Breaking: ABQ Council Rejects New Xeriscape Measure

Keep watering that grass: City councilors late Monday decided that homeowners’ associations can continue requiring their members to plant at least some turf grass.

The debate came after Councilor Isaac Benton proposed that homeowners’ groups no longer be allowed to require any grass. He said all homeowners — even those in areas where the covenants require grass — should be allowed to replace their lawns with xeriscapes, which would help conserve water in Albuquerque’s high desert environment.

The bill was voted down 7-2.

Opponents said it would be wrong to interfere with the rights of homeowners’ associations or undermine the landscaping rules that people agreed to when buying their homes. They said it could lead to legal problems, too.

“I’m sick of the government … meddling in our business,” Councilor Michael Cook said.

But he added that homeowners’ associations should consider changing their rules voluntarily, in deference to the importance of saving water for future generations.

Supporting the measure were Benton and Rey Garduno. The seven other councilors voted against it.

Benton said it was simply critical that the city allow people the option of saving water and that the bill wasn’t intended as an attack on homeowners’ associations.