Hawaiian Gardens Municipal Code Ch. 13.18 Water Conservation in Landscaping

The purpose of this chapter is to establish standards and procedures for the design, installation and management of water conserving landscapes in order to utilize available plant, water and land resources to avoid excessive landscape water demands while ensuring high quality landscape design.

(Ord. 405 § 1, 1993)

Unless the context specifically indicates otherwise, the meaning of terms used in this chapter shall be as defined in this section.

Application rate means the rate of irrigation (inches/hour or gallons per minute) at which water is applied by an irrigation system.

Automatic control valve means a valve in an irrigation system which is activated by an automatic electric or hydraulic controller.

Automatic irrigation system means an irrigation system that can be controlled without manual manipulation and which operates on a preset program.

Contour means a line drawn on a plan which connects all points of equal elevation above or below a known or assumed reference point.

Controller means an automatic timing device with enclosure, which signals automatic valves to open and close on a preset program.

Cycle means in irrigation, the complete operation of a controller station.

Designer means a person qualified and working under a valid State license to practice landscape architecture and/or irrigation design.

Director means the Director of Planning and Community Development of the City of Hawaiian Gardens.

Hydrozone means a portion of the planting area having plants grouped according to water need.

Infiltration rate means the rate (inches per hour) in which water moves through soil under natural conditions.

Irrigation system means a complete connection of system components, including the water distribution network and the necessary irrigation equipment downstream from the backflow prevention device.

Planting area means the parcel area less building pad(s), driveway(s), patio(s), deck(s), walkway(s), and parking area(s). Planting area includes water bodies (i.e., fountains, ponds, lakes) and natural areas.

Planting plan means a plan identifying the location, spacing, numbers, container sizes of all plant materials including common and botanical names.

Rehabilitated landscape means any planting area in which 50 percent of existing landscape materials are replaced or modified within any 12-month period. Examples include a change of plants or groundcover, installation of a new irrigation system and grading modifications.

Station means a position on an automatic irrigation controller which indicates the control point of automatic irrigation valves.

(Ord. 405 § 1, 1993)

A. The requirements of this chapter shall be applicable to new and rehabilitated landscaping for industrial, commercial, office and institutional developments; to parks and other public recreational areas; to multifamily (five or more units) residential and PUD common areas; to model home complexes; and to City road medians and corridors.

B. These requirements shall not be applicable to:

1. Homeowner provided landscaping at single-family and multiple-family (two to four units) projects;

2. Cemeteries;

3. Registered historical sites;

4. Ecological restoration projects that do not require a permanent irrigation system;

5. Mined-land reclamation projects that do not require a permanent irrigation system;

6. Any project with a landscaped area less than 2,500 square feet, unless the Director determines that substantial compliance with the purpose of this chapter as stated in Section 13.18.010 requires that a landscape plan be submitted.

C. Exemptions. The Director may authorize exemptions to any of the design and improvement standards in this chapter. Such exemptions may be granted if the Director finds that the proposed design or improvement is in substantial compliance with the purpose and intent of this chapter.

(Ord. 405 § 1, 1993)

Landscape plans shall be prepared in accordance with the standards set forth herein and with any guidelines developed to help implement the provisions of this chapter. Such guidelines shall be approved by resolution of the City Council. Such plans shall require review and approval of the Director prior to the issuance of building permits to comply with the requirements of this chapter.

(Ord. 405 § 1, 1993)

Prior to the issuance of a building permit a landscape plan application shall be submitted and reviewed in accordance with this chapter. Applications for landscape plan approval shall be signed by the owner of the affected property or his/her agent, or by a public entity to which the provisions of the chapter apply, on forms furnished by the Director.

(Ord. 405 § 1, 1993)

Fees shall be charged for the landscape plan review and landscape permit. Such fees shall be set by resolution of the City Council.

