Planning commission recommends making secondary irrigation optional in new Richmond subdivisions

The Richmond City Planning & Zoning Commission on April 7 recommended that the City Council approve Ordinance 2026-02, which would remove the requirement that secondary (irrigation) systems be installed in all new subdivisions. Commissioner Cache Christensen moved the recommendation and Commissioner Todd Smith seconded; the motion passed 4-1, with Commissioner Cindy Allen voting no.

Justin Lewis, the city recorder, told the commission the amendment was drafted at the direction of the mayor and City Council because the mandatory requirement "has not functioned as originally intended since its adoption several years ago." Lewis said developers would still have the option to install irrigation systems, or they could pay a water dedication fee or transfer water shares to the City. He said five subdivisions built since the rule was adopted include the infrastructure but are not connected to operational irrigation systems.

At a public hearing, Terrie Wierenga, who said she was involved in drafting the original ordinance, said she was "disappointed to see this direction" and urged the city council to continue seeking solutions rather than removing the mandate. Resident Mike Hite, who lives in Johnson View Estates, said his two plumbed properties include two water shares but "cannot" use them because the subdivision is not connected; he described getting conflicting guidance from RIPC and city staff and said he was frustrated.

Commissioners and staff described the practical obstacles that led to the proposed change: in one example a 15-home subdivision has only six available water shares, creating an inequitable situation if the system were activated; meters and irrigation hardware are more expensive to install and maintain; and the city has limited staff capacity and funding to make the necessary connections. Commissioners discussed options to reduce landscape water use — including xeriscaping requirements, tiered pricing, lot-size exemptions and incentives — and agreed the first stalled subdivision could serve as a test case for implementation strategies.

Lewis clarified that Richmond Irrigation & Power Company (RIPC), which operates local secondary systems, is independent from the city and that the proposed ordinance would not forbid developers from installing systems. He also said the water dedication payments are kept in a restricted fund that the city can use to acquire shares or expand connections when feasible.

The commission's recommendation does not change existing installations; it removes the mandatory requirement for future subdivisions and asks the City Council to consider incentive options and implementation approaches. The recommendation will be forwarded to the Richmond City Council for consideration at a future meeting.