City Council is reviewing updates to landscaping and building rules to support wildfire resilience and water conservation. This 2024-2025 council priority aims to encourage native and drought-tolerant plants, expand the city’s tree canopy to reduce urban heat and promote fire-resistant landscaping.
The city has proposed a draft ordinance, a new landscape manual and a tree and plant list with more native, low-water and fire-resistant species.
At its Oct. 16 meeting, City Council continued the public hearing on the draft ordinance to Dec. 18, to allow time to refine the proposal. Council requested adjustments to better balance wildfire safety, water savings and tree preservation. Council also had concerns about making more development projects subject to landscape plans and requiring licensed landscape architects (in some instances). Council requested that the rules be loosened to not require licensed landscape architects, revise the scope for requiring landscape plans, and change rules to allow for more preservation of mature trees, among other detailed requests.
A revised version will be sent to City Council for consideration on Dec. 18. Join us for office hours in-person or virtual on Dec. 12 to learn more.
- Dec. 12 | 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. | Virtual or in-person
- Penfield Tate Municipal Building | 1777 Broadway | Room W101
- Link to join will be added 24 hours in advance