Carmel-by-the-Sea Planning Commission denies citizens above ground cisterns !

Recently I have advised a couple in Carmel about rainwater harvesting.  They called me and were interested in getting my opinion on gutters and downspout placement since they were installing a new roof.  They had done a tremendous amount of planning where to put a rainwater harvesting system and studied it on line as well.  They drew up their plans and went to the Carmel Planning Department where 2 of the 3 cisterns requested were approved.  Two proposed in the back yard were approved but one proposed in their front yard wasn't approved, even though it would not be seen from the street.  Several weeks later they went to the Planning Commission meeting to request a variance to set back rules, but were denied any use of above ground cisterns, whether unseen in the backyard or front yard.  This was primarily because two of the commissioners didn't like the looks of above ground cisterns, calling them "garbage cans" and not wanting the city of Carmel to look like "Prunetucky", wherever that is?  Their comments were disrespectful in general and especially considering the second applicant, also denied, recently moved from Kentucky and asked to install three above ground cisterns in her backyard.  Even with her landscape designer and rainwater harvesting expert on hand, the Commissioners decided not to approve!  The landscape designer said they would do whatever necessary to avoid any impact on any neighbor.  Both applicants wanted to harvest the rainwater to use for irrigation only.  The commissioners had lots of questions they asked among themselves and couldn't answer.  But, rather then tabling the discussion until all their questions were answered, they just said no!  A week later the Carmel Pine Cone published a front page article about water rationing starting in two years based on input from the Monterey Peninsula Water Management District.  It seems absurd that a citizen anywhere can be told they don't have the right to harvest rainwater in above ground cisterns to use in their garden when the area, like many in the U.S., is threatened with a lack of water availability.  These citizens wanted to use rainwater harvesting to reduce their municipal water usage further and they were denied.  At the same time we read almost daily about the proposed desalination plant that isn't funded, where water rights are uncertain, where conflict of interest is running rampant and proposed costs for development are $400 Million or more.  Cost of an acre foot is estimated at $4,000 to $7,000.  Imagine a proposal to spend $400 Million but a local citizen in Carmel by the Sea cannot collect the water that falls on their roof into an above ground cistern?  Even the Carmel by the Sea Planning Departments own Low Impact Development (LID) guidelines allow for the use of cisterns as a "BMP" or best management practice.  I urge you to voice your concern about this denial in the Carmel Pine Cone with Letters to the Editor, or to write the Planning Commissioners directly.  My letter to the editor is as follows and I'm hoping it will be published the week of 9/23.  If you want to see the video of the proceedings go to the City website.  Click here to see the Planning Commission Meeting video from 9/24/2011.  Then click on the "jump to" button and watch item 5 and 6 to see the full discussion with both applicants.  I also urge you to write to Governor Jerry Brown to voice your support for AB 275 (The Rainwater Capture Act of 2011) sent to the governor for signature several weeks ago.  This bill passed unanimously with bipartisan support through the process and now sits waiting for signature.  Please ask the governor to sign the bill asap.  Following is a link to AB 275.  Click here to see AB 275.

Dear Editor:

I found it ironic the current issue of the Pine Cone has a front page article on water rationing possibly as soon as two years away, yet at last weeks Carmel Planning Commission Meeting two citizens were denied their applications for harvesting rainwater and storing it in above ground cisterns.   The applicants purpose for collection and storage of rainwater was to irrigate their landscape and avoid additional use of precious Carmel River or Seaside Aquifer water from Cal Am.  Planning Dept Staff presented both applications and recommended approval with conditions.  However, planning council members decided that above ground cisterns ("garbage cans") located in someone's backyard were not acceptable.  Carmel by the Sea's own Low Impact Development Guidance manual on the City website lists using a cistern for "maximizing rainfall interception" as a best management practice.  Cisterns by any definition today are water storage devices used above or below ground.   A state bill, AB 275, The Rainwater Capture Act of 2011, has been sent to the governor for signature.  This bill recognizes the seriousness of water conservation and encourages the use of rain capture systems proposed by the applicant.  We read about our local water problems daily and should encourage citizens to conserve water every way possible.  Every other city on the peninsula allows for the use of above ground cisterns for water conservation and I hope the Planning Commission reconsiders these applications after they educate themselves on rainwater harvesting.  As I currently understand from the MPWMD a moratorium on new water meter applications is currently in place and rationing is a high probability.  Folks who want to install rainwater harvesting systems, above or below ground, should be encouraged and supported!