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Ogden planning staff proposes turf limit for new single-family yards to meet $10 million pipeline grant and help Great Salt Lake
Summary
Planning staff asked the Ogden City Council to adopt a zoning amendment that would cap turf at 35% of front and street-facing side yards for new single-family homes and require at least 50% living groundcover; the change is a condition of a $10,000,000 state grant to repair the Canyon Pipeline and provide water to the Willard Spur.
Planning staff presented a zoning amendment on June 17 to revise single-family landscaping requirements as part of a condition for a $10,000,000 state grant tied to Canyon Pipeline improvements and Great Salt Lake mitigation.
Barton (planning staff) told the council the state grant would fund pipeline work through Ogden Canyon and that the grant conditions include two requirements: the city must contribute 1,500 acre-feet annually to the Willard Spur, and the city must adopt a water-efficient landscaping ordinance for new single-family dwellings. Barton said, “we put 2 2 together and got a deal with the state that, they would give us a grant for $10,000,000 to fund the pipeline improvements to, to fix the pipeline through the canyon.”
As drafted, the ordinance would apply prospectively to new single-family dwelling building permits applied for after May 1, 2025, and would limit turf (natural grass) to no more than 35% of the total landscape area in the front and street-facing side yard. Barton said the code amendment would also restore a requirement—lost in a prior code change—that at least 50% of required landscape area be living plant cover rather than entirely rock; staff argued that all-rock yards increase heat and are not the low-maintenance solution some homeowners expect.
Barton explained enforcement and outreach plans, noting existing programs and partners (including Weber Basin outreach programs) that offer education, incentives and technical help. He and planning staff said the current proposal was intentionally prospective (it would not force existing single-family homes to retrofit) and that the planning commission recommended the ordinance for adoption. Staff told the council the item is scheduled for a public hearing on July 15 and noted the city cannot receive reimbursement under the pipeline grant until the ordinance is adopted.
Discussion vs. decision: planning staff sought direction and notified council the planning commission recommended adoption; no final ordinance vote occurred at the work session. Councilors asked staff to confirm whether any permits had been issued in the interim that would be affected and requested outreach to applicants so they are aware of the new standard.
Clarifying details: Barton and staff provided these specifics in the presentation and packet: the grant amount discussed was $10,000,000; the grant condition includes providing 1,500 acre-feet annually to the Willard Spur; the proposed turf cap is 35% of front and street-facing side yard landscape area for new single-family permits applied for after 05/01/2025; and the proposal requires a minimum of 50% living groundcover in required landscape areas.
Ending: Staff said they would notify applicants, check whether anyone had applied for a new single-family permit since May 1, and proceed to the public hearing on July 15. Planning staff recommended adoption to enable grant reimbursement for the Canyon Pipeline work.
