Title
Xeriscape Follow Up
Body
Summary and Background Information:
On July 10, 2023, staff debriefed Council on the Growing Water Smart Workshop and discussed the Water Smart Action Plan that City and SACWSD staff prepared during the workshop. After the presentation, Council approved a motion that sought to pause review and approval of all landscaping permits that pertain to xeriscaping for a period of 90-days until regulations could be established. A follow up discussion pertaining to xeriscaping regulations was scheduled for October 9, 2023, but the presentation was ultimately postponed until 2024 by Council’s direction.
Since October, staff have conducted thorough research and worked diligently to prepare options for potential xeriscaping regulations for Commerce City. The key suggestions for regulating and promoting xeriscaping in the City that will be covered in the presentation include plant requirements, layout guidelines, irrigation standards, setting a process for inspections and approvals, and designing a xeriscape example garden on City-owned property.
Of note, the suggested changes would allow alternatives to traditional turf in low-use areas. Alternatives to turf would include native grasses, shrubs, and trees, all of which are suitable to Colorado’s semi-arid climate and can be seen in the attached Approved Plant List for xeriscaping. The suggested changes also include expanding the areas that xeriscape principles can be used, such as medians, parking lot islands, and tree lawns. Greater flexibility in irrigation requirements would also be permitted, such as the installation of temporary irrigation for xeric landscapes, and the allowance of hand-watering.
There are a number of benefits to xeriscaping and turf conversion, primarily being water efficiency and financial benefits. According to the Colorado Water Conservation Board, a 500 square-foot turf conversion will save around 6,000 gallons of water per year, a realized savings of around $...
Click here for full text