Improving the view: River Hills residents can get permits to plant in rights of ways

River Hills - Residents who want to improve the appearance of rights of way along village streets need to get a permit for plantings.

That's the upshot of a discussion between Kathleen and Frank Thometz and the Village Board regarding overgrown right of way on the east side of Range Line Road between the Milwaukee Country Club and the street and on both sides of the street at the bridge crossing the Milwaukee River.

The Thometz's house is across the street from MCC. In November, the couple asked the board to schedule a discussion about how to improve the appearance of rights of way.

As part of the discussion last week, the board reviewed a report from Public Works Director Kurt Fredrickson.

Fredrickson said the village removes hazards, such as falling limbs or trees in the rights of way, and cuts back brush that creates a safety hazard at intersections.

Fredrickson said the area along Range Line Road includes an extensive amount of honeysuckle and buckthorn, invasive plants that take over and choke out native species.

"Willow trees are the most hideous part of the current situation," Trustee Steve Anderson said.

Some residents like the screening provided by the invasive plants, but others have removed them and replaced them with plants that provide screening but are native to the area, Trustee Wendy Walcott said.

The country club has a chain-link fence along its property. The fence would be more visible if vegetation in the right of way were removed.

The village does not plan to clear rights of way beyond normal safety and maintenance work, but the board said that Thometz and other residents could plant more suitable vegetation in the rights of way with a permit.