Editorial: Fake grass better than empty lake

Monday, May 3, 2004 | 10:13 a.m.

With 85,000 residents, and with plans for nearly doubling that population over the next 15 years, Summerlin is a leader among master-planned communities. With its large variety of home and apartment models, along with its overall layout and lifestyle amenities, it has for years been a national example for planners wishing to create efficient and pleasant urban areas. Unfortunately, its Summerlin North homeowners association -- one of three associations in the 22,500-acre development -- has shown an appalling lack of leadership on an issue that has great potential for water conservation.

The association decreed last week that homeowners cannot use artificial turf on any areas of their properties visible from the street. Its action was taken after a Summerlin resident swapped out his water-guzzling natural grass for the latest generation of fake grass, which is strikingly natural in appearance. The homeowner made the swap, at a personal cost of $2,000, to support Southern Nevada's efforts to conserve water. Water conservation is being pushed by the Southern Nevada Water Authority, as well as all local governments, as the best way to confront the ongoing drought. With aggressive conservation, Southern Nevada may just avoid worst-case scenarios -- severe water restrictions, a moratorium on growth -- as our source of water, Lake Mead, dips lower and lower.

A majority of the Summerlin North board, however, put its narrow-minded vision of aesthetics above the common good. They acknowledged that the resident's new front yard is attractive but anguished over how it would look five or 10 years from now. Imagine if they had been more concerned with how the whole Las Vegas Valley will look in a few years. With its thousands of homeowners, Summerlin has enormous potential for promoting water conservation through artificial turf.

Summerlin homeowners with brown spots in their visible natural lawns are cited and fined. Homeowners whose fake grass faded unacceptably, or whose installation was less than professional, could be subject to the same penalties. The outright banning of this new high-tech alternative to endless irrigation is senseless. When it comes to water conservation, local governments should have the last word. Failing any action on their parts, the state Legislature, which last year overruled homeowners associations to allow property owners to have flagpoles, should set aside Summerlin North's decision as a first order of business after it convenes in February.