Native Gardening Friend or Foe?

I've been on a real kick to figure out how to introduce some native plants to our small space.  I picked up "The Midwestern Native Garden" guide at the Skokie Public Library after I saw that the author (Charlotte Adelman) was presenting ideas and tips at Emily Oakes.   

The problem with native gardening in the Chicagoland area are the various weed ordinances that can lead to major headaches and fines for anyone attempting to introduce a little prairie and a little less "hosta, evergreen, hosta, evergreen" uninspired gardening to a small space.

As it stands, the Skokie Ordinance states: 

"The Village expects that all property owners maintain their properties, which includes keeping grass and weeds below six inches in height.

Section 42-39 of the Skokie Village Code states that all weeds, including grass in excess of six inches, is declared a public nuisance.  The Village actively enforces this ordinance.  Once a property is determined to be in violation, through either a citizen complaint or a staff observation, a notice is posted on the property giving the owner 10 days to come into compliance.  After 10 days, the property is reinspected.  If the property is still in violation at this point, the Village will have the weeds cleared and charge the owner for the expenses incurred.  If these charges are not paid, a lien will be placed against the property."

Now, most native plants including grasses and wildflowers naturally grow taller than six inches.  This ordinance is currently the topic of debate and litigation.  The Discount Inn is suing the City of Chicago for leveling allegedly excessive fines for violations of the weed ordinance.  The case is currently pending in federal court. Check out the most recent news on the complaint HERE

So where does this leave those of us hopeful to reintroduce butterflies, bees, and birds to the area?  A fence isn't enough to keep the Village from issuing a ticket for what it considers unsightly or unkempt plantings in excess of six inches and inspectors will venture to private property to issue citations for what it considers a weed.  

I suggest the mixed messages of "greening" versus aesthetic discretion for what constitutes a weed and what does not should be addressed by Village officials.  It makes very little sense to encourage greener ways to control ground water, flooding, and runoff, but to discourage the natural prairie plants designed to do just that as an unsightly nuisance.  The area has been met with unquestionably awful weather in the last few years and by improving the landscape choices that we make, we may have a chance to prevent some of the more terrible consequences (see basement flooding) of Skokie's aging waste management system.  

What do you think?  Native plants can look "weedy" but they serve a vital purpose by encouraging the natural pollinators to feed, breed, and improve the rest of your garden.  Is it worth it to plant a thoughtful native garden if the risks include fines in excess of $750?  Is this something that we should encourage the Village to more clearly define and legislate, much in the same vein of the apiary flap that we put ourselves through last year? Or do we let sleeping dogs lie, plant that milkweed, and hope for the best?