The issue should come before the council later this year, officials said. City planners are working on an artificial turf display for residents to see samples prior to the issue returning to the dais.
Wood’s self-described “Catch-22” situation began with an effort to conserve water in light of Crescenta Valley Water District conservation measures and to keep maintenance low by installing artificial turf in front of the house he built on Piedmont Avenue.
But in recent weeks he learned that in order to receive final approval from a Glendale Design Review Board and adhere to required landscaping plan, he would have to replace the artificial turf with live grass, which would have required daily watering to take root. And if the grass died because of the water restrictions, he could be cited by code enforcement for dead landscaping in a frontyard setback.
Wood’s situation is an example of potential conflicts between existing city codes caused by recent mandatory water conservation rules that were approved by the City Council this week.
On Tuesday, City Manager Jim Starbird said potential implications of and changes to the water conservation ordinance would be revisited at future meetings.
Wood said he has been surprised by the amount of attention and public support he’s received since his story became public.
“I never expected the outside response from the community,” he said.
Wood has been approached by neighbors, who have offered to sign petitions or go to City Hall on his behalf. And he’s noticed more people driving on the street, some of whom have stopped to look at the lawn in question.
Montrose resident Rex Shields said he drove by the house to take a look for himself after reading about it in the Glendale News-Press.
