A retiree's xeriscaped water-conserving front yard earns "Certified Florida Yard" recognition. And the wrath of his homeowners' association that wants him to grow more grass.
"At the library, he saw fliers and brochures from the University of Florida Cooperative Extension Service and the Southwest Florida Water Management District preaching the merits of xeriscaping, which is landscaping using plants, shrubs, trees and other vegetation that require far less water than most domestic grasses...He was told his lawn violated the deed restricted community's laws...The association, initially, asked him to submit plans that he used for his lawn. They rejected them once Koppel sent them in. They told him he needed more grass."
Thanks to Jesse Brashear
FULL STORY: Where Saving Water Bends the Rules
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Economic & Planning Systems, Inc.
UCLA Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies
Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
Chaddick Institute at DePaul University
City of Piedmont, CA
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research