I feel strongly about the proposed code amendment for the Bell Canyon Acers subdivision. At this time the council has not been presented with the draft minutes of the planning commission's hearing on the proposal. Two changes were made to the zoning language since then, sown in yellow highlight. I will attempt to detail my comments in an email after the meeting.
I realize the need to conserve water and I do my best to support the suggestions made by various entities, including baling water out of the tub to water plants and brown spots. I agree with the resolution policies for new construction. I am very concerned about the part pertaining to park strip conversion in single-family residential reconstruction landscaping. I did not have the money to pay the estimated $2400-$4300 to have my 50 sq foot park strip professionally reconstructed. With my limited budget and some help from neighbors, I was able to remove the previously recommended pear tree that in five years had already exceeded its maximum height and started to raise the sidewalk, cap the sprinkler heads, excavate the turf and sod, put down permeable weed barrier, transport, wash, and fill the area with 2 3/4 tons of landscaping rock, then remove the dirt and sod for about $600. Due to the shortage of street parking in my neighborhood, I chose to plant only two plants so passengers would not need to step out of their cars into landscaping. There is no drip system, as required in Section 21-25 (4) g, because true Xeriscape plants seldom need watering after they are established, and can easily be watered by hand, as needed. The section mentioned requires a drip system, even if not needed. I am concerned that this park strip creates a heat island, but based on the parking situation, my irrigation skills, and my budget, I did the best I could and I am adding plants in my backyard to try to compensate. I am concerned that the requirements for 33% plant material and a drip system will cause some owners to just leave the park strips as is and continue to water the road, defeating the purpose of the changes. Following the guidelines for the rebate program would have required me to schedule appointments before and after, keep the tree that was raising the concrete, and spend another $150 on plants so I could receive a rebate of $62.50. Other concerns: How are you going to know which landscaping was completed prior to the resolution being passed? Due to many owners being on fixed incomes, and an already approved 20% dues increase to cover water and mowing costs, our single-family home HOA has plans to convert one of six common area park strip sections at a time using volunteer labor to minimize costs. New regulations will require additional expense and not match the section already completed unless we redo parts. The consequences for violations seem pretty extreme.
I feel strongly about the proposed code amendment for the Bell Canyon Acers subdivision. At this time the council has not been presented with the draft minutes of the planning commission's hearing on the proposal. Two changes were made to the zoning language since then, sown in yellow highlight. I will attempt to detail my comments in an email after the meeting.
I realize the need to conserve water and I do my best to support the suggestions made by various entities, including baling water out of the tub to water plants and brown spots. I agree with the resolution policies for new construction. I am very concerned about the part pertaining to park strip conversion in single-family residential reconstruction landscaping. I did not have the money to pay the estimated $2400-$4300 to have my 50 sq foot park strip professionally reconstructed. With my limited budget and some help from neighbors, I was able to remove the previously recommended pear tree that in five years had already exceeded its maximum height and started to raise the sidewalk, cap the sprinkler heads, excavate the turf and sod, put down permeable weed barrier, transport, wash, and fill the area with 2 3/4 tons of landscaping rock, then remove the dirt and sod for about $600. Due to the shortage of street parking in my neighborhood, I chose to plant only two plants so passengers would not need to step out of their cars into landscaping. There is no drip system, as required in Section 21-25 (4) g, because true Xeriscape plants seldom need watering after they are established, and can easily be watered by hand, as needed. The section mentioned requires a drip system, even if not needed. I am concerned that this park strip creates a heat island, but based on the parking situation, my irrigation skills, and my budget, I did the best I could and I am adding plants in my backyard to try to compensate. I am concerned that the requirements for 33% plant material and a drip system will cause some owners to just leave the park strips as is and continue to water the road, defeating the purpose of the changes. Following the guidelines for the rebate program would have required me to schedule appointments before and after, keep the tree that was raising the concrete, and spend another $150 on plants so I could receive a rebate of $62.50. Other concerns: How are you going to know which landscaping was completed prior to the resolution being passed? Due to many owners being on fixed incomes, and an already approved 20% dues increase to cover water and mowing costs, our single-family home HOA has plans to convert one of six common area park strip sections at a time using volunteer labor to minimize costs. New regulations will require additional expense and not match the section already completed unless we redo parts. The consequences for violations seem pretty extreme.