SAN RAMON (CBS SF) — An East Bay homeowner is in a battle with her homeowners’ association over her drought-resistant yard after she was fined by the HOA for not having sod.Fran Paxton was trying to be good a citizen when she decided to replace her lawn with the water-saving landscaping.“It’s a variety of mint, it stays close to the ground , it takes very little water and it is green all year,” Paxton said. The newly-planted mint will fill in, she said, giving the appearance of grass in her San Ramon neighborhood of Twin Creeks. It works for the local water district, which gave Paxton a rebate on the landscaping work.  Read more: