Centennial staff seek council feedback on Water Now landscaping amendments including hydrozones, smart irrigation and turf limits

City of Centennial planners on Feb. 4 presented proposed land development code (LDC) amendments drawn from the Water Now study that would require hydrozones, promote low‑water irrigation technology and limit nonnative turf on nonresidential and multifamily projects.

The discussion, led by Bridal Nikkenas and Stephanie Horn of the city’s planning staff, was presented as a request for feedback rather than a vote. “The goals for this discussion is staff seeks feedback and consensus to move forward on potential land development code amendments,” Nikkenas said.

The proposals are intended to bring the city’s landscaping and irrigation requirements closer to current industry best practices and to save water. Staff described a package of changes that would: require hydrozones (grouping plantings by similar water needs); encourage or require low‑volume irrigation such as bubblers and drip systems in low‑water zones; encourage use of EPA WaterSense‑labeled smart (weather‑based) irrigation controllers; and replace Centennial’s static approved plant list with a reference to the Plant…