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3 <br />Environmental Board <br /> <br />Due to the environmental concerns regarding the proposed use of synthetic grass as an <br />alternative ground cover, the Environmental Board was presented the proposed text <br />amendment for comment. Per the August 30, 2023 Environmental Board staff report: <br /> <br />Potential benefits of synthetic turf: <br />• No water required for irrigation <br />• No pesticides, herbicides, or fertilizers are needed <br />• Less fuel emissions from lawn equipment <br />• Product is made from plastic bottles and “technology created from soybean <br />plants” <br /> <br />Areas of concern: <br />• Staff is not aware of any cities in the area that have amended their ordinances to <br />allow for the widespread use this product. <br />• Hazardous products are released if the product catches fire. <br />• Permeability of synthetic turf may be an issue. Even if the product is 100% <br />permeable, this doesn’t take into account the permeability of the underlying soil. <br />• Evapotranspiration has a cooling effect. Water uptake by plants also contributes to <br />stormwater management. <br />• The product may contribute byproducts to surface and groundwater supplies as it <br />decomposes. The polyurethane and polyurethane that it is made of has hazardous <br />decomposition products. <br />• Use in easement areas and rights-of-way should be prohibited. These areas <br />require access for maintenance of utilities and management of stormwater systems <br />and are frequently disturbed. <br />• Examples of installations provided were for small portions of yards, not whole <br />yards. <br />• Expected life span of the product is 15-20 years. At that time, the material must <br />be removed and landfilled. <br /> <br />The Environmental Board reviewed the proposed text amendment at the August 30, 2023 <br />meeting and provided the following comments: <br /> <br />• Other alternative lawn types are available that are better choices for limiting <br />water, pesticide, and fertilizer use <br />• Hazardous byproducts leaching into ground and surface waters <br />• Hazardous byproducts when product is exposed to fire <br />• Soil health impacts <br />• Losing the water uptake and cooling effect of evapotranspiration from plants <br />• Impacts on resale value of homes <br />