Latest news with #ChristopherDevane
Yahoo
28-07-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Local officials slam woman with $2,000 fine for unconventional front lawn: 'That front yard looks hideous'
Local officials slam woman with $2,000 fine for unconventional front lawn: 'That front yard looks hideous' A Long Island woman faced fines for the supposed offense of replacing her lawn with native plants, CBS News reported. New Hyde Park, New York, resident Xilin Zhang made the decision to transform her yard, per CBS, participating in a growing "rewilding" movement. "It's a very natural look. There's tons of butterflies and bees and birds coming. ... It's not just some grass doing nothing," Zhang told CBS. Rewilding your yard is a practice growing in prominence — it typically entails replacing some or all foliage with indigenous greenery and, oftentimes, swapping out monoculture grass for a native lawn. The benefits of planting natives and switching away from a traditional lawn are manifold. They require fewer resources such as water, cost less to maintain, provide crucial support for pollinators, and — because native plants are suited to their areas — don't require nearly as much work. However, there's one prominent downside in some places, with New Hyde Park being one of them: homeowners associations (or HOA bylaws), neighborhood busybodies, and sometimes local code enforcers have been known to object to or even sanction rewilded yards. In Zhang's case, the village in Nassau County took exception to her native plants. In particular, Mayor Christopher Devane expressed disdain for her garden. "When ugly is that overwhelming, you have to call it what it is. That front yard looks hideous," Devane opined. Devane's personal assessment wasn't the only hurdle Zhang faced after rewilding her yard — she was given a summons with a potential fine of up to $2,000, per CBS. Confusing matters is the fact that New Hyde Park is in the Towns of Hempstead and North Hempstead, the latter of which has an initiative that encourages native plants — and even offers homeowners grants to facilitate rewilding. Do you think the government should ban gas-powered lawn tools? No way Definitely Only certain tools I don't know Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. While Zhang's efforts were encouraged by the Town of North Hempstead, New Hyde Park claimed her yard violated village code. Across Long Island, groups such as ReWild Long Island have endeavored to convert gardeners — particularly because the chemicals used to maintain code-compliant lawns have been catastrophic for the health of the Great South Bay. Neighboring Suffolk County has the highest rate of pesticide use in the state, and scientists at Stony Brook University determined that a record number of harmful algal blooms and dead zones occurred last summer. "There are lots of towns on Long Island which are encouraging people to put in wild flowers because they don't want all that pollution going into the bay," ReWild Long Island President Raju Rajan explained. Ultimately, Zhang was permitted to keep her native plant lawn with one caveat: "as long as all plants stay under 4 feet tall," per News 12 Long Island. Join our free newsletter for easy tips to save more and waste less, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet. Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
23-07-2025
- General
- Yahoo
NY homeowner fills yard with native plants — but town officials threaten a $2K fine unless she makes changes
A Long Island homeowner has found herself in hot water after letting her yard go au natural. Xilin Zhang of New Hyde Park, New York, transformed her front yard by replacing her traditional lawn with environmentally friendly native plants, using a $350 local grant that was designed for this purpose. Don't miss Thanks to Jeff Bezos, you can now become a landlord for as little as $100 — and no, you don't have to deal with tenants or fix freezers. Here's how I'm 49 years old and have nothing saved for retirement — what should I do? Don't panic. Here are 6 of the easiest ways you can catch up (and fast) Want an extra $1,300,000 when you retire? Dave Ramsey says this 7-step plan 'works every single time' to kill debt, get rich in America — and that 'anyone' can do it 'It's a very natural look,' Zhang shared with CBS News. 'There's tons of butterflies and bees and birds coming. It's not just some grass doing nothing.' But local officials who've said Zhang's landscaping looks 'hideous' and violates local code have reportedly given her a summons with a fine of up to $2,000. 'When ugly is that overwhelming, you have to call it what it is," Mayor Christopher Devane told CBS News. 'That front yard looks hideous.' Fortunately, after four trips to the court, a compromise was reached between Zhang and local officials: the summons would be dismissed if the garden was kept below four feet. And while the mayor is happy that the situation has been resolved, he believes these kind of gardens need to look more aesthetically pleasing for this idea to catch on. 