20.925.100 Water Conservation Standards.
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A. Water conservation standards.
1. Applicability. In order to ensure efficient water use in landscaped areas, the following standards shall be applied to all landscaping associated with office, commercial, industrial, institutional, parks and greenways, multiple family residential projects, and commonly-owned and/or maintained areas of single family residential projects.
2. Exemptions. These standards do not apply to landscaping in private areas of single-family projects. Parks, playgrounds, sports fields, golf courses, schools, and cemeteries are exempt from specified turf area limitations where a functional need for turf is established. All other requirements are applicable.
3. Plant selection and use limitation.
a. Minimize the amount of irrigated turf.
b. Turf, high-water-use plantings (e.g. annuals, container plants) and water features (e.g. fountains, pools) shall be considered high-water-uses and shall be limited to not more than 40% of the projects landscaped area if nondrought resistant grass is used, and no more than 50% of the landscaped area if drought resistant grass is used.
c. Plants selected in all areas not identified for turf or high-water-use plantings shall include native vegetation or be well suited to the climate, soils, and topographic conditions of the site, and shall be low water use plants once established.
d. Plants having similar water use shall be grouped together in distinct hydrozones and shall be irrigated with separate irrigation circuits.
e. No turf or high-water-use plants shall be allowed on slopes. Slopes shall be revegetated with native trees, shrubs, and groundcover.
f. No turf or high-water-use plants shall be allowed in areas 8' wide or less except public right-of-way planter strips.
g. No turf shall be installed with Tree, Vegetation, and Soil Protection Areas VMC 20.770.
B. Water efficient landscape (xeriscape) standards.
1. As an alternative to traditional landscaping, the City encourages the use of xeriscape practices, which minimize the need for watering or irrigation. Xeriscape principles can be summarized as follows:
a. Using plants with low moisture requirements;
b. Selecting plants for specific site microclimates that vary according to slope, aspect, soil, and exposure to sun and moisture;
c. Using native, noninvasive, adapted plant species;
d. Minimizing the amount of irrigated turf;
e. Planting and designing slopes to minimize storm water runoff;
f. Use of separate irrigation zones adjusted to plant water requirements and use of drip or trickle irrigation systems.
g. Using mulch in planted areas to control weeds, cool the soil and reduce evaporation; and
h. Emphasizing soil improvement, such as deep tilling, adding organic matter and other amendments based on soil tests.
2. Appropriate plant species. Trees and plants used in xeriscape plantings pursuant to this Section shall:
a. Appropriate for the ecological setting in which they are to be planted;
b. Have noninvasive growth habits;
c. Encourage low maintenance and sustainable landscape design
d. Be commercially available;
e. Shall not be plant material that was collected in the wild; and
f. Be consistent with the purpose and intent of this Section.
3. Native vegetation. Within xeriscape areas, a minimum of 50% native plants shall be used.
4. Prohibited species. The City shall maintain a list of prohibited species, which are invasive or noxious. Where such species already exist, their removal shall be a condition of development approval.
5. Additional planting standards.
a. For xeriscape areas, soil samples shall be analyzed to determine what soil conditioning or soil amendments should be used at the time of planting. Soil conditioning measures shall be adequate for the plant species selected.
b. Trees, shrubs, perennials, perennial grasses and groundcovers shall be located and spaced to accommodate their mature size on the site.
6. Plant replacement. The developer shall maintain xeriscape plantings for a two-year period from the date of planting. Within the two-year period, the developer shall replace or otherwise guarantee any failed plantings:
a. Dead or dying trees or shrubs shall be replaced; and
b. Plantings of perennials, perennial grasses or groundcovers shall be replanted to maintain a maximum 20% mortality rate from the date of planting.
C. Stormwater. Applicants are encouraged to incorporate landscaping into the on-site stormwater treatment system to the greatest extent practicable. (Ord. M-4179 § 94, 2016; Ord. M-3643, 2004)