Council continues artificial turf code hearing to March 17 after environmental concerns raised

The Clearwater City Council continued a public hearing on proposed amendments to the community development code that would establish standards for artificial turf in required landscaped areas for residential properties. The council voted unanimously to move the item to the March 17 meeting.

Jared Leon, chairman of the Environmental Advisory Board, urged the council to oppose expanded residential use of artificial turf and reiterated the board’s written letter. Leon said "there's not an environmental group in the country that considers artificial turf a sustainable product," and raised several concerns that included heat retention, permeability (citing that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency considers artificial turf an impervious surface), limited recyclability of turf products, the presence of PFAS in some turf products and possible contributions to waterway pollution.

Leon told the council that manufacturers' recyclability claims are misleading because recycling requires specialized facilities that are limited in number and costly to use; he said discarded turf typically ends up in landfills. He also disputed claims that turf reduces water use, noting production uses water and that Florida-friendly landscaping can reduce water while supporting biodiversity and soil health.

Staff asked the council to continue the hearing to March 17 to allow additional review and public comment. A motion to move agenda item 7.3 to the March 17 council meeting carried unanimously. No ordinance vote occurred on March 6; the item remains pending further hearings and potential code language revisions.