Not Everyone Likes Proposed Property Regulation of Outdoor Ornaments in Artesia

Editor's Note: This article was submitted by Brian M. Cuaron
Email: bcuaron.reporter@gmail.com

Some Artesia residents are unhappy about the idea of the city telling them what they cannot put on their front lawns.

“I don’t think it’s fair,” said Mary Ibarra, whose parents live in Artesia.

Tonight, the city’s planning commission will discuss a proposed regulation on the height of outdoor ornaments. Ornaments within a property’s first 20 feet would be limited to 42 inches and to 6 feet for anywhere else, said Jose Hernandez, an assistant planner for Artesia.

Examples of such ornaments include statutes and fountains, Hernandez said. The regulation would cover permanent and nonpermanent ornaments.

The city began looking at the matter after a resident continually voiced concern, Hernandez said, adding that the city took notice of the issue after the resident brought in photographs of certain properties.

One of the properties that were brought to the city’s attention was the house that Ibarra’s parents live in near the intersection of Ashworth Street and Devlin Avenue, not too far from the . 

Ibarra, whose parents are Portuguese and don’t speak English, says statutes of horses, lions, a man and a woman, in addition to a fountain, decorate the residence's front lawn. Blue globes were also decked around the property, along with what looked to be two horse-drawn vehicles.

The family began installing the ornaments in 1998, Ibarra said, adding that the figurines made the city beautiful and were always kept clean. 

The city lacks regulations on outdoor ornaments, according to Hernandez. The planning commission has .

Resident Believes Fronts Lawns Represent Homeowner's Personality 

Artesia resident Bobby Pepito also disagrees with the proposed regulation and thinks that a front lawn represents a homeowner’s personality. 

Since moving here in 2002, Pepito has decorated his lawn with a 7-foot statute of a woman holding grapes, a large fountain surrounded by a trimmed bush, benches and a well-manicured lawn. He described his front yard as peaceful and clean.

“In my opinion, I think everybody would dream to have a front yard like this,” Pepito said, adding that he did not understand why the city would get involved in regulating how a person can modify their property.

It was unclear how the new regulation would affect Pepito and others like him.

If a fountain exceeded the height limit, the city could determine whether it was installed beforehand by looking at the date on the electrical permit, Hernandez said.

But some items, such as a statute, don’t require permits, making it difficult to determine whether they were installed before any new regulation was passed.

“How do you keep track of who has a gnome in their front yard?” Hernandez asked.

As to which items would be grandfathered in should the new regulation become law, Hernandez said the city council and planning commission would need to look at that. For concerned residents who have outdoor ornaments, Hernandez suggested they go to the city council and planning commission meetings.

Tuesday’s vote would only count as a recommendation to the council by the commission. The council may take up the matter for discussion at its March 12 meeting, Hernandez said, pointing out that the city was not looking at regulating an ornament’s design or art.

Resident Eddie Dalrael, who has a wooden bird feeder and fountain on his front lawn, said he would take them out of the front yard if needed, but thought the city had more important matters it needed to focus on, such as furniture dumped in front of houses.

Down his street, two couches were piled on top of each other on the sidewalk. He said stuff like that was a real problem in the city. 

The planning commission meeting will be held tonight at 7 p.m. at City Hall.