Item 8E AGENDA ITEM # 8E
SEPTEMBER 13, 2010
CITY OF ATLANTIC BEACH
CITY COMMISSION MEETING
STAFF REPORT
AGENDA ITEM: Discussion of forthcoming Florida Friendly Landscaping ordinance as
required the City's Consumptive Use Permit (CUP)
SUBMITTED BY: Sonya Doerr, AICP 499
Community Development Director
DATE: August 25, 2010
BACKGROUND: As the City Commission is well aware, one of the conditions of the City's CUP
from the SJRWMD is the requirement to adopt an ordinance that implements the principles of
Florida Friendly Landscaping, formerly referred to as Xeriscaping. The initial direction that the
City must "adopt verbatim" the provisions of the model ordinance has been moderated to require a
focus on three specific principles of Florida Friendly Landscaping.
1. Appropriate Plant Selection, Location and Arrangement which simply means landscape and
lawn plants should match their environment, and that plants with similar water, light and soil
needs should be grouped together.
The implementation of this is done through the use of "hydrozones" where the irrigation system
is separated into zones that deliver the appropriate amount of water according to the particular
plant needs. Hydrozones are divided into low, moderate, and high water use areas. Lawns are
high water use, perennials and flower beds are generally moderate water use, and trees, shrubs,
native or natural areas are low water use areas.
2. Turf (lawn) areas — Since turf areas are high water use, these need to be located so that they are
on separate irrigation zones.
3. Efficient Irrigation — In 2006, Appendix F of the Florida Plumbing Code adopted Florida -
friendly irrigation design standards. Irrigation installers and contractors are already using these,
and the permits we issue for irrigation currently implement this, so this requires no change of
practice other than to include the appropriate references in the new ordinance.
These are the issues the SJRWMD has advised must be addressed in order to meet the requirements
of Florida Statutes related to Florida - Friendly landscaping. I believe we were all initially concerned
that mandating these requirements was an over -reach of the WMD's authority and would be onerous
for property owners and a challenge for the City to administer. But after the better part of year's
study and compromise with the WMD, we do not believe that the new ordinance will be overly
burdensome to the City or to homeowners. We have learned from the City's largest irrigation
contractors that the use of hydrozones and Florida Friendly principles is already standard practice for
most all new irrigation systems because of the significant cost savings from decreased water usage,
and the improvements to the conditions of lawns and landscaping. Scott Hulihan, with Hulihan
Irrigation and Matt Eaton, with North Florida Irrigation advised that while the zoned system costs a
bit more on the front end, that it is usually a matter of explanation to help property owners understand
that the one - size -fits all installation is more expensive to operate. Once a hydrozone system is
installed, the cost savings is immediate.
September 13, 2010 regular meeting
AGENDA ITEM # 8E
SEPTEMBER 13, 2010
As we begin this process, there are several important things to remember.
• The Statutes are very clear in stating that the implementation of Florida - friendly ordinances applies to
new construction and to redevelopment at a level to be set at the discretion of the local government.
Logic seems that we would apply this only to new development or when a new irrigation system is
installed on a developed lot.
• The regulations will apply only to automatic irrigation systems.
• Many of the principles of Florida - friendly landscaping are already in our existing Landscape
regulations and also in Chapter 23, Protection of Trees and Native Vegetation.
• We have long required landscape and irrigation plans for non - residential development, so there will
be no change in procedure here.
• I do not anticipate that we would have any reason to require more for new residential development
than to see the hydrozone areas along with the application for an irrigation permit. (We already
require irrigation permits.)
• We are required to adopt a provision setting a maximum amount of the landscaped area of a lot that
can be a High Water Use Hydrozone. The WMD has given little guidance as to what they believe
this percentage should be, but it is now our understanding that 60% is the appropriate area of the
lawn/landscaped area of a lot that would be limited to the high water use zone. It has taken us a little
while to grasp this, but simply put: of your total yard area, only 60% of it can use high- emitter
sprinkler heads. We have done some GIS analysis of existing lawns across the City and with rare
exceptions, mostly on deep ocean front lots, not many yards exceed this amount of lawn. (In any case
existing development would not be subject to the new requirements.)
We have a concept for the draft ordinance in mind, and the key elements of the proposed draft will be
as follows:
• The new ordinance would apply only to previously undeveloped lots where irrigation is installed
and to developed lots installing a first -time irrigation system, or to lots replacing more than 50%
of an irrigation system.
• When an irrigation permit is applied for it will need to contain a drawing showing the low,
moderate and high water use hydrozones. This can be prepared by the irrigation contractor or the
homeowner.
• The low water use zones, where native plants, shrubs, ground covers and the areas under shade
trees and other areas of the yard that require little irrigation should be about 30% of the yard.
*Not 30% of the lot, but 30% the yard area.
• The moderate water use zones, where perennials, seasonal plants and flower beds, and other
plants that wilt and need to be watered often when first planted or during dry periods should be
limited to about 10% of the yard area.
• The high water use zones (grass) will need to be limited to not more than 60% of the irrigated
area of the yard. A greater percentage of grass could be installed, but only 60% of the lawn can
be watered with high- emitter sprinkler heads.
BUDGET: Budget issues not determined at this time.
RECOMMENDATION: Direction to staff regarding next steps to prepare a draft ordinance.
ATTACHMENTS: None.
REVIEWED BY CITY MAN •
September 13, 2010 regular meeting