Allan Appel Photo
Corner in question.
The southwest corner of Quinnipiac and Grand Avenue is so overgrown with bushes and shrubs, that already dangerously poor traffic sight lines are growing worse. Can the city get overgrowth cut — and save drivers, cyclists and pedestrians from harm?
That question came up briefly but urgently at the regular meeting of the Quinnipiac East Management Team, which drew 20 neighbors to the Ross/Woodward School on Barnes Avenue Tuesday night.
The area’s Livable City Initiative Specialist Paul Morbidelli reported that with the warm and rainy weather, properties in the Quinnipiac Meadows and Fair Haven areas have the grass growing high and fast, some lawns on private homes rising up to two feet already.
Neighbor Ian Christmann called Morbidelli’s attention to the southwest corner of Grand and Quinnipiac.
The issue there is not neglect by a private homeowner on a relatively quiet street.
Rather, aggressively growing bushes are pushing out from the sloping lawn of the condominium at the corner and wrapping around the traffic pole and other utility infrastructure on the sidewalk.
Because in this instance blight is infringing on the general public safety, Christmann asked Morbidelli whether LCI staffers can issue a summons that would result in the immediate cutting back of the area.
Morbidelli said “civil violations” could be issued, but it’s still a process and takes time.
Christmann said time is not on the side of safety. Tight turns, always the case at the intersection, are rapidly becoming partially blind turns as well due to the aggressive growth.
Morbidelli acknowledged the danger and said he will get over to the condo and speak to people directly.
If they’re unresponsive, then the city could itself do the cutting and bill the owner and even go so far as to put a lien on property to cover the expense.
It’s dangerous, Christmann reiterated.
He added another danger lurking. “There’s poison ivy growing all around the pole,” he said.