Chapter 11 — WATER EFFICIENT LANDSCAPING AND

IRRIGATION

Section

9-11-1 Purpose and intent

9-11-2 Applicability

9-11-3 Standards of landscape design

9-11-4 Landscape plan specifications

9-11-5 Irrigation plan specifications

9-11-6 Inspection

9-11-7 Maintenance

9-11-8 Fees

9-11-9 Definitions

9-11-10 Validity

Landscaping under this chapter is intended to enhance the environmental value and physical appearance of development in the city, improve the environmental performance of development by reducing heat, glare and noise, promote the percolation of stormwater, aid in improving air quality, buffer potentially incompatible land uses from one another, promote the conservation of water and preservation of water quality by requiring drought tolerant plant material in landscaping and the retention of existing natural vegetation, thereby reducing the need for irrigation, pesticides, herbicides and fertilizers.

(Ord. 413, passed 1-5-1993)

Whenever landscaping or landscaping and irrigation plans are required by a condition of approval of a development project, the following landscape and irrigation system design and specifications shall apply. The city may require landscape areas that exceed 10,000 square feet to conform with the water conservation requirements in the state water efficient landscape ordinance.

(Ord. 413, passed 1-5-1993)

(A) Plan preparation. It is required that a licensed landscape architect or licensed landscape contractor be employed in preparing the landscape and irrigation plans. Prior to plan preparation, the Parks, Recreation and Community Services Director should be contacted for street tree information.

(B) Plant materials. The selection of plant materials should include both evergreen and deciduous trees, shrubs and attractive erosion preventing ground cover. It is required that at least 90% of the plants selected in nonturf areas be native or well suited to the climate of the region, be drought tolerant and require minimal water once established in the landscape. Up to 10% of the plants may be of nondrought tolerant variety as long as they are grouped together and can be irrigated separately. Attention shall be given to the function of the plants, their appearance, height, spread, growth rate, moisture requirements, potential root damage, disease and pest susceptibility, climatic adaptability, soil type, slope and degree of maintenance required.

(C) Plant coverage. Plants shall be properly spaced and sized that, when mature, they will fulfill their designated function. Turf shall be limited to 30% of the total landscaped area. Shrubs shall be a minimum of one gallon in size and trees shall be a minimum of 15 gallons. Although a reasonable number of growing seasons will be allowed for full plant coverage to develop, interim ground cover shall be provided during this period. Interim cover of surfacing materials shall consist of rocks, gravel, wood mulch or chips or any other acceptable material. Mulches must be a minimum of three inches when used as a interim measure or in ground cover.

(D) Plant maintenance. Automated irrigation systems shall be provided to assure efficient water use with a minimum of labor and water waste. Irrigation controllers must have multiple cycle capabilities and rain sensing override switches. Plant material must be maintained in a healthy condition. Unhealthy plants shall be replaced. Planters shall be kept free of all weeds, debris and trash.

(E) Planter construction. All planter areas shall provide positive drainage away from paved areas. They shall have either a minimum six inch raised concrete or treated wooden curb directly behind sidewalks and pavement areas, or shall be recessed two inches below adjoining paved area with a minimum four to one (4:1) slope away from paved edge to provide protection to the landscaping and control water runoff, silt and erosion onto the pavement. All planters constructed adjacent to buildings or structures shall be so designed to avoid irrigation water intrusion into or on that adjacent building or structure. The minimum width of a planter bed shall be 40 inches, with root boxes required where trees are planted, measured from the inside of curbing or acceptable permanent border.

(F) Compacted soils. Prior to the planting of any materials, the compacted soils surrounding a building site shall be returned to a friable condition. “Friable condition” is defined in § 9-11-9 of this chapter.

(Ord. 413, passed 1-5-1993)

(A) Submittal of plans. Three copies of the landscape plan shall be submitted for review and approval by the Parks, Recreation and Community Services Director in accordance with the standards of landscape design set forth in this chapter.

(B) Building elevation and site grading plans. One copy of all building elevations and site grading plans or one copy of all building plans shall be submitted together with the landscape plan. The building elevation and site grading plans shall be in sufficient detail to permit determination of the location, width and height of all doors and windows and roof overhangs on all

proposed buildings within or adjacent to proposed landscape areas.

