only thinking of ourselves....

It is a pity that those anonymous people who are criticizing Patricia don't direct their energy into more environmentally positive ways in our neighborhood.

Yours sincerely,
Greg Delanty

It is disconcerting to say the least that people are criticizing her and Dan.

Please let us know your names here.
Thank you,
Greg Delanty

Hello Everyone in the vicinity of 3 Berry Street, Lake View Terrace,

What a hullabaloo certain people in our neighborhood, who do not sign their name(s), are making about a hedge growing over into the sidewalk, which Patricia Ferreira, the owner of 3 Berry Street, is now making sure will not imped anyone, even on wheelchairs or walkers.

How unseemly that these people do not give their names.

But even more unseemly is the criticism about Patricia and Dan Delanty's bee hives. We should be praising and thanking Patricia and Dan for this. The environment is in real trouble. We need the bees for our food and for our plants...... And, there is a dreadful bee problem throughout the world-- the death of the bees is something we do not want, even if we are only thinking of ourselves....

It is a pity that those anonymous people who are criticizing Patricia don't direct their energy into more environmentally positive ways in our neighborhood.

Yours sincerely,
Greg Delanty

P.S. It is disconcerting to say the least that people are criticizing her and Dan. Please let us know your names.

.

Greg, are you aware that Patricia called the previous posters "Simpletons with a crusade"? Why would anyone open themselves up for that kind of ridicule?

That sir, is truly unseemly.

Khalem Delat (my real name)

Khalem: My post about "simpletons" was a mistake. I apologize. Crusader99 wrote the matter was "simple," citing the ordinance. Given my bees and their need for forage (a good deal of their habitat was destroyed when the Packard Lofts were built), I am, indeed, admittedly defensive and the matter for me is not so simple. As you can tell, my own bugaboo on the street is the use of pesticides as that's another real threat to bees. Curiously, New York City has thousands of urban beekeepers, as does Paris and London. They're even on top of the Paris Opera House. When you see lawns without dandelions, weeds, or additional bee friendly forage, know that there are pesticides in use, not only threatening honey bees, but also causing algae blooms in the Lake. This is especially when such is done within close proximity as on Lakeview Terrace. As one of my neighbors said to me this afternoon, "People complain. Bees make honey." Stop by for a chat anytime and I'll give you a sample to taste. Otherworldly!

Patricia, I applaud you. It can be very stressful when something like this comes up, especially on a Code Enforcement website. It's completely understandable that you would be upset, and it is obvious that you care deeply about your bees and bees in general. I'm sure that is why you spoke the way you did. And they definitely need an advocate. The fact that you are willing to trim back the overgrowth really makes everything moot, but I am walking away with respect for you. I do not think you should feel concerned about the way the neighborhood views your property - it is clear you have several ardent defenders :)

I was by here yesterday evening and it is looking much better. Thank you Patricia for addressing this so rapidly!

I hope the neighbors give up their pesticide use...

This was trimmed.

IMG_20140721_160039.jpg

Issue Closed