TITLE
Recommendation to request City Attorney to revise Section 21.42.060 of the Long Beach Municipal Code regarding public parkways. (Citywide)
DISCUSSION
Across the United States, cities such as Seattle, Washington; Portland, Oregon; and Ogden, Utah are encouraging residents to remove thirsty turf from the areas commonly known as "parking strips" or "parkways," and to replace it with plants that have lower water use requirements. Locally, the news media coverage of the need for water conservation, as well as the public's awareness and desire to be more "green" as they make improvements to their property, has led many property owners to reconsider the traditional landscaping of the parkway in favor of drought tolerant plants that require less water and fertilizer.
Unfortunately, the current municipal code specifies that the only plant materials allowed in the public parkways of residential neighborhoods are "groundcover, flowers and street trees." Only city streets of 80-foot width or greater, our commercial corridors, may omit landscaped parkways. Grass or turf has been the common groundcover, and one paved carriage walk across the parkway per residential property has been allowed.
In order to allow for alternative landscaping of the parkway, the following changes to Chapter 21.42.060 of the Municipal Code are being recommended:
· To reduce water usage, low-water demand and drought-tolerant parkway landscaping plant materials shall be permitted, including groundcovers of up to 8 inches in height that accept light foot traffic, and accent plantings or shrubbery of up to 24 inches in height. High-water demand plant materials that require one or more inches of irrigation water per week shall be prohibited.
· To maintain access between the sidewalk and parked cars on the curb, an 18inch wide strip or path that accepts foot traffic shall be maintained along and parallel to the curb adjacent to parking spaces and public transit stops. Walkable paths shall be ...
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