The intent of this chapter is to:

a)

Recognize the need for and the protection of groundwater as a natural resource through the application of enhanced landscape practices.

b)

Recognize that water-efficient landscaping maximizes the conservation of water by using site adapted plants and efficient watering methods that will generally result in a reduction of irrigation requirements, costs, energy and maintenance.

c)

Regulate the installation of rain sensor devices on automatic lawn irrigation systems, F.S. § 373.62, or as amended.

The purpose of these regulations is to establish minimum standards for the development, installation, and maintenance of landscaped areas on a site with water use efficiency as a goal without inhibiting the use of creative landscape design. This chapter encourages specific water conservation measures including the preservation of natural vegetation, the re-establishment of native plan communities, the use of site specific plant materials, and the use of native vegetation.

To achieve the objectives of this chapter, the seven (7) basic principles of water-efficient landscaping are incorporated.

1)

Good design.

2)

Soil improvement.

3)

Use of mulch.

4)

Limit lawn areas.

5)

Use of low water use plants.

6)

Efficient irrigation.

7)

Appropriate maintenance.

Applicants for site plan approval for development, redevelopment, and rehabilitation of all parcels within the Town of Lady Lake are encouraged, but not required, to follow the guidelines of this chapter.

Any construction or development activity requiring a planting within buffers or other landscaping is encouraged to be consistent with the water-efficient landscaping standards established below.

a)

Good design.

1)

Preservation of existing vegetation areas when possible.

2)

Installation of plant material in groups according to the water needs of the varieties. The plants should be grouped as follows:

A)

High water use zones. Plant materials that are associated with moist soils and require supplemental water in addition to natural rainfall to survive. The High Water Use Zone plant material should be limited to less than fifty (50) percent of the total landscaped area of the site.

B)

Moderate water use zones. Plant materials which can survive on natural rainfall with supplemental water during seasonal dry periods.

C)

Low water use zones. Plant material which can survive on natural rainfall with no supplemental water.

b)

Soil improvement. The existing soils on the site should be analyzed to help determine the appropriate plant types for the site. The soils should be enhanced if needed to give the soils more moisture retention capabilities.

c)

Use of mulch. Organic mulches should be used and maintained around all trees located in turf areas, in landscape areas not planted or not appropriate for growing turf or groundcover, and in all planted areas, except annual beds.

d)

Limit lawn area.

1)

The use, type, and location of lawn area in the landscape shall be selected in a planned manner and not used as a fill-in material.

2)

Since most lawn varieties used in the landscape require supplemental watering more frequently than other types of landscape plants, turf shall be placed so that it can be irrigated separately.

e)

Use of low water use plants.

1)

Plants should be selected based on the plant's adaptability to the site, desired effect, color, texture, and mature size. The landscape should be designed to give the desired aesthetic effect and plants should be grouped in accordance with their respective water needs.

2)

The use of native plants is encouraged whenever possible.

f)

Efficient irrigation.

1)

The irrigation system shall be designed to correlate to the water use plant zones established in the landscape design. The following criteria for irrigating the site should be used in the design of the system.

A)

In the high water use zones all portions of the zone shall be provided with a automatic irrigation system with low volume heads that are timed to produce no more than two (2) inches of water per week in established landscapes.

B)

In the moderate water use zone all portions of the zone shall be provided with a readily available water supply within twenty-five (25) feet to supplement natural rainfall when needed and to help ensure watering will take place until the plant material is established.

C)

In the low water use zones all portions of the zone shall be provided with a readily available water supply within fifty (50) feet to supplement natural rainfall when needed and to help ensure that watering will take place until the plant material is established.

2)

Rain sensor devices shall be required on all automatic irrigation systems, F.S. § 373.62, or as amended, to avoid irrigation during periods of sufficient rainfall.

3)

The irrigation system shall be designed to minimize irrigation overthrow onto impervious surfaces and to negate any ponding effects.

g)

Appropriate maintenance.

1)

Proper maintenance will preserve and enhance the quality of the landscape.

2)

Included in the maintenance schedule should be the time periods for the following: the checking, adjusting, and repairing of the irrigation system, resetting of the irrigation schedule according to the season, remulching, fertilizing, weeding, and pruning.

In addition to the requirements for Landscape Plan submittals under the Site Development Plan Regulations, the following items will be required as a part of the submittal when water-efficient landscaping is used.

a)

Indicate the water zone requirements.

b)

Indicate all areas of the site to be preserved.

c)

Indicate all turf areas.

d)

A maintenance schedule.