- Residential houses are proven in Spanish Fork on Might 28, 2016.
- Folks kayak, swim and fish within the Spanish Oaks Reservoir in Spanish Fork on Wednesday, June 15, 2022.

Katie England, Each day Herald file picture
Residential houses are proven in Spanish Fork on Might 28, 2016.
The Spanish Fork Metropolis Council on Tuesday held a particular work session with members of the planning fee to handle water-related metropolis enchancment proposals.
Mark Vlasic and Aubrey Larsen, of Landmark Design, proposed a brand new water conservation landscaping method for the town. As a consequence of excessive water utilization in residential areas, Landmark Design mentioned their intent to encourage xeriscaping, in partnership with the Flip the Strip program, with members of the council.
Xeriscaped lawns require much less water and make the most of gravel, rock and stone versus vegetation. In keeping with the presentation, the town would play an element in water conservation via the general public parks.
“With a xeriscape idea, parks actually develop into invaluable for offering that place to exit and recreate,” mentioned Vlasic, president and proprietor of Landmark Design. “So it’s placing extra of a stability the place you don’t have to have garden in all places, that you just substitute it with pathways and with extra water-wise landscapes.”
An essential element within the proposal is to assist information residents in particular person conservation efforts. Larsen, a panorama designer and planner, mentioned the significance of growing data that’s straightforward to grasp and may “get individuals excited a couple of matter that is perhaps intimidating, like water-wise landscaping.”

Harrison Epstein, Each day Herald
Folks kayak, swim and fish within the Spanish Oaks Reservoir in Spanish Fork on Wednesday, June 15, 2022.
She defined that accessible hyperlinks or web sites would offer tips and photos to assist help within the landscaping renovation. The undertaking’s intention is to encourage individuals to create lovely environments, whereas utilizing much less water and, in the end, placing residents able to stop a worsening of the drought.
In keeping with the presentation, the guiding doc ideas ought to embrace planning and design, soil preparation, plant choice, sensible garden areas, mulch, environment friendly irrigation and straightforward upkeep. Different subjects would come with schooling and concepts, choices and examples, extra assets and enticements, particularly grants and public applications that supply monetary incentives.
Along with making data each accessible and attention-grabbing, seeks to “Set up necessities for brand new and main modifications to Business, Industrial, Civic and higher-density Residential and Developer-constructed Subdivisions.”
These modifications would promote “a horny and well-maintained group picture via skilled design” and align with code necessities from the Central Utah Water Conservancy District.
Up to now yr, Utah’s legislature handed a number of statutes regarding water conservation, together with drought-resistant landscaping. Particularly, the presentation talked about S.B. 110, titled “Water as A part of Normal Plan,” which requires municipalities to handle how land use planning impacts water utilization of their common plans and H.B. 282, titled “Water Smart Landscaping Amendments,” which limits the power municipalities, counties and house owner associations to ban water-wise landscaping.
Each payments have been sponsored by Utah Sen. Mike McKell, R-Spanish Fork, and Utah Rep. Ryan Wilcox, R-Ogden.
Estimates present implementation of the Flip the Strip program would save as much as 10-20% of water. Moreover, synthetic supplies wouldn’t be thought-about as options for lawns, as they may negatively have an effect on the panorama attraction.
A number of members of the general public attended the assembly, commenting on Landmark Design’s proposal. One resident supporting the plan mentioned they assist the proposal due to its emphasis on “real impermeable supplies” versus synthetic supplies. The requirement is for 50% of the panorama to be vegetation, with the rest being assets that don’t require water.
Regarding all tasks within the close to future, the time and cash required is a serious concern for the town council members. Members of the council inspired a deal with the evolving nature of what’s wanted — mentioning job progress, migrations, labor prices and housing prices.
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