Princeton updates definition of pollinator garden

Princeton residents aren’t going to be able to get out of possible citations for unkempt yards by using the excuse that they are growing a pollinator garden.

Michael Zearing, Princeton planning and zoning administrator, told the Princeton City Council on Jan. 6 the city has received that pushback in the past, serving as a catalyst for the city to define what a pollinator garden is in its codes. The City Council approved a first reading of that definition Monday.

Zearing was clear, the city isn’t discouraging anyone from beginning their own pollinator garden, but officials want to discourage residents who are looking for loopholes from creating nuisances. Pollinator gardens are planted to attract insects and animals, such as butterflies, bees and hummingbirds, among others.

“The instance I’m referring to is a pile of weeds and it doesn’t really look good and doesn’t really have any natural benefit,” Zearing said, noting the city encourages pollinator gardens if they are done the right way.

The Plan Commission worked for about six months to draft the ordinance, Zearing said.

He said the ordinance gives jurisdiction over the pollinator plants used and follows the Illinois Department of Natural Resources definition. Among the plants encouraged are golden alexander, wild bergamot, stiff tickseed, spiderwort, foxglove beardtongue, black-eyed susan, lance leaf, lead plant, purple coneflower, ox eye sunflower, white prairie clover, purple prairie clover, prairie cinquefoil, pale purple coneflower, grey headed coneflower, compass plant, rattlesnake master, partridge pea, New England aster, prairie dock, cup plant, obedient plant, spike blazing star and smooth aster.

Pollinator gardens also are allowed to cover a maximum area of 50 square feet in front yards and may occupy up to 50% of a rear yard. The gardens also must be maintained.

“It’s something we’ll have in our back pocket should someone push back,” Zearing said. “We can have them point out what they’re planting and what they’re trying to attract, questions like that.”