Gillette?EUR??,,????'???s Local landscaping proposal OK?EUR??,,????'???d in Wyoming

The Silverado Center commercial project in Gillette, Wy., is a low-water usage landscape.

GILLETTE, Wy.?EUR??,,????'??+A proposed landscape ordinance that would create more stringent standards for new businesses coming to Gillette has the support of the city?EUR??,,????'???s planning commission. The commission voted 4-2 to recommend the city council pass the ordinance. About 50 residents and business owners attended the public hearing before the vote and more than a dozen of them spoke in favor of the proposal.

RDG Planning and Design?EUR??,,????'???s Marty Shukert, principal of the Omaha based firm that helped design the proposal, said the ordinance could create up to 120 acres of landscaped land as the city continues to grow during the next 20 years.

The ordinance goes through three city council readings and gets its final approval on the third reading, said Shukert. No revisions were made after the June 7 reading.

?EUR??,,????'??The city wants to establish landscape standards to improve the environment,?EUR??,,????'?? said Shukert. ?EUR??,,????'??The landscape ordinance was written in such a way that it was consistent with other ordinances. It?EUR??,,????'???s quite moderate in comparison with others.?EUR??,,????'??

Shukert said Gillette wanted to create a better city that was more attractive, which would lend value to property owners. Dealing with the issue of water strain, the ordinance placed flexibility and encouraged use of xeriscape. It could be 100 percent of the surface area for xeriscape or half of the area, provided tree crowns, bushes and flowers are used. The total amount of water used for non-residential uses was quite small, said Shukert. The requirement of cutting back on turf-based landscapes can be relaxed if xeriscape can be used in a variety of applications.