El Paso Getting Greener

A new landscaping ordinance in El Paso, Texas, mandates a higher percentage of greenery in future developments. Supporters say the new ordinance will create more attractive spaces that will draw shoppers and tourists, and ultimately raise property values in the areas where it is applied.

The new code doubles the amount of required landscapable area in most new development from 7.5 percent to 15 percent, requires trees on the parkway strip between the sidewalk and the street, and increases the number of trees required on the frontage landscape buffer of the project property. It also increases the number of plants required for landscaped areas within the property and the number of trees per parking space.

Critics raised the question of increased water needs. In response, an El Paso Water Utilities economist calculated that water use would increase by a hundredth of a percent annually.