To: Honorable Mayor and Members of Town Council
From: Mark Marlowe, P.E., Director of Castle Rock Water
Title
Ordinance Amending Section 15.48.010 of the Castle Rock Municipal Code by Adopting by Reference as a Primary Code the 2018 Landscape and Irrigation Performance Standards and Criteria Manual (Second Reading)
Body
________________________________________________________________________________
Executive Summary
The purpose and intent of this Ordinance is to seek Town Council’s approval to amend certain chapters of the Town of Castle Rock Municipal Code (see Attachment A), specifically the Landscape and Irrigation Performance Standards and Criteria Manual. Roughly, 50 percent of the water used in Castle Rock is used outdoors for landscape irrigation. Creating more water efficient landscapes (think ColoradoScapes) holds the potential to significantly reduce water use for new development in the future. This action will help Castle Rock meet our water efficient plan goal of another 18 percent reduction in per capita use.
The major changes to the plan are included in the following table:
|
THEN |
NOW |
|
General |
General |
|
No requirements for wind shut-off devices on water features. |
Wind shut-off devices are required on water features. |
|
Fee and testing requirements waived for Landscape architects seeking registration. |
Fee and testing requirements apply to all professionals seeking registration. |
|
ColoradoScape is undefined |
ColoradoScape is defined. |
|
New Residential |
New Residential |
|
Kentucky Bluegrass is allowed. |
Eliminating Kentucky Bluegrass. Turf varieties requiring no more than 19-inches of water per year are allowed. An example is Texas Hybrid bluegrass. |
|
Smart irrigation controllers are not required. |
Smart irrigation controllers are required. |
|
Turf limitations |
Stricter turf limitations to meet the intent of the Water Efficiency Master Plan goals. |
|
Streetscapes (tree lawn area) may be irrigated and maintained by residential homeowners. |
Streetscapes (tree lawn area) to be irrigated and maintained by HOA or metro district. |
|
Streetscape |
Streetscape |
|
No individual plant material may require more than 15-inches of water demand per growing season. |
No individual plant material may require more than 10-inches of water demand per growing season. |
|
Irrigated turf allowed on islands, medians, and roundabouts. |
Traditional turf grasses not allowed on islands, medians, roundabouts, or tree-lawn areas (the area between the curb and detached sidewalk). Drip irrigation of xeric and native species is allowed. |
Notification and Outreach Efforts
Castle Rock Water staff held two stakeholder meetings (September 27, 2017 and October 23, 2017) with the development community to seek feedback on the proposed changes. Twenty-five people attended the stakeholder meetings and/or provided input on the document. Staff also obtained feedback from the stakeholders on the draft document.
In January 2018, the draft document was published on Castle Rock Water’s website for the public to access and review. An online form was available for the public to utilize for their comments.
On February 7, 2018, Castle Rock Water held an open-house to discuss the changes to the manual with the community. Feedback from this event and the online form is summarized in Attachment B. Generally, comments were supportive of the proposed changes.
History of Past Town Council, Boards & Commissions, and Other Discussions
On February 21, 2018, Castle Rock Water presented the changes to the manual to the Developers Roundtable.
On February 22, 2018, Castle Rock water presented the changes to manual to the Planning Commission.
The proposed code changes were presented to Castle Rock Water Commission on February 28, 2018. Castle Rock Water Commission unanimously recommended Council approve the changes.
Discussion
The last revision to the Landscape and Irrigation Manual was in April 2015 and since that time, Castle Rock Water has developed the 2015 Water Efficiency Master Plan and the 2016 Water Resources Strategic Master Plan. Both plans outlined the need for additional water conservation efforts to meet the long-term water demands of the growing community and minimize the need to acquire additional renewable water resources to meet peak summer demands.
The Landscape and Irrigation Manual consists of residential and non-residential irrigation efficiency requirements. All new developments must follow the criteria in these standards. The key requirements in the manual include ColoradoScape plant material requirements, water efficient design, construction, and maintenance components.
Budget Impact
There is no anticipated additional cost to the Town if Council approves the proposed code amendment. The proposed changes will help reduce outdoor water usage and therefore reduce the total amount of renewable water needed in the future and reduce the future peak water demands placed on the system to meet the summer irrigation demands of the community.
Recommendations
Staff and Castle Rock Water Commission recommend that the proposed code amendment to the Town of Castle Rock Municipal Code be approved.
Proposed Motion
“I move to approve the Ordinance as introduced by title.”
Attachments
Attachment A: Ordinance
Exhibit 1: Manual
Attachment B: Open house summary