Ord 2015-042/Trace – Highpointe PDD

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dip A\C water infiltrating into the soil in individual yards and in large landscape areas within the multi family, commercial and business park areas. The project shall adhere to and incorporate the Sensible Landscaping for Central Texas water conservation practices adopted by the Home Builders Association of Greater Austin attached within the appendix of this document. 9.2 Environmental Standards 9.2.1 Xeriscaping Striving toward water conservation and low impact development will be part of the Design Standard at Trace. Native or adapted vegetation used incoordination with efficient drip and controlled spray irrigation will be one tool used in the Community. The irrigation systems will be weather adaptive with solar, rain and soil moisture sensors as appropriate. There will be wide areas along the natural drainage ways that will be enhanced with appropriate plant species to provide habitat and forage opportunities for wildlife native to the area. These areas will have multiple opportunities for educational and interpretive signage for the Community. Water Harvesting will be employed at the Amenity Center. The school will be encouraged to harvest water from the roof and condenser units to supplement irrigation for watering the landscape around the school. This provides an educational opportunity for the Community and the public at large. Where soil conditions permit, all plant material selections and irrigation design will employ water conservation techniques including: native or adaptive plant selection from City of San Marcos Preferred Plant List. Irrigation will utilize soil moisture sensors, drip irrigation in beds, MPR Rotators on turf areas, weather synchronized irrigation controllers. 9.2.2 Plant Palette • All plants will be selected from the City of San Marcos, Land Development Code, Technical Manual, Article z: Preferred Plant list as attached in the Appendix. No plants from Division 3: Discouraged Planting Materials will be used. • Perennial grasses and wildflowers will be used in large areas where irrigation would be impractical or ill- advised. • Ornamental plants, grasses and trees will be limited to higher use areas most travelled by pedestrian or vehicular traffic. 9.2.3 Erosion Control/Water Quality Benefits from Detention Ponds Trace storm water management programs are aimed at controlling increased urban runoff generated by the development. More frequent flooding, increased rates and volumes of runoff, increased stream channel erosion and degradation, increased sedimentation and increased water pollution are all problems identified with development. The proposed storm water management facilities such as detention ponds have proven to significantly reduce downstream flooding, reduce sedimentation and pollutant loads, and provide debris removal which all benefit water quality. 54