(C) Size and scale. The landscape plans shall be legible and drawn to a scale no smaller than one inch equals 20 feet. Maximum sheet size on all drawings shall be 24 inches by 36 inches.

(D) Indication of important lines. The landscape plans shall indicate property lines, important dimension lines, setback lines, walls and fences, driveways, adjacent street, outline of all structures and adjacent land uses.

(E) Planting and soil details. The landscape plans shall indicate planting details, preemergent soil treatment rates and materials.

(F) Soil tests. A soil test for horticultural suitability shall be required to ascertain texture, infiltration rate, pH and soluble salts. The results of soil tests shall be submitted with the landscape plan. Soils shall be prepared and/or amended as appropriate.

(G) Mulching. A minimum of three inches of mulch shall be added in nonturf areas to the soil surface after planting. Plant types that are intolerant of mulch shall be excluded from this requirement.

(H) Sheet plastic. Sheet plastic and other nonporous material shall not be placed under mulch.

(I) Turf areas.

1. The use of turf as a plant material will not be permitted in narrow planter areas (less than ten feet in width), in traffic

median strips, parking strips, between curbs and sidewalks or on slopes that are in excess of three to one (3:1).

2. On slopes exceeding 15%, a level buffer zone of 18 inches is required between bermed turf areas and any hardscape

(i.e., streets, walkways and the like).

(J) Plant list required.

1. The landscape plans shall include a plant list giving the common and botanical names of plants to be used, container

size, spacing and quantities of each group of plants. This plant list shall be arranged in legend form with a key number assigned to each plant.

2. Each plant shall be identified by a key number on the plan. The size of the plant, its spacing and the quantity to be used

shall follow in the legend, as the following example illustrates:

Common

No. Botanical Name Size Space Quantity Name

Italian 1 Campanula isophylla Flat 6 in. 8 bellflower Eucalyptus Silver dollar 2 15 gallon 20 ft. 4 polyanthemos gum 3 Pinus mugo mughus Mugho pine 1 gallon 10 ft. 5

(Ord. 413, passed 1-5-1993)

(A) Submittal of plans; design considerations. Three copies of the irrigation plans shall be submitted with the landscape plans to the Parks, Recreation and Community Services Director for review and approval to ensure adequate irrigation coverage and compliance with the plumbing code requirements of the city. The irrigation system shall be designed with water conservation in mind. Wind direction, surface drainage, soil type and application method shall be considered.

(B) Points of connection.

1. The irrigation plan shall indicate the electrical power point of connection, the water system point of connection and size,

water pressure available and maximum demand of the system in gallons per minute or gallons per hour if appropriate.

2. Reclaimed water may also be used as an alternate irrigation water source if it is supplied through a dual distribution

system that conforms to the Merced County Health Department standards.

(C) Equipment. Irrigation equipment specified must be identified by manufacturer’s name and equipment identification number.

(D) Irrigation legend. Performance data for irrigation heads and emitters including discharge rates, effective diameter and operating pressure shall be listed in the irrigation legend.

(E) Location of valves, controllers and the like. All locations of irrigation valves, controllers, hose bibs, quick coupler valves, sprinkler heads and backflow prevention devices, valves, filters, pressure regulators, emitters, rain switches and moisture sensors must be indicated.

(F) Irrigation details. Irrigation details must be provided to clarify particular situations. Typical details should include backflow prevention devices, valves, irrigation heads, emitters, filters, pressure regulators, moisture sensors, rain switches, check valves, irrigation controllers and any required enclosures. Manufacturer’s specification sheets may be substituted for details.

(G) Sizing on lines. All irrigation lines must be sized.

(H) Piping. Schedule 40 PVC pipe is required under all paved areas. Piping must be installed a minimum of 12 inches underground for nonpressure irrigation lines and 18 inches underground for constant pressure irrigation lines. Emitter distribution tubing may be located at grade.

(I) Water schedules. Irrigation watering schedules for the entire year must be provided on irrigation drawings. These schedules will include an establishment (first 12 months) and postestablishment period. Postestablishment schedules will be divided into four quarters. Those quarters are winter, spring, summer and fall.

(J) Design of system; irrigation devices.

