Aurora Bans Grass

[eddiememphis]

https://denvergazette.com/news/government/turf-restrictions-on-new-development-approved-by-aurora-council/article_cca292ce-3308-11ed-9d31-0f85de0db9e1.html

"The city will no longer allow "non-functional," cool weather turf, such as Bluegrass and fescue, to be installed at new development projects, redevelopment or at new golf courses."

"Outdoor use accounts for half of the water used in Aurora every year..."

"This is just a first step,"Marshall said. It's a significant first step."

That sounds a bit ominous. Remarkably, the article make no mention of global warming or climate change.

""The move comes as a water crisis looms over the Colorado River... but the river is over-appropriated (https://www.coloradopolitics.com/energy-and-environment/the-struggle-to-save-the-colorado-river-stalls-but-potential-solutions-emerge/article_11c53fc6-2474-11ed-898f-139f433c39f8.html) - there's much more demand for the water than there is supply - and that gap is growing.

This is good news for my nephew who has decided to start his own landscaping company, tearing out sod and installing xeriscaping.

[DEAGLER]

Aurora has been offering free xeriscaping designs. Though their xeriscaping design included a shit ton of plants/flowers. They’re also offering a rebate program if you do xeriscaping in the front.

[colorider]

Like grass is Aurora's biggest issue at the moment. .............

[buffalobo]

Like grass is Aurora's biggest issue at the moment. .............^^^This

[ray1970]

I don?t live in Aurora but if I could replace my yard with some sort of artificial turf it would save me a butt ton of money on watering and I wouldn?t have to waste my precious time mowing.

[eddiememphis]

I don?t live in Aurora but if I could replace my yard with some sort of artificial turf it would save me a butt ton of money on watering and I wouldn?t have to waste my precious time mowing.

Why can't you?

[Wulf202]

Aurora has been offering free xeriscaping designs. Though their xeriscaping design included a shit ton of plants/flowers. They’re also offering a rebate program if you do xeriscaping in the front.

They also fine you if you dont have the right amount of flowers or trees in front. Then decide your aspens dont count. Then decide you have to remove all stumps. Then say you cant park on gravel.

They pretty much make shit up every week.

[ray1970]

Why can't you?

I don?t know. Always just assumed there is probably some kind of city or country ordinance prohibiting it since I don?t see anyone with artificial turf lawns. Maybe I should look into it.

[HBARleatherneck]

I like the idea.

There was an elderly woman in Greeley featured on the news a couple of years back. She was old and tired of the work and expense of a lawn. She had it torn out and had a beautiful xeriscaped front yard put in. She got the shaft from the government because they required something like 70 percent of the front yard to be living matter. Ridiculous.

[ray1970]

Why can't you?

Also, it may be cost prohibitive for me. Based off of this real world cost,

? total investment for their 800 square foot front yard turf installation was just under $11,000?

My back yard alone would be roughly $140,000 the front yard probably another $14,000. With a total investment of $154,000 not sure I?d ever see a cost savings versus watering in my lifetime.

[TEAMRICO]

Just let the weeds run rampant. They require zero water to grow!!!

[eddiememphis]

I don?t know. Always just assumed there is probably some kind of city or country ordinance prohibiting it since I don?t see anyone with artificial turf lawns. Maybe I should look into it.

https://library.municode.com/co/thornton/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=CO_CH18DECO_ARTVDEST_DIV 3LA_S18-542ARTU

I just looked it up. You are correct. If it is visible from the street it is not allowed.

You should petition the city council to have that changed. I have seen very realistic fake grass around town. The only way to can tell from afar is in the winter- it's the only green lawn on the block.

[hollohas]

Golfing on zero-scaping will be fun...

[eddiememphis]

Also, it may be cost prohibitive for me. Based off of this real world cost,

? total investment for their 800 square foot front yard turf installation was just under $11,000?

My back yard alone would be roughly $140,000 the front yard probably another $14,000. With a total investment of $154,000 not sure I?d ever see a cost savings versus watering in my lifetime.

It is obvious you own way too much land.

You should donate most of it back to the city so they can utilize it as a homeless encampment, you dirty selfish capitalist.

[eddiememphis]

Golfing on zero-scaping will be fun...

Go to Hugo. The only golf course with sand greens left in the state.

[ray1970]

https://library.municode.com/co/thornton/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=CO_CH18DECO_ARTVDEST_DIV 3LA_S18-542ARTU

I just looked it up. You are correct. If it is visible from the street it is not allowed.

You should petition the city council to have that changed. I have seen very realistic fake grass around town. The only way to can tell from afar is in the winter- it's the only green lawn on the block.

You would think with the drought we?ve been in forever and the ever increasing worries about water shortages they would be encouraging and incentivizing artificial turf these days. The artificial turf they have these days is pretty swanky and other than the year round robust green color you almost couldn?t tell it apart from the real stuff without actually touching it.

[ray1970]

Just let the weeds run rampant. They require zero water to grow!!!

Obviously you?ve seen my neighbors lawn. The sad thing is from the street their lawn looks nicer than mine because it?s greener.

[BladesNBarrels]

It is obvious you own way too much land.

You should donate most of it back to the city so they can utilize it as a homeless encampment, you dirty selfish capitalist.

Well, Well, Well......you can not say homeless.
It has to be unhoused.....

For this week at least

[eddiememphis]

Well, Well, Well......you can not say homeless.
It has to be unhoused.....

For this week at least

If you only knew the things I say I am not supposed to...

[StagLefty]

Because there's so many people living in houses in this mobile home park. Management is now allowing them to expand parking areas by adding concrete parking places at their homes for overflow. Grass areas are disappearing at homes.

[Aloha_Shooter]

Like grass is Aurora's biggest issue at the moment. .............

Grass is one of Aurora's problems but a different variety from fescue or Kentucky bluegrass ... (IMO)

[Joe_K]

The native grasses do so much better than the cool weather varieties anyway. Good move on the part of the Aurora government.

[eddiememphis]

https://www.cbsnews.com/colorado/news/new-homes-castle-rock-limited-grass-yards-proposal/

Castle Rock follows the lead

[Gman]

I have to admit that living where there aren't HOA's in a "Rural Separator" is a relief from stupid rules like these.