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Planners: new state rules on "nonfunctional turf" will apply to new development; existing lawns largely grandfathered
Summary
Staff explained state bills require towns to prohibit nonfunctional high-water turf on certain properties; in Wellington the change will mainly affect new development or redevelopment and staff will seek public input before adoption; the statutory effective date is Jan. 1, 2028.
Planning staff summarized recent state legislation that requires evaluation or prohibition of "nonfunctional turf" on qualifying properties and said Wellington is preparing standards and an updated landscape and irrigation manual.
"Nonfunctional is basically turf ' think like high water grass... that's what the state considers to be nonfunctional," a staff planner said, explaining the policy is intended to reduce irrigation demand by restricting turf that lacks an active recreational or functional use. Staff and commissioners discussed grandfathering: maintaining existing well-kept lawns would not require removal, but replacement or redevelopment could trigger the new provisions.
Questions from commissioners focused on thresholds for what counts as redevelopment and whether partial yard improvements would require residents to switch to compliant landscaping. Staff said the state defines substantial replacement (they recalled a threshold around 50%) and that the town has some discretion in implementation; staff plans public hearings and outreach before finalizing code changes with an anticipated statutory compliance date of Jan. 1, 2028.