1. The irrigation system must be designed by a licensed landscape architect or licensed landscape contractor.

2. Pop up sprinklers in turf areas shall have minimum four inch pop up height. Sprinkler coverage shall be 100%. Heads

shall be placed at a maximum of 50% of the diameter of throw (head to head), unless specific justification is provided for greater spacing. Sprinkler heads must have matched precipitation rates within each control valve circuit.

3. Sprinklers and sprays shall not be used in areas less than eight feet wide. Drip and bubblers that do not exceed one and one-half gallons per minute per device shall be used.

   4. Soil moisture sensing devices or rain sensing devices are required on landscapes of 50,000 square feet or larger. Moisture sensing devices shall be installed as shown on the plans or as directed by the landscape architect.

   5. Irrigation systems shall avoid runoff, low head drainage, overspray or similar conditions where water flows onto adjacent property, nonirrigated areas, walks, roadways or structures.

   6. Serviceable check valves are required where elevation differential may cause low head drainage.

   7. Irrigation controllers must be capable of dual or multiple programming. Controllers must have multiple cycle start capacity and a flexible calendar program. Controllers shall be set to operate when evaporation is at a minimum.

   8. Water application rates shall be less than twenty five one-hundredths inches per cycle. A minimum of a one-hour period shall be allowed prior to the application of additional water.

(K) Pressure/flow calculations. Copies of pressure/flow calculations shall accompany the irrigation plans.

(L) Decorative water features. Decorative water features shall use recirculating water systems.

(Ord. 413, passed 1-5-1993)

Upon installation of landscaping and irrigation system, the installer must contact the Parks, Recreation and Community Services Department and request an inspection. The landscape and irrigation installation must conform to the approved plans before final inspection or issuance of a certificate of occupancy by the building division.

(Ord. 413, passed 1-5-1993)

The landscaping and irrigation system shall be maintained in accordance with the approved landscape and irrigation plan. Maintenance includes removal of weeds, litter or other debris and replacement of dead plant materials.

(Ord. 413, passed 1-5-1993)

A landscaping and irrigation plan review and inspection fee shall be paid to the Planning Department when the building permit is issued. The amount of the fee will be calculated by multiplying the total square footage of landscaped area times a rate determined by resolution of the Council.

(Ord. 413, passed 1-5-1993)

For the purpose of this chapter, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.

BACKFLOW PREVENTION DEVICE. A safety device used to prevent pollution or contamination of the water supply due to the reverse flow of water from the irrigation system.

CHECK VALVE. A valve located under a sprinkler head to hold water in the system so it minimizes drainage from the lower elevation sprinkler heads.

EMITTER. Drip irrigation fittings that deliver water slowly from the system to the soil.

FRIABLE CONDITION. Returning the soil to an easily crumbled or loosely compacted condition down to a minimum depth per

planting material requirement, whereby the root structure of a newly planted water conserving plant will be allowed to spread unimpeded.

LANDSCAPED AREA. The total area of the site not covered by buildings, parking lots, driveways, patios, plazas, sidewalks, hard courts, swimming pools, spas and parkway areas.

MULCH. Any material such as bark, straw or other materials left loose and applied to the soil surface to reduce evaporation.

RAIN SENSING DEVICE. A system which automatically shuts off the irrigation system when it rains.

TURF. A single bladed grass or sod.

WATER CONSERVING PLANT.

1. Any plant which exhibits drought tolerant characteristics, that is to say, will, in designed location, survive with limited

supplemental water. Cool season grass, hybrid tall type fescues and warm season grasses, such as hybrid Bermuda grass, shall be considered water conserving.

2. A list of acceptable water conserving plants will be available from the Parks, Recreation and Community Services

Department upon request.

(Ord. 413, passed 1-5-1993)

If any section, subsection, paragraph, sentence, clause, word or phrase of this chapter is for any reason held to be unconstitutional or otherwise invalid, such decision shall not affect the validity of the remainder of the chapter. The City Council hereby declares that it would have passed Ord. 413 creating this chapter, and each section subsection, paragraph, sentence, clause, word or phrase thereof, irrespective of the fact that any one or more sections, subsections, paragraphs, sentences, clauses, words or phrases be declared unconstitutional or invalid.

(Ord. 413, passed 1-5-1993)