Arden could opt out of New Castle County's code enforcement program, or at least may petition the county to not apply some of the criteria in its property maintenance codes in the village.
About 25 Arden residents attended a meeting of the town's planning committee on Wednesday - many uneasy about the prospect of being fined for things like long grass, wood piles, or other natural features common in the village
They're also weary of the county's instant ticketing program and anonymous complaint system, because they say one resident is abusing the system in reporting neighbors.
Since the county implemented instant ticketing in July of last year, only three tickets have been issued in the Ardens, two to the same property owner. Another dozen said they've received warnings, however.
That property owner, Denis O'Regan said he was fined for a wood pile in a bed of ivy in his yard and for a pile of rocks on his property - things that may technically be prohibited by code, but are common in Arden, where homes are built in woodlands as a nod to the value residents place on nature.
"Piles and piles of rubbish is not what people want to see here, but I got cited for a couple of branches laying in the ivy," he said.
Elizabeth Varley said she is considering creating a wildlife habitat in her backyard, a component of which is a brush pile where animals can live - which would violate county code.
That prompted some residents to wonder whether the Ardens could be designated as a natural area by the county, so high grass and similar issues were not enforced.
There were a few who railed against the instant ticketing system as unfair on its face, calling a requirement that alleged offenders pay the $50 fine up front even if they intend to appeal was a violation of due process.
But the majority said the county's code enforcement presence in Arden was largely positive and that only a tweak was needed. And nobody thought it was a good idea for the Board of Trustees to handle property maintenance issues. In fact, most agreed there wouldn't even be an issue in the community if not for the one resident suspected of phoning in most of the complaints.
"I think we need to consider the affect instant ticketing has had on the village as a whole," said Mary Anne Cinaglia. "Having code enforcement allows us to remain good neighbors."
At the end of the two-hour meeting, Danny Schweers said he and his fellow planning committee members would discuss how to word a recommendation to Arden's Board of Trustees that suggests the county exempt Arden from specific portions of the property maintenance code.
If that recommendation is approved by the trustees, Councilman John Cartier (D-Penny Hill) said he'd be happy to introduce legislation at the county level.
"I'm here to help them with however the want to run their municipalities," he said.
