11/19/2013
By MATTHEW KENWRIGHT
mkenwright@dailynews.net
The grass might not be greener on the other side if the Hays Area Planning Commission approves changes to irrigation system regulations.
The nine-member group met Monday to debate a range of options intended to conserve water. Nicholas Willis, stormwater/water conservation superintendent for the city, shared a presentation with the commission.
Toby Dougherty, Hays city manager, said the changing nature of local water use should be addressed. The drought revealed the perilous state of the city’s water source, and Hays is looking at sustainability 20 to 30 years in the future, he said.
“We went from crisis in 1991 to the leader in the state of Kansas in wise-water usage,” Dougherty said. “What we have discovered recently as a staff is that we have been riding that high, and we’ve kind of lost touch with the realities of exactly how our residents are using water.”
Willis unveiled several plans that seek to prevent future shortages. Most of the regulations would apply to new construction projects.
One approach mandates 30 percent of a commercial property be xeriscaping, a landscaping arrangement that needs minimal water. They could have 10,000 square feet total of irrigated area, and 5,000 square feet can be irrigated turf. Two thousand square feet, or 30 percent of that turf, could be cool season, whichever is less.
Residential properties could have 5,000 square feet of irrigated turf, and 2,000 square feet could be cool season. They could have 10,000 square feet total of irrigation, with a balance in xeriscaping.
There were alternate ideas. One would require a 5-foot buffer where overhead irrigation is not allowed between vegetation and hardscape. Another would require submission of landscape plans for all construction, including for one- and two-family units.
A third would mandate submission of irrigation plans because half of water usage receives no review, and many sprinkler installations exceed maximum water use.
One option was to cease approving future residential lots larger than 7,000 square feet. It also would cap the size of the irrigated area on commercial properties.
Another idea was to ban future private wells and change water rate structures to achieve savings through economic incentives.
Additionally, there was an option to consider steep fees for water rights acquisitions and require developers to bring good water rights, or conservation in lieu, before allowing development.
The commissioners voted to send the proposals back for further consideration until its Dec. 16 meeting. The commission most have a public hearing to discuss regulation changes before they are approved.
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