City staff proposes code changes to allow artificial turf with drainage safeguards
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Summary
Staff presented a code amendment that would permit artificial turf citywide while treating turf as an impervious surface for drainage calculations; turf under 800 square feet generally would not require drainage calculations unless the lot exceeds an impervious-area trigger.
City planning staff presented a proposed amendment to the land development regulations that would explicitly permit the use of artificial turf on private properties while incorporating drainage safeguards.
Under the proposal, artificial turf would be classified as impervious for regulatory purposes and allowed in front, side or rear yards. The amendment keeps a preexisting 800-square-foot threshold: turf installations under 800 square feet generally would not trigger a drainage review, while larger installations would require drainage calculations to ensure on-site stormwater is managed appropriately. Staff said the ordinance also checks the percent of pervious area on a lot (staff mentioned a 40% pervious trigger) so that properties with extensive driveways or other impervious surfaces would be examined for drainage impacts.
Why it matters: Commissioners expressed support for allowing turf in more yards while seeking clarity on the triggers and technical review. Staff said the 800-square-foot threshold already exists in code as a practical rule of thumb and that the second trigger (percent pervious on the lot) is the more important control.
Implementation and next steps: Staff said properties below the thresholds would generally be treated as not requiring drainage calculations, while larger projects would submit drainage plans to engineering staff. The amendment will return as a formal ordinance item; staff said the new language came from model practices used by other municipalities and the draft is intended to balance homeowner flexibility and stormwater protection.
