To: Honorable Mayor and Members of Town Council
Through: David L. Corliss, Town Manager
From: Mark Marlowe, P.E., Director of Castle Rock Water
David van Dellen, Assistant Director of Castle Rock Water
Matt Benak, P.E., Water Resources Manager
Rick Schultz, Water Efficiency Supervisor
Courtney Stoddard, Water Efficiency Specialist
Title
Ordinance Amending Section 15.48.010 of the Castle Rock Municipal Code Adopting by Reference as a Primary Code the 2024 Town of Castle Rock Landscape and Irrigation Criteria Manual (Second Reading - Approved on First Reading on April 2, 2024, by a vote 7-0) [Entire Castle Rock Service Area]
Body
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Executive Summary
The purpose of this memorandum is to seek Town Council approval of an Ordinance amending Title 15.48 of the Castle Rock Municipal Code adopting by reference as a Primary Code the Town of Castle Rock, Colorado Landscape and Irrigation Criteria Manual - First Reading (see Attachment A). The Landscape and Irrigation Criteria Manual (Manual) is a key document that helps Castle Rock meet its long-term water efficiency goals. The Manual outlines landscaping and irrigation criteria which reduces water waste, improves watering efficiency, and supports landscapes that are native and regionally adaptive in a ColoradoScape design.
The major changes to the Landscape and Irrigation Criteria Manual being proposed are included below (and further outlined in Attachment B):
• Concepts, formulas, and terminology related to Composite Landscape Water Use Rating (CLWUR) and Landscape Water Use Rating (LWUR) were removed.
• Several definitions were updated and clarified.
• Defensible Space, Zone One (1), Zone Two (2), Zone Three (3) were introduced as related to fire prevention.
• The term head-to-head coverage was added regarding irrigation systems.
• The requirement for a Registered Landscape Professional to be present during all scheduled inspections was added to clarify existing processes.
• The statement that native areas shall be maintained in a manner consistent with native or regionally adapted vegetation that differs from maintenance practices of traditional grass was added.
• Native grasses were included in section 4.6.3, Turf, Woody Plants, Native Grasses, and Fertilization.
• In Parking Lot Requirements, the minimum irrigated area was updated to create consistency with existing Town requirements.
• In Design Requirements, the need for home builders to design the front and backyard was clarified to match existing requirements.
• Design, installation, and maintenance of Town owned parks have been clarified by adding a reference to the Parks, Trials, and Open Space Development Standards.
Staff Recommendation
Staff recommends approving an Ordinance amending Title 15.48.010 of the Castle Rock Municipal Code adopting by reference as a Primary Code the Town of Castle Rock, Colorado 2024 Landscape and Irrigation Criteria Manual.
Proposed Motion
“I move to approve the Ordinance as introduced by title.”
Alternative Motion
“I move to approve the resolution as introduced by title, with the following conditions: (list conditions).
“I move to continue this item to the Town Council meeting on _____ date to allow additional time to (list information needed).”
Attachments
Staff Report
Attachment A: Ordinance
Exhibit 1: Landscape and Irrigation Criteria Manual (Red line version)
Attachment B: Summary of Changes to the Manual 2024