Albert Lopez
Planning Director
Planning

Proposed Policies, Plans and Ordinances



Bay Friendly/WELO (Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance) Updates to County Ordinance

BAY FRIENDLY LANDSCAPING

Bay-Friendly Landscaping is a holistic approach to gardening and landscaping that works in harmony with the natural conditions of the San Francisco Bay Watershed. Bay-Friendly landscapes can provide a sense of place and are suited to the local climate, soils, and topography. Appropriately chosen and placed plants have greater pest resistance, require less care, use fewer resources, and generate less waste. The use of Bay-Friendly landscaping techniques can also help meet recycling goals set regionally and statewide.

In Alameda County, the organization StopWaste.Org has developed Bay-Friendly Landscape Guidelines for professional landscapers and a Bay Friendly Gardening Guide for residents. StopWaste.Org is a program funded by the Alameda County Waste Management Authority and the Alameda County Source Reduction and Recycling Board.

To promote sustainability and economic and environmental health throughout the unincorporated areas, the County should implement the nine Bay-Friendly basic landscaping principles as put forth by StopWaste.org. These basic principles are in line and compatible with recently-adopted County Climate Action Plan policy measures, specifically, those strategies requiring new landscape projects to reduce potable water use by 40 percent, and the increase in solid waste reduction and diversion to 90 percent by 2030. These same basic principles are also being adopted by other jurisdictions within Alameda County as implementations of sustainable landscaping policies.

For public and privately-developed landscapes of certain threshold areas, this ordinance would require the implementation of the following nine Bay-Friendly landscaping strategies (called Bay Friendly Basics).

  1. Three Inches of Mulch on Non-Turf Areas
  2. Amend the Soil with Organic Compost prior to Planting
  3. Reduce and Recycle Landscape Construction Waste
  4. Choose and Locate Plants to Grow to Natural Size
  5. Do Not Plant Invasive Plant Species
  6. Grow Drought Tolerant California Native, Mediterranean or Climate Adapted Plants
  7. Minimize the Lawn to 25% of Landscaped Areas Not Actively Used
  8. Specify Weather-Based Irrigation Controllers
  9. No Sprinkler & Spray Heads for Areas Less Than 8 Feet Wide

WELO

To minimize the inefficient use of water in new and rehabilitated landscapes, this ordinance prescribes the use of drought tolerant and low water use plants for the largest landscaped areas, with high water use plants designated for accent areas. Turf is minimized, with the exception of sport fields and other uses that require turf for their use. Landscape development packages that are compliant with WELO will include irrigation plans and scheduling that group plants with similar water needs into specific hydrozones. Using the methods prescribed by WELO, the licensed landscape architect can show how the landscape will comply with the ordinance.

Community Participation

Members of the public have an essential role in the public participation process and its associated program development. All County facilitated public hearings and outreach forums are noticed by mail, internet and newspaper, and are open to the public. Meeting reports, agendas and related correspondence will be available for review at the County Planning Department Office, 224 West Winton Avenue, Room 111, Hayward, CA 94544, and posted on this website as downloadable files. Anyone interested in participating in the process may also submit written comments via letter or email.

Contact Information

Rodrigo Orduña
Alameda County Planning Department
224 West Winton Avenue, Suite 111
Hayward, CA 94544
Phone: (510) 670-5400
Fax: (510) 785-8793
Send an email.



Photo showing Townhouses and Small Lot Family Dwellings photo 1
Photo showing Townhouses and Small Lot Family Dwellings photo 1
Photo showing a park next to the Townhouses
Photo showing Townhouses and Small Lot Family Dwellings photo 1

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Project Timeline

Completed ordinance update meetings:

  • February 7, 2012: Ordinance Review Committee
    The Committee Meeting was held at 224 West Winton Avenue, Room 160, Public Hearing Room, Hayward, CA 94544. Meeting documents.
  • February 21, 2012: Ordinance Review Committee
    The second Committee Meeting was held at 224 West Winton Avenue, Room 160, Public Hearing Room, Hayward, CA 94544. Meeting documents.
  • March 21, 2012 - Sunol Citizens' Advisory Committee
    The Committee Meeting was held at the Sunol Glen School Cafeteria, 11601 Main Street, Sunol, CA 94586. Meeting documents.
  • March 26, 2012 - Castro Valley MAC
    The Council Hearing was held at 224 West Winton Avenue, Room 160, Public Hearing Room, Hayward, CA 94544. Meeting documents.
  • March 27, 2012 - Agriculture Advisory Committee
    The Committee Meeting was held at the Alameda County Public Works Building, 4825 Gleason Drive, Dublin, CA 94568. Meeting documents.
  • April 18, 2012 - Sunol Citizens' Advisory Committee
    The Committee Meeting was held at the Sunol Glen School Cafeteria, 11601 Main Street, Sunol, CA 94586. Meeting documents.
  • April 25, 2012 - Unincorporated Services Committee
    The Committee Meeting was held at the San Lorenzo Village Homes Association Hall, 377 Paseo Grande, San Lorenzo, CA 94580. Meeting documents.

Upcoming ordinance update meetings:

  • May 07, 2012 - Planning Commission
    The Planning Commission Hearing will be held at 224 West Winton Avenue, Room 160, Public Hearing Room, Hayward, CA 94544. Meeting documents.
  • June 12, 2012 - Board of Supervisors

http://www.stopwaste.org


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