Yards So ‘Ugly,’ They’re a Crime

Palmdale has warned hundreds of homeowners that they may be violating a controversial ordinance requiring them to maintain attractive frontyards.

The law, passed in June 2001, aims to spruce up this wind-swept desert city, where tidy suburban dream homes often sit next-door to dusty, neglected lots. The city gave residents until this December to get their yards in shape--either by planting grass lawns or installing decorative rocks and native desert plants.

This month, city code enforcement officials sent about 320 letters to owners of properties that neighbors had complained about. Those homeowners could be charged with misdemeanors and face fines of $1,000 and six months in jail, city spokeswoman Barbara La Fata said.

But Mike Morrisey, senior code enforcement officer, said his office hopes to work with the violators, not punish them.

Fines will probably not be levied, but if they are, they would be for lesser code infractions and come to about $125 per household, he said.

“We’re going to help these people identify their problems, then give them some time to make the changes,” Morrisey said.

The soft touch is an acknowledgment of the fierce opposition to the ordinance that came from a number of quarters, including libertarian desert dwellers, lawmakers concerned about local water supplies and low-income residents who came to Palmdale because of its relatively inexpensive housing market.

Enforcement of Palmdale’s landscaping law is also being watched closely in neighboring Lancaster, where officials have expressed interest in a similar ordinance. Lancaster Community Development Director Brian Ludicke said he may present the City Council with a number of proposals next month.

The problem in Palmdale, Morrisey said, is “there are too many people ... who don’t understand what owning a home entails--and sometimes with too little income to allow them to take care of their property.”

Last summer, city staffers estimated that 3,000 homes lacked adequate landscaping under the new law.

A report found that half of those households would require city subsidies to comply with the ordinance, at a cost of $750,000 to $2.25 million.

Disabled, elderly and low-income residents who cannot afford to fix up their frontyards will be able to draw from the city’s existing home-improvement subsidy funds, which this year total about $450,000, city Housing Manager Mike Adams said.

Despite earlier estimates, Adams said that sum should be adequate because the city plans to enforce the code only with properties that have been the subject of complaints.

For residents such as Mary Spiva--whose dirt yard is awaiting a subsidized makeover under a separate city program--the success of the ordinance depends on the city’s ability to assist low-income residents.

In addition, she asked, “how particular are they going to get about the lawns? Some people think ABC is attractive, while others prefer XYZ.”

Residents have plenty of options, city officials say.

Palmdale’s Web site promotes rock gardens, water-saving “xeriscape” lawns with specially chosen plants and evaporation-minimizing mulches, and nearly 200 acceptable grasses, shrubs and vines.

Assistant City Planner Susan Koleda said Palmdale is even considering a contest rewarding the best-kept lawn.

Spiva said she’s not going to enter any time soon.

A while back, her lawn became plagued with small, annoying plants she calls “stickers,” so she decided to let the whole thing die out and start over.

“Right now, it looks pretty bad, to be honest with you,” she said.