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Commission adopts landscaping ordinance changes allowing limited residential artificial turf (up to 35%) and clarifies landscape standards
Summary
The Planning Commission approved revisions to Chapter 10 that clarify a 50% minimum live-growth requirement, define non-live-hardscape allowances, and permit up to 35% of the "turf" area (residential front yards) to be artificial turf if it meets quality and permeability standards; staff also tightened buffer and parking-lot tree requirements.
Herriman's Planning Commission voted to adopt revisions to the city's landscaping ordinance that clarify the 50% live-growth coverage standard, set limits for non-live hardscape in front yards, and create a narrowly defined allowance for artificial turf in residential front-yard landscape areas.
City staff described the revisions as an effort to improve clarity and comply with state law and water-conservation expectations. Staff said the ordinance will require delineated planting beds where landscaping counts toward live growth and recommended a minimum of 50% live growth coverage in landscaped areas. The presentation included examples showing how front-yard calculations would work under the draft rules.
On artificial turf, staff proposed allowing specific uses that are water-permeable and well-installed, while not counting low-quality or visually jarring turf toward live-growth totals. Staff noted a minimum pile height recommendation ("an inch and a half") and said artificial turf would not be allowed directly adjacent to live turf unless a flush curb or other delineation is provided. Staff also referenced Jordan Valley Water feedback that incentives for artificial turf had been removed by that agency.
Commissioners debated percentages and trade-offs for monthsized lots. After discussion, the commission approved an amendment to allow up to 35% of the allowable turf area in front yards to be artificial turf for residential properties, with quality and permeability requirements and a waiver process for special cases. The motion passed unanimously.
Additional changes adopted or affirmed include a reduced buffer spacing for evergreen trees (from 20 to 15 feet on center in some contexts), a revised approach to parking-lot tree islands (one island per every 10 stalls, with two trees in larger islands), and a reaffirmation that wood mulch is allowed around new trees per arborist guidance while engineering standards continue to limit loose mulch washing into storm drains.
Staff recommended the commission include staff-drafted text additions (shown in the presentation) as part of the ordinance package forwarded to the city council.
