"It was not managed or controlled. People thought it was an abandoned building," says next-door neighbor Regina Patton, who blames Atwell's meadow for attracting the mice she found drowned in her pool this summer.
The township cited Atwell on June 1 for zoning code violations - having "noxious weeds" more than eight inches tall, failing to maintain the property, and neglecting to install a 25-foot buffer of mowed grass along his property line.
"It's not that he can't have a wildflower garden. If it's done the right way, it can make the property look very nice. This is a maintenance issue," says township manager Stephanie Mason, who acknowledges that "residents aren't used to seeing something like that in a development setting."
Citizen complaints typically trigger investigations, she adds.
Atwell, who has been feuding with the Pattons, criticizes "the racket known as code enforcement in Doylestown Township" and derides enforcement "based on a neighbor's displeasure."
Nonetheless, he cut back the wildflowers, pruned the overgrown holly and euonymus bushes, and had a cherry tree uprooted by Hurricane Irene carted away. He appealed, pleaded not guilty, and was scheduled for a court hearing on Oct. 26, when, in light of his compliance, Mason says, the charges likely would have been dropped.
Last Saturday, however, three days after The Inquirer's interview with the township manager, Atwell received in the mail a "notice of withdrawal of charges," signed by District Judge Mark D. Douple.
There was no explanation, and no celebrating. Atwell had been looking forward to his chance to testify, in court, about how the township selectively enforces zoning laws and ignored his phone calls and attempts to work things out, allegations the township disputes.
