Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Water Conservation Turf Conversion topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Westminster rolls out turf‑conversion pilot for HOAs; city reports 1.6 acres removed and $22,500 in local assistance
Summary
Senior Planner Stephanie Ashman told the council the city's pilot turf conversion program removed about 1.6 acres of Kentucky bluegrass last year across four HOA projects, saved water in case studies and will expand templates and outreach for HOAs and residents in 2025.
Stephanie Ashman, senior planner for landscape and conservation at the City of Westminster, presented the city’s landscape assistance services and HOA support initiatives on April 21 and described a pilot turf conversion program intended to reduce outdoor water use.
Ashman said Westminster has a long history of water‑conservation work and that nearly half the city's treated drinking water is used for outdoor irrigation. The pilot launched last year with four HOA participants (Home Farm, Lexington, Ranch Reserve and Madison Hills). The city contributed $22,500 in financial assistance and partner organizations provided an additional $24,500, Ashman said. The program removed about 1.6 acres of high‑water Kentucky bluegrass and established lower‑water alternatives.
Ashman provided three case studies: Home Farm converted 16,000 square feet and the city provided a $10,000 rebate; estimated annual water use in that location fell from about 240,000 gallons to about 80,000 gallons after establishment, which Ashman characterized as a roughly 35% water savings. Lexington completed about a 1‑acre conversion with a $10,000 city rebate and estimated water savings of about 70% after establishment. Ranch Reserve used Resource Central funds to support conversion and estimated a 33% annual water savings after changes.
The presentation introduced six water‑wise public right‑of‑way templates (sun and shade versions) for street tree lawns intended to make conversion easier and more consistent across neighborhoods. Ashman said the city will waive a $75 official development plan (ODP) review fee for participating HOAs, that staff can prepare ODP amendments to reduce soft costs for HOAs, and that the city has funds allocated for the program in 2025.
Councilors thanked staff and asked about scaling, funding and outreach. Staff said they had reallocated internal funds to support the pilot and will seek continued funding and grant opportunities; staff also said a broader budget request for 2026 could be considered. Councilors suggested more visuals and short videos to help residents and HOAs adopt templates and asked staff to work with communications, utilities and neighborhood programs to expand the pilot.
