Beautification committee backs white paper urging choice over mandatory turf, but strips synthetic turf and rock

The Beautification Advisory Committee voted to express conditional support for a white paper that urges the city to remove mandatory turfgrass requirements and allow property owners choices among conventional turf, Florida‑friendly native landscaping or compliant synthetic turf.

A committee member who led the effort read highlights from the paper, saying the current code “requires that all lawn areas shall be sodded or planted with turf species,” and argued that requirement is environmentally counterproductive and costly for property owners. The paper recommends replacing the mandate with a flexible standard giving three equally valid ground‑cover options.

At the meeting, members focused on two carve‑outs: synthetic turf and decorative rock near seawalls. One member said rock “collects dust and dirt” and that landscapers often spray herbicides to remove weeds in rock, which can run into canals and harm seagrass and wildlife. Other members raised concerns that synthetic turf degrades into microplastics and can be dangerously hot.

After discussion, a motion passed to support the white paper with the explicit exceptions of synthetic grass and decorative rock; the motion was moved by the member who presented the paper and seconded by another member and approved by a roll call vote of 4–1. The committee agreed to forward its conditional support and encouraged members to attend the Waterways Advisory Committee meeting where the item will also be discussed.

Committee members also asked staff to revise the white paper’s wording and photographs to avoid implying prohibited practices are allowed — for example, removing images or language that suggest rock in swales is acceptable — and to clarify enforcement and grandfathering rules for existing properties.