I recently set up a meeting in which residents of The Villages could meet to discuss the options that residents may have to place an alternative to St. Augustine grass on their property.
The discussion we had last week at Ezell Recreation Center, covered many related subjects such as water bills and lawn maintenance.
There were 50 attendees from the Villages of Newell, Well Point, Fernandina, Hawkins, Edenfield, Dabney, Monarch Grove, Chitty Chatty, St. Catherine, Shady Brook, Bradford, Moultrie Creek, Hammock at Fenney, Citrus Grove, McClure, Piedmont and Waters Edge.
The four speakers were:
• Lisa T. Sanderson, UF Horticulture
• Susie Belon, administrative coordinator for The Villages Community Standards
• Jamie Padgett, Vikus Water
• David Fountaine, Wildwood commissioner
My curiosity laid in what options do residents have to place alternative landscaping to grass lawns.
Right off the bat, The Villages Community Districts Administrative coordinator made it clear that this is a very difficult and challenging question simply because The Villages deeds and restrictions vary differently from one district to another.
I learned that residents could replace some of their lawn with alternative landscaping, however the procedure to this requires approval from the Architectural Review Committee. Once a resident goes to the ARC to inquire about the process of modifying the original landscape design, the resident then must get professional landscaping design and go back to the ARC for approval.
Residents can learn more about landscaping at an event sponsored by The VHA set for April 29 at Laurel Manor Recreation Center. Register at https://www.thevha.net/events/
Rafe Garcia is a resident of the Village of St. Catherine.