Glendale City Council closer on artificial turf issue

The City Council this week stepped closer to overturning its long-standing ban on artificial turf in frontyards.

In fact, only one council member even wanted homeowners to pull a permit to convert lawns to turf.

Councilman Vartan Gharpetian asked what would be the point of having an ordinance if there was no way to track its progress. Getting a permit and having the home project on the books at City Hall could be useful in reviewing the new law’s success, he said.

“That’s the only way we’ll find out this ordinance is working or not,” Gharpetian said.

“Pulling a permit for it, I don’t know why it’s such a big deal to ask for a permit if you want to remove landscaping and do something different.”

The city started working on drafting new code to govern artificial turf after the passage of a bill written by Assemblyman Mike Gatto (D-Glendale) in October that barred local government from prohibiting the fake grass.

City Manager Scott Ochoa said until now, the city has had a mixed message of urging residents to water their lawns less frequently to conserve water, while at the same time banning artificial turf on frontyards.

Gharpetian’s colleagues sided with the city manager.

“I’d like to see that it’s as easy for residents as it is for staff and not make it a cumbersome bureaucratic issue,” said Councilwoman Paula Devine.

Community Development Director Philip Lanzafame noted that residents would be required to have their artificial turf installed by a licensed contractor.

The council unanimously agreed on all other aspects of governing artificial turf including its permitted allotment: 50% of a frontyard must be made up of live plant materials while up to 50% of the remaining space can be comprised of fake grass.

Lawn borders must also be live planting so that run-off water from non-permeable artificial turf can still make it into the groundwater basins and not flow toward storm drains on the street.

“I just want to say how proud I am of this council,” said Councilwoman Laura Friedman. “We all came from so many directions on this and found some consensus. We all compromised a little bit.”

City staff will return with a written ordinance to the Planning Commission for consideration early next year before it heads to the council for a final vote.

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Arin Mikailian, arin.mikailian@latimes.com

Twitter: @ArinMikailian