'There should be a happy medium," said Mayor Devane. "That, in my opinion, is not it." Going au natural is a growing trend Thanks to the non-profit organization Rewild Long Island, Zhang is part of a movement that encourages homeowners to transform traditional lawns into native plant gardens that require fewer resources and provide greater ecological benefits. "There are lots of towns on Long Island which are encouraging people to put in wild flowers because they don't want all that pollution going into the bay," said Raju Rajan, president of Rewild Long Island. Natural gardens are beneficial because they offer a deeper root system than traditional grass lawns. While turf grass has a root system that's about two inches deep, the roots from native plants can grow up to 15 feet in depth, allowing them to absorb ten times more rainwater than a typical lawn. Native plants also attract birds, butterflies and bees by providing food, shelter and breeding sites that are essential for their survival. "Sustainable gardens are not just beautiful for the eye," said Mindy Germain, the water commissioner in Port Washington, New York. 'They protect our drinking water. We're trying to move away from these big green lawns that are sucking up too much water from our aquifer." And the movement is growing. Many communities outside of New York state — including Green Bay, WI, Cincinnati, OH, and Bellevue, WA — have recognized the benefits of natural lawns by adopting ordinances that promote native plant landscaping. Read more: Americans are 'revenge saving' to survive — but millions only get a measly 1% on their savings. How to plant a native garden without the backlash If you're thinking about converting your grass lawn into a native garden but want to avoid the headaches that Zhang experienced, the best way to do so is to be proactive: Consult with local officials and neighbors to understand potential concerns Focus on aesthetics that match community standards Create clear borders to show intentional design rather than neglect Natural lawns offer significant environmental benefits, but local regulations vary by location. Because of this, it's critical to communicate with neighbors and authorities to understand not only legal concerns but also the aesthetic concerns that neighbors might have. What to read next Robert Kiyosaki warns of 'massive unemployment' in the US due to the 'biggest change' in history — and says this 1 group of 'smart' Americans will get hit extra hard. Are you one of them? How much cash do you plan to keep on hand after you retire? Here are 3 of the biggest reasons you'll need a substantial stash of savings in retirement Rich, young Americans are ditching the stormy stock market — here are the alternative assets they're banking on instead Here are 5 'must have' items that Americans (almost) always overpay for — and very quickly regret. How many are hurting you? Stay in the know. Join 200,000+ readers and get the best of Moneywise sent straight to your inbox every week for free. This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.
CBS News
18-07-2025
- General
- CBS News
Village tries to fine Long Island woman who replaced lawn with native plants
A woman who replaced her front lawn with native plants was issued a fine because officials said it was ugly and violated the village's code. The case testing whether beauty is in the eye of the beholder unfolded on New York's Long Island. Xilin Zhang overhauled her front lawn with native plants in New Hyde Park. "It's a very natural look," she said. "There's tons of butterflies and bees and birds coming ... It's not just some grass doing nothing." It's the outgrowth of a Town of North Hempstead grant to encourage native plant gardens. But Zhang was told her yard clashes with the village code, and she received a summons with a fine up of $2,000. The village mayor, bluntly, said Zhang's yard was "hideous." "When ugly is that overwhelming, you have to call it what it is. That front yard looks hideous," Mayor Christopher Devane said. After four rounds in court, the village and Zhang reached a compromise. The summons was dismissed, but the garden must stay below 4 feet. Native plant advocates in Port Washington launched a movement to get suburbanites to ditch their lawns. Gardens, like Zhang's, have more attractive benefits, they say. "Sustainable gardens are not just beautiful for the eye. They protect our drinking water," Mindy Germain, Port Washington's water commissioner, said. "We're trying to move away from these big green lawns that are sucking up too much water from our aquifer." "There are lots of towns on Long Island which are encouraging people to put in wild flowers because they don't want all that pollution going into the bay," Raju Rajan, president of Rewild Long Island, said. Though native Long Island plants grow without chemicals and help absorb rainwater, the New Hyde Park mayor said the transformation of Zhang's yard was troubling. "Which property would you like to live next door to?" Devane said. He said the gardens need to look more pleasing for the idea to catch on. "There potentially is a happy medium. That, in my opinion, is not it," he said. Meanwhile, Zhang hopes to encourage a change in mindset about what looks good in the garden. "We need encourage people to do the right thing, do the right thing for us and for the planet," she said. She also put up a sign to make her case clear: This isn't neglect, it's a conscious choice.
