Voice of Canals sent out a letter recently stating that they have been informed by the Council Office that complaints have been received about plants encroaching onto the public sidewalks.  Update had a story 30 July regarding such overgrowth in Triangle.

The letter quotes the code governing such.  “We would like to remind all residents of Los Angeles Municipal Code Section 56.08(a,which addresses the encroachment of trees, hedges and vegetation onto a public sidewalk.   For safety and legal reasons, ‘plantings adjacent to the sidewalks cannot encroach into the walkways.’  Tree branches must be 9 feet above the walkways.

“The Los Angeles Department of Street Services has issued citations in the past to Canal residents.  We have been asked to inform the community to comply by September 30th to avoid a citation.

“The Council Office has asked us to bring this problem to the attention of all Canal residents.  The overgrowth of shrubs and flowers onto the narrow Canal walkways is a serious hazard to pedestrians.  There are some areas where almost half of the sidewalk is impassable and people have to walk in single file.  Older people with canes and walkers, wheelchair bound pedestrians as well as parents with strollers are in danger of personal injury as they attempt to avoid these obstructions.”