OGDEN — Ogden Valley planning officials are saying no to more rigorous landscaping guidelines, required to participate in Weber Basin Water Conservancy District water-conservation programs that offer rebates to property owners who tear out grass.The Ogden Valley Planning Commission this week voted unanimously in recommending against approval of an ordinance change that would limit the amount of grass that can be planted outside new homes to 35% of the front and side yards. The proposed new rules — aimed broadly at promoting water conservation — would limit grassy areas at new homes to 3,000 square feet, factoring in backyard areas.

It’s not that the officials are against water-conservation efforts, though. They don’t like the idea that the Weber Basin Water Conservancy District requires the changes as a condition to participate in its Flip Your Strip and Landscape Lawn Exchange programs.

“We don’t want to inhibit people’s ability to participate in the programs if they wish to,” said Janet Wampler, a member of the planning commission. “But at the same time, I know a number of us don’t necessarily agree with the regulation that’s being imposed.”

On July 11, the Western Weber Planning Commission voted 4-2 in favor of recommending approval of the ordinance changes making landscaping regulations more rigorous. Now it’s up to Weber County commissioners, who have the final say in the matter.

The Ogden Valley Planning Commission oversees planning issues in the unincorporated areas in Weber County on the east side of the Wasatch mountains, including the Ogden Valley. The Western Weber Planning Commission oversees planning issues in the unincorporated areas of the county on the west side of the mountains.

Steven Burton, a planner in the Weber County Planning Division, said Ogden Valley officials also argued that the proposed new restrictions weren’t consistent with the area’s general plan, the document that guides development. They’d like property owners, if they wish, to be able to take part in Weber Basin Water Conservancy District water-conservation programs, but without changing the local landscaping ordinance.

“They mentioned that they would like us to find other ways for the Weber Basin benefits to apply without the restrictions being in the ordinances,” Burton said.

Despite the reticence of the Ogden Valley officials, numerous locales in Weber and Davis counties have updated their landscaping ordinances to comply with Weber Basin Water Conservancy District guidelines, enabling participation in the entity’s incentive programs. The Flip Your Strip locales include Ogden, Roy, South Ogden, West Haven and Layton, among many others. Landscape Lawn Exchange communities include Roy, West Haven and Kaysville, among others.

As originally set out, the proposed new guidelines in the two Weber County planning areas, applicable to just new development, would limit the portion of yards that can contain irrigated turf grass to no more than 35% of the total front and side yard. Moreover, no more than 3,000 square feet of a lot, including the backyard area, could contain grass.

In new commercial, industrial, institutional and multi-family residential developments, no more than 15% of the landscaped area could have grass.

In acting last week, the Western Weber Planning Commission amended the guidelines to read that new home development would either have to meet the 35% or 3,000-square-foot requirement — whichever allowed for more grass.

As new developments under the proposed guidelines would already be landscaped to conserve water, only owners of older properties would be able to tap into the Flip Your Strip or Landscape Lawn Exchange programs.

Flip Your Strip provides participants with $1.25 per square foot of park strip areas that are converted from grass to low-water landscaping. The newer Landscape Lawn Exchange program provides participants with $2.50 per square foot of any part of a grass lawn that is converted.

The Weber Basin Water Conservancy District makes locales implement new landscaping rules to tap into its programs due to Utah Division of Water Resources guidelines. Part of the incentive funding provided under the Flip Your Strip and Landscape Lawn Exchange programs comes from the state.

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