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A line has been drawn in the neatly manicured, frequently watered lawns of St. Augustine grass mandated by home owners associations across the state. But like the drought that has brought us to this decision point, the process of developing awareness and education regarding the role of native plants and healthy habitats in drought resistant landscaping has been years in development.
In January of 2012, The Woods at Brushy Creek Homeowners Association (WBCHOA) adopted a resolution providing guidelines for xeriscaping in order to encourage water conservation. Based to a large extent on the Grow Green Guide published by the City of Austin, it includes references to invasive species that should not be planted, although it does require that at least 25% of the visible lawn area must be covered with a turf grass. As reported in the Community Impact newspaper, neighboring Avery Ranch HOA may be responsible for what may become the standard template in Texas for drought-resistant landscaping regulations. Their guidelines may become a model for many HOA guidelines to come.
State Senator Kirk Watson and Representative Dawnna Dukes introduced bills in January 2013 that would restrict Home Owners Associations’ (HOAs) and cities’ power to prohibit drought resistant landscaping. Austin Chapter member Meg Ingles and Austin Chapter President Kathy Trizna provided in-person testimony to the legislature. In the end, Watson’s less far-reaching bill was passed and signed into law by Governor Perry. In eight words, it amended the property code to prohibit HOAs and Property Owners’ Associations (POAs) from restricting one’s right to landscape one’s property:
(a) A property owners’ association may not include or enforce a provision in a dedicatory instrument that prohibits or restricts a property owner from … (4) using drought-resistant landscaping or water-conserving turf.
The bill took effect September 1, 2013.
Taking a proactive stance, the Springbrook HOA in Pflugerville adopted draft guidelines in June and a revision in July of this year. Although a step in the right direction on the issue of water conservation, the preferred plant list appears at first glance to be heavy on the exotic choices. More education is needed. The Brushy Creek MUD is emphasizing Texas natives in its recommended species; one can only hope that some of the HOAs within the BCMUD will follow their lead. The City of Georgetown has passed a resolution to use natives (and drought resistant) plants in all future municipal landscaping.
While it is still too early to say that SB 198 may have been a turning point for the Texas landscape to return to the natives instead of all too common exotics, it seems clear that interest in native plants is high and that we are at the least in a teachable moment.
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**ARCHIVED POST AUTHOR: rkamper
