HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 07311990 - H.7 H. 7
THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA
Adopted this Order on July 31, 1990 by the following vote:
AYES: Supervisors Powers, Schroder, McPeak, Torlakson and Fanden
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
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SUBJECT: Hearing On Proposed Water Conservation Landscape Ordinance
This is the time heretofore set for hearing on the Water
Committee' s proposed Water Conservation Landscape Ordinance.
Roberta Goulart, Community Development Department, presented the
staff report on the proposed ordinance.
No one appearing to speak on this item, the public hearing was
closed.
IT IS BY THE BOARD ORDERED that Ordinance No. 90-59, Water
Conservation Landscaping In New Developments, is ADOPTED.
I hereby certify that this is a true and correct copy of
an action taken and entered on the minutes of the
Board of Supe ors n the date shown.
ATTESTED: 3
PHIL B CHE R,Clerk of the Board
upery and Cou mintstretor
cc: Community Development Department By a Deoutv
County Counsel
ORDINANCE NO. 90- 59
(Water Conservation Landscaping in New ;Developments)
The Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors ordains as follows (omitting the parenthetical
footnotes from the official text of the enacted or amended provisions of.the County Ordinance
Code):
SECTION I. SUMMARY. This ordinance provides for water conservation landscape
requirements in new developments.
_SECTION II. Chapter 82-26 is added to the County Ordinance Code to read:
CHAPTER 82-26 WATER CONSERVATION LANDSCAPING IN NEW DEVELOPMENTS
ARTICLE 82-26.2 GENERAL
82-26.202 Water Conservation Landscaping. All land within the unincorporated area of Contra
Costa County shall be subject to the provisions in this chapter.
(Ord. 90-59 ).
82-26.204 Intent and Findings. (1) Landscaping irrigation accounts for approximately fifty
percent of all water used in urban areas. Water conserving landscapes use only about one-third
of the water of a traditional non-water conserving landscape.
(2) Water in the County is of limited supply. The County is growing in population. In
order to meet the growing demand for water supply, water conservation measures need to be
implemented.
(3) Water, as a valuable and limited resource, should not be wasted. The County has
played a lead role in protecting Bay and Delta water quality, and in advocating water
conservation before considering new water supply projects.
(4) Water conservation measures will save money and can be accomplished without
degradation of aesthetic values of developments.
(5) For all of these reasons, it is in the interest of the public health, safety and welfare
of the County to require water conservation methods for landscaping of new developments by
regulating turf areas, planting materials, and irrigation practices.
(Ord.90 5 9).
82-26.206 Reeulations. The Board of Supervisors may issue regulations for the administration
of this chapter, including procedures and policies.
(Ord. 90-5 9).
ARTICLE 82-26.4 APPLICATION AND REQUIREMENTS
82-26-402 Application to New Developments. (1) Water conservation landscape requirements
shall apply to all new single family residential developments having common areas, including
landscaped front yards, or model homes, and to all other new developments.
(2) If a single family residential development has common areas, the water conservation
landscape regulations shall apply to all common areas. The landscaping of front yards as part
of new development will be considered as common area, and will be subject to the requirements
outlined in this chapter.
(3) If a single family residential development has one or more model homes, at least
one model home in the development must be planted in accordance with water conservation
requirements.
1
ORD. NO. 90- 2_
(4) Conditions of approval for new development subject to the provisions of this
chapter shall require landscape plans to be submitted to the Community Development
Department for final review and approval prior to the issuance of a building permit.
(Ord. 90-5 9)
82-26.404 Rgquirements. (1) Turf Maximums. Turf areas shall not exceed twenty-five (25)
percent of planted area in all developments subject to this chapter. Where turf is an essential
part of the.development, as in school playing fields or in public parks, a higher percentage may
be allowed. No turf shall be allowed in median strips or in areas less than eight (8) feet wide.
