Proposed Sierra Vista Sub-Watershed Water Conservation Overlay District Board of Supervisors December 5, 2006

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Proposed Sierra Vista Sub-WatershedWater
Conservation Overlay District Board of
SupervisorsDecember 5, 2006
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Whats Been Done to Date..

• 1998 Joint County/City Task Force of Planning
  Commissioners formed to create recommendations
  for water conservation
• 1998 County becomes member of the Upper San
  Pedro Partnership
• 2000- Board adopted water conservation measures
  and standards for new, proposed golf courses,
  county-wide
• 2002 Board adopted the requirement for waterless
  urinals, drought-tolerant landscaping in new
  commercial, and pool covers, county-wide.
• 2002 County developed a joint development plan
  with the cities in the sub-watershed that
  addressed the need for joint review in the
  unincorporated areas as well as potential water
  conservation measures for consideration in the
  future.
• 2004 County-sponsored Toilet Rebate and Desert
  Hospitality program was initiated.
• 2004 Revision of Subdivision Regulations
  requiring water conservation measures in common
  use areas.
• 2005- County tasked by Upper San Pedro
  Partnership to develop a draft model ordinance of
  potential water conservation measures that may be
  adopted by all jurisdictions within the
  sub-watershed.
• 2006 - Board of Supervisors adopted Sub-watershed
  Plan and policies in March to address special
  development requests, like rezonings, etc., as
  well as a policy to consider an overlay zoning
  district.

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The Proposed Overlay District

• Proposed overlay district covers the Sierra Vista
  Sub-Watershed of the Upper San Pedro River Basin
  and includes the unincorporated areas around
  Sierra Vista, Tombstone, Huachuca City and Bisbee

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Sierra Vista Sub-Watershed Overlay District
Sonora, Mexico
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Reasons for Creating Overlay District

1. Allows the application of water conservation
   standards for one part of the County where they
   are most needed right now.
2. Allows for a uniform application of standards,
   including development that results from lot
   splitting.
3. A commitment on the part of the County and its
   residents to off-set future water use to help
   protect the San Pedro Riparian NCA as well as to
   assist Fort Huachuca meet its legal requirements.
4. Fort Huachuca generates in excess of 1.5 billion
   in annual economic activity, which translates
   into real estate, construction, retail and
   services activities throughout this part of the
   County.

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The Overlay District

• Does not change any propertys underlying zoning
  or permitted uses.
• Applies to new construction and installations.
• New construction does not apply to manufactured
  homes.
• Also applies to replacement of existing
• Evaporative coolers
• Commercial laundry facilities

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Proposed Standards

• Hot water on demand in all new construction
• Gray water plumbing in new residential
  construction, (not applicable to factory-built or
  MH)
• High water efficiency, washing machines in new
  commercial laundry facilities and in the
  replacement of existing commercial laundry
  facilities
• Restrictions on new artificial water features
  such as ponds, lakes, water courses, and other
  types of decorative water features in any new
  commercial construction or in common user areas
  of multi-family housing,
• Installation of rain or humidity sensors with the
  new installation of an automatic outdoor
  sprinkler system
• A requirement for non-sprinkling irrigation
  systems in landscaped medians
• A requirement for non-single pass evaporative
  coolers in new construction or when replacing
  existing units.

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Other Amendments

• Adding a potential factor in favor of rezoning if
  a private, voluntary transfer of development
  rights is affected

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Other Amendments

• Requiring new Subdivisions to have a water
  provider in lieu of individual wells, as an
  amendment to the Subdivision Regulations where
  the average lot size is 4 acres or smaller and
  the subdivision is proposing more than 27 lots.

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Application of Standards

• Through the Building Permit process
• Through rezoning applications requesting higher
  density
• Through new subdivisions

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Public Input

• Emailed to multiple distribution lists including
  Countys interested parties list, Partnership
  list, J6-Mescal, St. David and Whetstone lists
  and Supervisors personal distribution lists
  sent to over 1500 email contacts
• Posted on website
• Reported in Sierra Vista, Bisbee and Benson papers

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Revision Made Since October PZ Meeting

• Evaporative Coolers New or replacement
  evaporative coolers shall not be single-pass
  coolers. (deleted requirement for 85
  efficiency)
• Outdoor Sprinkler Systems Any new installation
  or replacement of an automatic outdoor sprinkler
  system shall also include the installation of a
  rain or humidity sensor that will override the
  irrigation cycle of the sprinkler system when
  rainfall has occurred in an amount sufficient to
  negate the need for irrigation at the scheduled
  time. Where there are multiple areas with a
  sprinkler system watered from one controller, the
  sensor must be installed at the largest area.

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Public Input Since October PZ Meeting

• Input on evaporative cooler efficiencies
• Letters from 9 members of the Public opposing the
  overlay district
• Perception that ADWRs visit and discussion of a
  regional water management authority is related to
  this
• Concern that this proposal will require the
  metering of wells County has no authority to do
  this.
• Perception that we are not allowing evaporative
  coolers not true.
• Concern about application of these regulations to
  agricultural and ranching uses these uses are
  still exempt from the Zoning Regulations

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Recommendation

• At their regular meeting and public hearing on
  November 8, the Commission voted unanimously 7-0
  to recommend approval of the Sierra Vista
  Sub-watershed Water Conservation Overlay
  District.