(A) Purpose. To ensure that every golf course be developed and managed with consideration for the unique conditions of the ecosystem of which it is a part and specifically to minimize the use of groundwater for irrigation purposes and encourage effluent or reuse. A development agreement with the town is required for the development of any golf course and shall include the use of effluent resulting from a wastewater treatment facility legally permitted by the town and the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality.
(B) General requirements. The following requirements shall apply to the development and processing of golf courses in conjunction with a PAD proposal or any other golf course development:
(1) Applicant will be required to submit plans that demonstrate that the proposed project meets the standards set by the Arizona Department of Water Resource (ADWR) for golf courses in the Active Management Areas (AMA) including limiting water usage to no more than 450 acre-feet per year (325,851 gallons in one acre-foot of water) and limiting the amount of turf area to no more than 90 acres.
(2) Applicant to obtain a report of physical availability of water from ADWR demonstrating an adequate water supply for the entire development including the golf course prior to recording the final plat/final site plan and prior to construction of the golf course.
(3) Applicant to demonstrate that the proposed development will be of an appropriate size and scale to generate sufficient effluent or re-use water to meet the entire irrigation needs of the golf course or demonstrate that an alternative supply of effluent will be available.
(4) Applicant will be required to submit a water balance study and phasing program for conversion and reliance on effluent using the town's format and standard assumptions and criteria as a guide in preparing the study. The Board may set a reasonable time for conversion from irrigating with groundwater to irrigating with a renewable water supply.
(5) Applicant will be required to conduct a monitoring program as it pertains to surface water and groundwater quality and quantity. The monitoring program will be developed in concert with the appropriate approval authorities.
(6) Applicant will be required to conduct monitoring program as it pertains to the performance of the wastewater treatment plant including effluent discharge quality and quantity for review and approval by the town staff or other appropriate agencies.
(C) Design and construction standards. Applicant will be required to submit plans demonstrating that the golf course is designed, constructed and maintained in accordance with environmental practices as set out in Environmental Principles for Golf Courses in the United States or United States Golf Course Association Guidelines, or similar or better recognized national standards and which meet the following conditions:
(1) Emphasis shall be placed upon the design of irrigation, drainage and retention systems that provide for the efficient use of water. Drainage and storm water retention systems should be incorporated to help provide for both the short and long-term irrigation needs of the maintained turf and the unmaintained areas of the course.
(2) The course shall be designed with sustainable maintenance in mind. The design shall incorporate resource conservation strategies that are environmentally responsible, efficient and cost effective.
(D) Construction documents. Conceptual grading, drainage, irrigation, clearing and landscaping plans will be required as part of the final site plan application and in conjunction with a development plan. Plans must have sufficient detail to demonstrate that the design, construction and maintenance will incorporate environmental principles and meet the intent of the AMA standards for golf courses.
(Ord. 08-44 § 534, passed 10-21-2008)