(2) Drought-Tolerant Plants. At least ninety (90) percent of the plants in non-turf
area shall be low-water-requiring, drought-tolerant plants approved by the Community
Development Department. A low-water-using, drought-tolerant plant includes species suited to
local climate and requires little or no irrigation in order to thrive. The remaining planted area
(up to ten (10) percent) can be used for non-drought-tolerant varieties if they are grouped
together and can be irrigated separately.
(3) Mulch. A minimum of two inches of mulch shall be added to the soil surface
after planting. Non-porous material shall.not be placed under the mulch.
(4) Irrigation.
(a) Sprinklers and sprays shall not be used in areas less than eight (8) feet
wide. Drip and bubbler systems shall not exceed one and one-half(1.5) gallons per minute per
device.
(b) Sprinkler heads with a precipitation rate of .85" per hour or less shall be
used in slopes exceeding fifteen percent or slopes exceeding ten percent within ten feet of
hardscape to minimize runoff.
(c) Valves and circuits shall be separated based on amounts of water required
for each area.
(d) Drip or bubbler irrigation systems shall be required for trees that cannot
be sustained by ground or rain water.
(e) Sprinkler heads shall have matched precipitation rates within each control
valve circuit.
(f) Serviceable check valves shall be required where elevation differential may
cause low head drainage.
(g) Sprinkler head spacing shall be designed for head-co-head coverage. The
system shall be designed to provide minimum runoff and overspray onto non-irrigated areas.
(h) All irrigation systems shall be equipped with a controller capable of dual
or multiple programming. Controllers shall have multiple cycle start capacity and a flexible
calendar program.
(5) Ornamental Ponds. Fountains, ponds or other water bodies that are part of the
landscaping for new developments are discouraged and shall be restricted as set forth in this sub-
section. Unless the water body is an integral part of the operation of the new development, the
surface area of the water body shall be counted as turf in calculating maximum allowable turf
for the landscaped area. Where well water or untreated water is used and the water supply is
recirculated, the Community Development Department may make allowances consistent with the
other provisions of this chapter.
2
ORD. NO. 90- 5 9
(6) LandsoM Plans. Landscape plans shall indicate the total landscape area, the area
and percentage of drought-tolerant planting and the area and percentage of ornamental non-
drought-tolerant plantings. The plans shall be certified as being in compliance with this chapter
by a licensed landscape contractor, architect or other landscape professional whose qualifications
have been approved by the Community Development Department. Landscape plans shall include
the following:
(a) A water budget which includes estimated annual water use (in gallons) and
the area (in square feet) to be irrigated;
(b) Precipitation rates for each valve circuit;
(c) A monthly irrigation schedule for the plant establishment period and the
following year.
(7) Additional Requirements in Residential Developments.
(a) In residential developments with one or more model homes, at least one
model home in the development must be planted with drought-tolerant plans with a maximum
of twenty-five (25) percent turf and/or water area.
(b) The-developers shall provide each buyer with sample landscape plans using
drought-tolerant plants with a maximum of twenty-five (25) percent turf area.
(c) Subject to Community Development Department approval, the developer
shall distribute outdoor water conservation pamphlets to each buyer at the time property is sold.
Such pamphlets may be obtained from local water districts, from the State Department of Water
Resources, or from the Community Development Department.
(Ord. 90- 5�.
SECTION III. Chapter 916-2 of the County Ordinance Code is amended by adding Section 916-
2.004:
916-2.004. Water Conservation Landscaping. Landscaping of property subject to this title shall
conform to the water conservation requirements of Chapter 82-26 of this Code.
(Ord. 90- 5 9 J
SECTION IV. EFFECTIVE DATE. This ordinance becomes effective 30 days after passage,
and within 15 days of passage shall be published once with the names of supervisors voting for
and against it in the Contra Costa Times, a newspaper published in the County.
PASSED ON July 31 , 1990 by the following vote:
AYES: Supervisors Powers , Schroder, McPeak, Torlakson and Fanden
NOES: None
ABSENT:Non e
ABSTAIN: None
ATTEST: Phil Batchelor, Clerk
of the Board of Supervisors and
County Administrator
of
By Cj� 01a s
Deputy Boarl Chair
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ORD. NO. 90- 5 9