OGDEN — The Ogden City Council voted 6-0 Tuesday to allow artificial turf as a ground cover option on private property.

Their unanimous decision stood in sharp contrast to an earlier 7-0 Planning Commission recommending denial of the use of fake grass.

That advisory board had concerns about excess aesthetics, heat, water runoff and challenges in code enforcement.

The city’s move to allow artificial turf began with an August 2014 petition from Pamela Clark, executive director of the Family Support Center at 3340 Harrison Blvd.

When the Center’s aging and faulty sprinkler system caused its water bills to spike, Clark began looking at other landscaping options. The center even received donated synthetic grass, but its installation had to be put on hold pending revision of the city’s ordinance. “Since we found out we got it approved, we’ll make sure we get it done as soon as possible,” Jamie Dangerfield, a crisis nursery aide for the Center, said Wednesday.

Ogden’s new ordinance mirrors other cities such as St. George in requiring a minimum pile height of 1.5 inches, said Ogden City Senior Planner Greg Montgomery.

“That inch-and-a-half seemed to have the best natural appearance,” Montgomery said, adding that it also rules out the use of less expensive indoor/outdoor carpet.

Exceptions to that height standard can be made for rear yard putting greens, tennis courts or other types of recreational surfaces.

The material must be permeable, green, life-like and weigh at least 56 ounces per square yard. It also needs to come with a minimum eight-year warranty.

The ordinance also bans the use of artificial turf in park strips and other public rights-of-way. Also, it cannot cover more than 50 percent of the property’s total landscaping.

Montgomery said that cover percentages allowed by other municipalities varied quite a bit.

“We felt just for general application that 50 percent seems to be a reasonable amount,” Montgomery said. “The fact that it is going to be permeable helps in the runoff issue.”

The city plans to produce a brochure with guidelines for property owners who want to head in this direction. A permit and site plan will be required, Montgomery said.

Brad Hutchings, representing an Ogden-based company called Eco-Grass, brought a sample of synthetic turf for Council members to see up close.

“We’ve been putting this is in now for about a year and a half and have had extreme success,” Hutchings said. “More and more people are turning to it. Obviously with the current drought conditions and the estimated growth along the Wasatch Front, it’s one way to help conserve water.”

Hutchings said his company offers a dozen versions and average cost runs $7 to $8 per square foot.

“I think our citizens want to conserve water, and they want their yards to look nice. I think it’s good to offer them options,” Councilwoman Amy Wicks said.

Council Chairman Richard Hyer said that he’s always hesitant to go against the Planning Commission’s unanimous recommendation.

“The (city) review process is a critical aspect of this, so that somebody doesn’t just go and try to do it on their own,” resulting in a substandard installation that could blow away in the wind, Hyer said.

“Hopefully those property owners that install this will . . . get themselves fully educated,” Hyer added, “so that they realize there are some responsibilities that they have to maintain, and this isn’t just something that they will put in and never have to do anything with it again.”