Community Spotlight: Shanahan Ridge II Boulder Townhomes
Boulder Sets Forth The Green Transition
In 2018, Shanahan Ridge II, a townhome community located in south Boulder, converted to organic landscaping. While some of the effects could be seen within a few months, to see the full payoff of such a transition, it can take up to 3 years. Back when Shanahan still used pesticides and chemicals, there were very few animals to be found on the property, however, as we walked the property together with HOA Board member Lisa, we were amazed by the variety of animals that we saw, such as butterflies, bees, rabbits, and many different bird species. Furthermore, the residents have been experiencing a decrease in the growth of weeds ever since the transition. The shared effort of volunteering homeowners picks those that do grow. The only exception that the community is required to make using artificial chemicals is in the fight against the emerald ash borer. This invasive beetle tunnels into the bark of the tree, disrupting its cardiovascular system, which, if untreated, ultimately kills the tree. Otherwise, only organic fertilizers are used. The organic alternatives are more expensive than the regular products; however, this does not seem to lessen the community’s support for the project.
Rethinking the Water Drain Called Grass for New Homes
The community still has Kentucky Bluegrass throughout most of its green areas. This type of grass is not native to Colorado; however, due to its distinct greenness, very popular among many homeowners. It requires intensive watering, something which in a drought-plagued climate like Colorado is not sustainable. An efficiency improvement already implemented is a better irrigation system. While they used to water the grass 5-6 times a week for 20 minutes non-stop, now they only water it about 4 times a week in 3 blocks of 6 minutes each. This allows the water more time to be absorbed by the soil, more efficiently providing it with water, overall reducing the water needed to create the same result. To further reduce the water needed, the grass is mowed at around 4 inches, taller than the average household would. This reduces evaporation and gives the soil more protection from the sun, allowing it to better retain soil moisture. The HOA is, however, exploring options to switch to native and less water-intensive grass type options. There are already 3 areas in the community where they let native grass grow wildly, creating habitat for animals and insects. Unfortunately, however, due to the fire risk it has started posing, it does need to be mowed occasionally.
Wildfire Mitigation During Times of High Risk
Being located close to the area that burned down during the Marshall Fire (Dec 30th, 2021 – Jan 1st, 2022), the neighborhood is at major risk of wildfire. As part of a City of Boulder pilot mowing program, the community has a 30-foot strip of land surrounding the residents, mowed to act as a buffer zone against wildfire. Other wildfire risk mitigation measures include cutting tree branches and leaves that hang lower than 15 feet. This is especially important for the Shanahan community, as they have trees growing right up against their homes. While this does provide the homes with shade, helping keep them cooler during the sunny days, and reducing the energy consumption, it does make the homes for prone to fire. Hardie boards seem like an effective implementation to reduce such risk. Individual homes have begun installing such systems, which make the homes more resistant to fire, and the City of Boulder is supporting these efforts through its programs and incentives. The HOA is very initiative-taking in being first movers and working together with the City to make the most of the financial support available, and being a best practice example community, leading the way in the city’s movement to becoming more sustainable.
