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Zoning Ordinance Amendment No. 2009-07 <br /> November 9, 2009 <br /> Page 3 <br /> The Orange County Model is helpful in that it identifies how local <br /> agencies will meet targets and creates an ordinance that is "at least as <br /> effective" as the State Model. Further, the OC Model separates the <br /> "what" from the "how," by creating clear requirements. Modifications to <br /> various sections of the existing code, as well an adoption of an updated <br /> City Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance, are proposed. <br /> The City's existing Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance has been <br /> proactive in encouraging water conservation. For example, although <br /> State law exempted projects less than an acre in size from submitting a <br /> landscape plan, the City requirement has been to require landscape plans <br /> for projects greater than 15,000 square feet in size. Further, <br /> jurisdictions must now utilize evapo-transpiration based "Maximum <br /> Applied Water Allowance" (MAWA) rates of 0.7 (formerly 1.0), while the <br /> existing City ordinance utilized a rate of 0.8. This results in the <br /> need to reduce landscape water use by only 10 percent instead of 30 <br /> percent under the new State ordinance. Additionally, while a major <br /> component of the OC Model Ordinance includes a self-certification <br /> process by a licensed landscape professional to certify that the <br /> landscape design and installation is in conformance with the City <br /> ordinance and standards, the City has allowed self-certification since <br /> 1993. Finally, while the new State ordinance now requires water audits, <br /> the current City ordinance has required audits on an as-needed basis. <br /> Outlined below in Table 1 are the major changes to the current City <br /> ordinance: <br /> Table 1 <br /> Proposed Changes to Zoning Code <br /> Residential zones (R1, R2, R3, Add language to provide automatic <br /> townhome) irrigation systems, dry climate <br /> landscaping and low gallon <br /> sprinklers. <br /> Professional zone Add language to require landscape <br /> plan, provide automatic irrigations <br /> systems, dry climate landscaping and <br /> low gallon sprinklers. <br /> Commercial (C1, CSM) zones Add language to provide automatic <br /> irrigation systems, dry climate <br /> landscaping and low gallon <br /> sprinklers. <br /> <br /> Commercial Residential (CR) zone Add language to require landscape <br /> plan, provide automatic irrigation <br /> systems, dry climate landscaping and <br /> low gallon sprinklers. <br /> 75A-5 <br /> <br />