Grand Junction mulls incentives for businesses to replace large lawns with xeriscapes
26 Jan, 2009 LM Direct!GRAND JUNCTION, CO — City council members here are considering incentives to encourage businesses to replace their lawns with drought-resistant plants and other forms of xeriscaping. They discussed incentives last week during a review of proposed changes to landscaping requirements for commercial and industrial businesses looking to remodel or upgrade their facilities, reports the Grand Junction Sentinel newspaper.
Replacing turfgrass (Kentucky bluegrass is the usual target) with native plants and regionally adapted, low-water-use plants is hardly a new idea, especially in the Southwest were water agencies and local governments often view lawns as water wasters.
Council members suggested the incentives would apply initially to businesses but haven't specified what form those incentives may take. Public Works and Planning Director Tim Moore told council members he will provide some options in the near future.
City planners say xeriscaping has been an option for developers looking to landscape their property for years but acknowledge they haven't actively promoted or offered information about it, the newspaper reports.
“Grand Junction leaders planting idea to discourage thirsty lawns,” by Mike Wiggins, Grand Junction Sentinel, Jan. 26
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