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Board weighs allowing xeriscape and preferred planting list, members press for more natives
Summary
Staff proposed permitting xeriscape ground covers and a preferred planting list, allowing up to 80% of the required 25% landscaped area to be xeriscape (with 20% vegetative). Board members asked that the plant list emphasize native species and that xeriscape remain permissive rather than mandatory.
Staff presented draft language to permit water-conserving ground covers (xeriscape), showing a new table of preferred planting materials and a provision to allow xeriscape in setback yards. Dave Dixon told the board that the draft would permit xeriscape and that "of your 25% landscaped area, only 80% of it can be 0 scape" and that 20% should remain vegetative ground cover such as sod or mulch.
Members raised two recurring concerns: first, whether the "preferred" planting list contained non-native species and whether staff had consulted landscape professionals; second, whether the language inadvertently required xeriscape rather than simply making it an allowed option. Several members asked staff to revise the draft to incorporate more native species and to make the provision clearly permissive, not mandatory. The board asked staff to return with recommended language and additional native-plant options at the next meeting.