(Ord. 405 § 1, 1993)

No landscape plan application shall be approved unless the Director finds that the plan compliments the design of the project, is consistent with the provisions of this chapter and applicable landscape guidelines; is compatible with adjacent existing or future public landscaped areas, and with the elevations and appearances of existing structures located upon lots within the immediate vicinity of the lot which is the subject of such application.

(Ord. 405 § 1, 1993)

Each landscape plan shall consist of the following elements, including, but not limited to the following:

A. Water conservation concept statement. Each landscape plan shall include a cover sheet referred to as the water conservation concept statement, which serves as a checklist to verify that the elements of the landscape plan have been completed and includes a brief narrative summary of the project. The statement shall include calculations of the project's:

1. Maximum applied water allowance;

2. Estimated applied water use.

B. Planting plan. The planting plan shall identify location, spacing, numbers, container sizes of all plant materials including common and botanical names, drawn on project base sheets in a clear and legible fashion in accordance with the guidelines established to implement the provisions of this chapter.

C. Irrigation plan. The irrigation plan shall identify all components of the irrigation system drawn on project base sheets in a clear and legible fashion in accordance with the guidelines established to implement the provisions of this chapter.

D. Annual irrigation schedule. The annual irrigation schedule shall be prepared, with a minimum four-season water schedule, for both the plant establishment period and established landscape. The irrigation schedule shall include run time and frequency of irrigation for each station.

E. Soils test. The landscape plan shall include a report of soils test which includes information on soil infiltration rate, soil texture and agricultural suitability. No soil test shall be required if the soil type can be determined by reference to the City soil map maintained by the Director and the soil is amended as required by the Director; however, a soils test shall be required if substantial amounts of soil are imported to the property.

(Ord. 405 § 1, 1993)

Decorative water features such as pools, ponds and waterfalls used in landscaped areas shall incorporate recycling of water, and where available, use reclaimed water and shall be designed and operated to minimize water loss.

(Ord. 405 § 1, 1993)

Each landscape irrigation system shall be metered for water use, separately from domestic and other nonlandscape uses. Types of development exempted under Section 13.18.030 shall be exempted from this requirement.

(Ord. 405 § 1, 1993)

Each landscape irrigation system shall be periodically audited for conformance with the approved plan, in accordance with the State of California Landscape Water Management Program—Landscape Irrigation Auditor Handbook, hereby incorporated by reference. Such audits shall be conducted on a regular basis, at intervals of not less than every five years.

(Ord. 405 § 1, 1993)

The property owner shall permanently and continuously maintain all landscaping and irrigation in a neat, clean and healthy condition, including removal of litter, proper pruning, mowing of lawns, weeds, fertilizing and watering; and replacement of diseased and/or dead plants and malfunctioning or missing irrigation system components subject to approval of the Director.

(Ord. 405 § 1, 1993)

For each subdivision with model homes, the developer shall submit a landscape plan and install landscaping for each model home, incorporating the requirements of this chapter and including:

A. Signs and identifying elements of the water conserving landscape and irrigation system design placed around the model;

B. Literature describing water conserving landscapes to be available to individuals touring the model;

C. The location, text and size of signs shall be clearly shown on the landscape plan and shall be in substantial accordance with the guidelines established to implement the provisions of this chapter.

(Ord. 405 § 1, 1993)

Upon completion of the installation of the landscaping, the designer shall certify that the landscape complies with all requirements of this chapter. Certification shall be accomplished by completion of a landscape certificate on a form approved by the Director. Said form shall be attached to the final as-built landscape plan. Failure to submit a complete and accurate landscape certificate will delay final approval of the project and/or discontinue water service.

(Ord. 405 § 1, 1993)

The Director shall develop a list of plants that are commonly used in landscape designs with water requirement classifications of low, medium and high to assist landscape designers to choose species of appropriate water demands to comply with this chapter and to group species of similar water demands to facilitate efficient irrigation. This list shall be included in the landscape guidelines developed to implement the provisions of this chapter (also see Section 13.18.140).

(Ord. 405 § 1, 1993)