Developers of new residential projects and residents with large lots wanting to make changes to their landscaping will have to make sure what they plant is water efficient.

The Walnut Planning Commission Wednesday night voted 4-0 to make amendments to the city's municipal code to conform to state mandated water conservation regulations.

The change in the city's code was needed to comply with Assembly Bill 1881, which requires water efficient landscaping for new and renewable landscapes, according to city officials.  The amendment also will assist in reducing water waste throughout the city.

Planning Commission Chairman Tom Sykes said the revised ordinance would only impact big landscape projects and because Walnut is a municipality that is mostly built out, it would not impact 95 percent of the residents.

Tom Weiner, director of community development, agreed. 

“This really affects growing communities. Built out communities like Walnut won’t be affected as much,” Weiner said.  “The expense is going to be on the applicant and their landscape architects.”

AB 1881, enacted in 2006, amends the state’s 1992 Water Conservation and Landscaping Act and requires all California cities and counties to adopt these new water efficient landscaping models.

The new provision applies to the following types of projects: new landscape installations by developers and property managers and new projects by individual homeowners on single-family or multi-family residential lots with a total project area equal to or greater than 5,000 square feet.

Additionally, existing landscapes which are not being altered and are less than one acre in size are exempt from the provisions of the ordinance.

The commission deliberated some of the wording found in the draft of the amended ordinance in reference to rentals for single and multi-residential areas, and looked at issues such as recycled or reclaimed water and artificial turf.

City staff reported a third-party architectural and engineering firm, David Evans and Associates Inc., had been retained to review and comment on the state guidelines, with an emphasis on deciphering some of the more complex terminology detailed in the guidelines.

“It is not up to us to try and reinvent the wheel,” Sykes said in reference to the drafted ordinance amendment, “It just has to meet certain benchmarks as dictated by the Legislature.”

Sykes also suggested the commission amend or reword a section of the draft which states that all water services within the city are metered.

“I am not sure that is true,” said Sykes, adding that Walnut used to be an agricultural area and that a lot of wells existed in the past and may still be operational.

Commissioner Waseem Najmi offered support for the measure.

 “It seems like a good idea,” Najmi said.  “I’m all for saving water, but not if it will be an additional burden on residents.”

Pending projects expected to be affected by the changes to the code are few, said Assistant City Planner Chun-Chien Yang.

“As far as big lots, we really don’t see that many,” Yang said. “There are a few projects that have already been approved and they will need to be in compliance of the new ordinance.”

 Yang said Walnut does not have any data on water conservation by residents, as it is serviced by three water districts, the biggest being the Walnut Valley Water District.

The revised ordinance will next go through two readings at the Walnut City Council prior to being approved, Yang said.

The next regular Planning Commission meeting is set by code on Wednesday, April 6 at 7 p.m. in the City Council Chambers at 21201 La Puente Road.