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Staff proposes Alternative Landscape Plan to address irrigation, soil and groundwater limits
Summary
Staff proposed an Alternative Landscape Plan (ALP) to provide predictable, site-appropriate alternatives where irrigation is unavailable, soils are too saline (staff cited a ~16 millimoles salinity threshold), or high groundwater prevents plant establishment; commissioners favored a narrow, performance-based approach and asked staff to draft code language and point-menu examples (Avon model) for the hearing.
City planning staff introduced an Alternative Landscape Plan (ALP) intended to address recurring situations where existing landscape standards cannot be met because irrigation taps are unavailable, soils are too saline or alkaline, or high groundwater prevents healthy plant growth.
Staff described three common constraints: water-provider restrictions (they cited Butte Water as an example that may deny irrigation taps), soil conditions with salinity above roughly 16 millimoles that cannot be economically amended, and shallow groundwater that causes chronic oversaturation and root failure. Staff said the current code lacks a structured, administratively efficient pathway other than…
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