Montague Municipal Code Ch. 15.24 Water-Efficient Landscaping

Sections:

• 15.24.010 Applicability.

• 15.24.020 Landscape documentation package.

• 15.24.030 Water conservation concept statement.

• 15.24.040 Landscape design plan.

• 15.24.050 Irrigation design plans and specifications.

• 15.24.060 Certification.

• 15.24.070 Provisions for existing landscapes.

• A. This chapter shall apply to the following:

  1. All new and rehabilitated landscaping for public agency projects and private development projects that require a city permit; and

  2. Developer-installed landscaping in single-family and multi-family projects.

• B. This chapter shall not apply to homeowner-provided landscaping at single-family and multifamily projects. (Ord. 93-02 (part), 1993)

A. A landscape documentation package shall be submitted to the city. No permit shall be issued until the city reviews and approves this package.

• B. Each landscape documentation package shall include the following elements:

  1. Water conservation concept statement as set forth in Section 15.24.030;

  2. Calculation for the estimated total water use;

3. Landscape design plan as set forth in Section 15.24.040;

4. Irrigation design plan as set forth in Section 15.24.050;

5. Certificate of substantial completion (to be submitted after installation of the project). (Ord. 93-02 (part), 1993)

Each landscape documentation package shall include a cover sheet, referred to as the water conservation concept statement similar to the following example. It serves as a check list to verify that the elements of the landscape documentation package have been completed and has a narrative summary of the project.

SAMPLE WATER CONSERVATION CONCEPT STATEMENT Project Site: Project Number: Project Location: Landscape Architect/Irrigation Designer Designer/Contractor:

Included in this project submittal package are:

(Check to indicate completion)

___1. Estimated Total water use: ____ gallons/year (attach sheet showing method of calculation) ___2. Landscape Design Plan ___3. Irrigation Design Plan

DESCRIPTION OF PROJECT

(Briefly describe the planning and design actions that are intended to achieve conservation and efficiency in water use.)

Date:__ Prepared by: ______

(Ord. 93-02 (part), 1993)

A. A landscape design plan meeting the following requirements shall be submitted as part of the landscape documentation package:

1. Any plants meeting the provisions set out in subsections (A)(2) and (A)(3) may be used in the landscape.

2. Plants having similar water use shall be grouped together in distinct hydrozones.

3. Plants shall be selected appropriately based upon their adaptability to the climatic, geologic and topographical conditions of the site. Protection and preservation of existing trees is encouraged. The planting of trees is encouraged wherever it is consistent with the other provisions of this chapter.

4. Recirculating water shall be used for decorative water features.

5. The use pool and spa covers is encouraged.

• B. The landscape design plan shall be drawn on project base sheets at a scale that accurately and clearly identifies:

  1. Landscape materials, trees, shrubs, groundcover, turf and other vegetation. Planting symbols shall be clearly drawn and plants labeled by botanical name, common name, container size, spacing and quantities of each group of plants indicated;

  2. Property lines and street names;

  3. Streets, driveways, walkways and other paved areas;

  4. Pools, ponds, water features, fences and retaining walls;

  5. Existing and proposed buildings and structures including elevation, if applicable;

  6. Natural features including but not limited to rock outcroppings, existing 6" diameter trees, shrubs that will remain;

  7. An estimate of the total landscaped area. (Ord. 93-02 (part), 1993)

An irrigation design plan meeting the following conditions shall be submitted as part of the landscape documentation package:

A. Runoff and Overspray. Soil types and infiltration rate shall be considered when designing irrigation systems. All irrigation systems shall be designed to avoid runoff, low-head drainage, overspray, or other similar conditions where water flows onto adjacent property, nonirrigated areas, walks, roadways or structures. Proper irrigation equipment and schedules, including features such as repeat cycles, shall be used to closely match application rates to infiltration rates therefore minimizing runoff.

• B. Separate landscape water meters shall be installed for all projects except for single-family homes or any project with a landscaped area of less than one thousand square feet.

• C. Automatic control systems shall be required for all irrigation systems and must be able to accommodate all aspects of the design.

• D. Irrigation systems shall be designed to be consistent with hydrozones.

• E. The irrigation design plan shall use the same format as the landscape design plan. The scale should be the same as that used for the landscape design plan.

• F. The irrigation design plan shall accurately and clearly identify the following:

  1. Location and size of separate water meters for the landscape, if applicable;

  2. Location, type and size of all components of the irrigation system, including automatic controllers, main and lateral lines, valves, sprinkler heads, moisture sensing devices, rain switches, quick couplers and backflow prevention devices;

  3. Static water pressure at the point of connection to the public water supply;

  4. Flow rate (gallons per minute), application rate (inches per hour) and design operating pressure (psi) for each station. (Ord. 93-02 (part), 1993)

• A. Upon completing the installation of the landscaping and the irrigation system, an irrigation audit shall be conducted by the owner or a licensed landscape contractor.

B. The owner, or a licensed landscape contractor, shall conduct a final field observation and shall provide a certificate of substantial completion to the city. The certificate shall specifically indicate that plants were installed as specified, that the irrigation audit has been performed, along with a list of any observed deficiencies.

C. Certification shall be accomplished by completing a certificate of substantial completion of a form approved by the director of public works and delivering it to the city and to the owner of record. (Ord. 93-02 (part), 1993)

• A. Water Management.

  1. All existing landscaped areas to which the city provides water that are one acre or more, including golf courses, green belts, common areas, multifamily housing, schools, businesses, parks, cemeteries and publicly owned landscapes shall be checked for water usage yearly.

  2. If the project's water bills indicate that they are using less than or equal to the total estimated water usage for that project, an audit shall not be required.

  3. Recognition of projects that stay within the maximum applied water allowance is encouraged.

• B. Water Waste Prevention. Montague City shall prevent water waste resulting from inefficient landscape irrigation by prohibiting runoff, low head drainage, overspray, or other similar conditions where water flows onto adjacent property, nonirrigated areas, walks, roadways or structures. (Ord. 93-02 (part), 1993)