Sprawl

Man Jailed Because Lawn Lacks Grass

By Ryan McGreal
Published July 04, 2007

Suburbia has officially jumped the shark.

Ryan McGreal, the editor of Raise the Hammer, lives in Hamilton with his family and works as a programmer, writer and consultant. Ryan volunteers with Hamilton Light Rail, a citizen group dedicated to bringing light rail transit to Hamilton. Ryan wrote a city affairs column in Hamilton Magazine, and several of his articles have been published in the Hamilton Spectator. His articles have also been published in The Walrus, HuffPost and Behind the Numbers. He maintains a personal website, has been known to share passing thoughts on Twitter and Facebook, and posts the occasional cat photo on Instagram.

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By joejoe (anonymous) | Posted July 04, 2007 at 10:09:39

Classic! I have a friend who moved to a sub division in Pittsburg. Once moved in the neighbours came around and gave him their book of 'rules' for the neighbourhood - no above ground pool, white coloured fence only, no caravans parked on the front drive etc. Some of them were fine but in the end it went way too far. Many of these rules turned out to be municipal laws (not sure if a green lawn was one of them but I wouldn't be surprised).

The world's gone mad!

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By seancb (registered) - website | Posted July 04, 2007 at 10:45:40

Sick.

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By nobrainer (registered) | Posted July 04, 2007 at 15:21:22

Short post, short comment: wtf?

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By seancb (registered) - website | Posted July 04, 2007 at 15:26:34

Here's a longer comment for ya ;-) http://raisethehammer.org/article/568/

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By peter (anonymous) | Posted July 04, 2007 at 22:19:01

god bless america.

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By trey (registered) | Posted July 05, 2007 at 10:45:17

I heard in the Meadowlands they don't allow backyard clothes lines.

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By clothesliner (anonymous) | Posted July 05, 2007 at 11:46:41

I don't know about Ancaster but they're banned in Burlington and Oakville. Hurts property values, you know...

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By seancb (registered) - website | Posted July 05, 2007 at 15:38:27

Are you serious? I could see banning them out front, but out BACK??

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By seancb (registered) - website | Posted July 05, 2007 at 15:41:18

From the Burlington website: "The City has no clothesline by-laws. Backyard clothesline restrictions are imposed by the builder or developer of the subdivision. Check the deeds to your house."

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By seancb (registered) - website | Posted July 05, 2007 at 15:43:02

From the Oakville website:

-Can I put up a clothesline? -There is no bylaw that says you cannot.

...so it sounds like this is a restriction by builders and neighborhood groups, not by the cities themselves. Thank goodness.

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By clothesliner (anonymous) | Posted July 05, 2007 at 15:49:36

Wow you learn something new every day. Thanks seancb for looking that up. The rule is so universal (everyone I know who lives in Burlington and Oakville has it imposed on them) that I just thought it was a city by-law.

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By just hangin'out (anonymous) | Posted July 06, 2007 at 01:20:49

I live in Ancaster & inherited a clothesline from the previous owners. Do you think there is a clothesline Grandfathering by-law clause...? (LOL!!)

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By seancb (registered) - website | Posted July 06, 2007 at 14:42:17

I'm callin' the bylaw cops on you!!! :-)

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By Councilwatch (anonymous) | Posted July 06, 2007 at 23:32:18

To all above, if the weather permits just go ahead and hang out your washing to dry and tell your neighbours that Al Gore approves.
Doing your bit to ave energy and curb global warming by not using a dryer.
Clothes will smell fresh and clean too.

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By Councilwatch (anonymous) | Posted July 06, 2007 at 23:34:29

Afterthought! To hell with developers and community spies.

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By Crazy cabbie (anonymous) | Posted October 17, 2007 at 08:13:07

It's all about CONTROL. Yuppies think they are better than everyone else and like to control everything around them. Just like the spoiled kids they used to be, they want what they want or they throw a temper tantrum. If they could have it their way there would be a video camera on every telephone pole and they would monitor for free. These yuppie scums are going to make it real easy for the communists to set up their police state. Fight these idiots just like when you were back in high school. Dont be intimidated by these geeks. Show them that cool people always rule!

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By Crazy cabbie (anonymous) | Posted October 17, 2007 at 08:15:31

Typical yuppy scum. Move out to the country. Whats with the math questions?

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