Agoura Hills Municipal Code Div. 8 Guidelines for Landscaping, Planting and Irrigation Plans

The purpose of these regulations is to clearly define the manner in which landscape plans shall be submitted to satisfy the landscaping requirements of the city. It is the intent of these regulations to offer the applicant as much latitude as possible in designating the project landscaping, while at the same time meeting the minimum landscape standards of the city. All applicants are encouraged to take full advantage of the wide range of landscape materials and design possibilities within the framework established by these regulations. These regulations describe the procedure for landscape plan approval, the requirements for submittal of landscape plans, the minimum landscape standards, the proper use of landscaping, and a suggested plant list of native and exotic plant materials.

Any permit issued under this article shall be conditioned to require landscaping. The procedure for processing and review of landscape plans shall be as follows:

A. Presubmittal meeting. The presubmittal meeting is a recommended, rather than mandatory first step in securing landscape plan approval for the proposed project. The purpose of this meeting is to familiarize the applicant with the city's review process, identify the information and materials necessary to file landscape plans, and discuss various planting materials.

B. Plan submittal. Upon payment of the required fee, the applicant may formally submit its landscape plan to the city for approval.

C. Plan review. Upon receipt of the landscape plans, in conformity with section 9658.2, the planning department shall review the plans for completeness and forward the plans, if complete, to the city's landscape consultant for review. The consultant's review shall consist of an on-site inspection and determination as to the compatibility of selected plant materials, the adequacy of irrigation, and the consistency with standards. Upon completion of such review, the consultant shall submit the plans to the planning department with his/her findings and recommendations.

D. Approval. Based upon the finding and recommendations of the city's landscape consultant, the planning director may approve or require modification of the project's landscape plans.

E. Guarantee/surety. If the landscaping will not be installed prior to occupancy (nonsloped areas of residential projects only), the planning director may, at his/her discretion, allow the applicant to post with the planning department adequate surety, as determined by the planning director, to ensure the completion of the required landscaping. Such surety shall be submitted to the city prior to issuance of building occupancy.

F. Installation and inspection. Landscape plantings and accompanying irrigation for commercial, industrial and sloped areas shall be installed prior to issuance of a certificate of occupancy by the department of building and safety. Landscaping and irrigation for residential projects (nonsloped area only) shall be installed within the time frame established by the conditions of the permit or approved landscape plans. The applicant's landscape architect shall be required to certify in writing to the planning director that all work has been completed in accordance with the approved plans and specifications. The city's landscape consultant shall conduct the final inspection after receipt of this certification.

G. Exoneration of surety. If, upon final landscape inspection, it is determined that the landscaping and irrigation have been installed in accordance with the approved plans, the planning department shall return after a one-year maintenance period the surety deposited with the city to the applicant.

(Ord. No. 15-420, § 2, 11-10-2015)

The project's landscape plans shall be prepared by a California registered landscape architect, unless such requirement is waived by the director. In order to be able to evaluate the project's landscape plans in a comprehensive and complete manner, submittals shall include the following:

A. Plan check fee. The applicant shall pay a fee to cover landscape review and inspection.

B. Planting plan. The planting plan shall be drawn on clear and legible base sheets prepared specifically for the landscape submittal. Three (3) copies shall be submitted at the time of filing, which satisfy the following requirements:

1. Size. Plans shall not exceed thirty (30) inches by forty-two (42) inches, or be less than twenty-two (22) inches by thirty-six (36) inches in size.

2. Scale. The scale shall not be smaller than one (1) inch equals twenty (20) feet, unless otherwise approved by the director for large areas not requiring detail. In no case shall the scale be less than one (1) inch equals thirty (30) feet.

3. Title block. All plans shall indicate the names, addresses and phone numbers of the applicant and landscape architect. Also, the project identification number shall be specified.

4. Physical characteristics. The landscape plans accurately and clearly depict the following existing (to be retained) and proposed features:

Landscape materials, trees, shrubs, ground cover and any other landscaping;

Property lines;

Streets, street rights-of-way, access easements and/or public or private driveways, walkways, bike paths, and any other paved areas;

Buildings and structures;

Parking areas, including lighting, striping and wheel stops;

General contour lines;

Grading areas, including top and toe of slopes and slope direction;

Utilities, including street lighting and fire hydrants (if available);

Natural features, including watercourses and rock outcroppings; planting plans may include design elements such as boulders, mounds, signs and sculptures. All items shall be indicated as to the size (at maturity in the case of plant materials) in scale with the proposed project.

Planting symbols shall be clearly drawn and plants labeled or abbreviated (three-letter minimum) on each sheet by botanic name. Numeric or graphic definition alone is not acceptable. Container size and/or spacing and quantities shall be clearly indicated for each group of plants. Sizes of plants at planting time shall be adequate to meet specific conditions of project approval.

C. Irrigation plan. Irrigation plans shall be drawn in a legible manner, separate from, but utilizing the same format as, the planting plan. Plans shall be concise and accurate, including, but not limited to:

1. Design pressure, as well as static pressure.

2. Point of connection (location and size).

3. Backflow protection, as approved by the department of building and safety.

4. Valves, piping, controllers, heads, quick couplers, and gallonage requirements for each valve on the plan, shall be shown.

The legend shall include equipment manufacturer, type of equipment, model number, gallons per minute (gpm) demand, pounds per square inch (psi) demand, radius/diameter of coverage, remarks or special notes and a reference to the corresponding detail number. All equipment shall be designed for installation per manufacturer's recommendation, the latest version of the California Green Building Code, the California Plumbing Code, and all local regulations.

Specific site conditions and proposed landscape materials will determine the design of the irrigation system. Irrigation systems shall comply with the latest version of the State Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance. Further, when considering design alternatives, the following criteria shall be utilized:

1. Sprinklers shall not overspray water off of the property onto public areas or into nonplanted areas.

2. Plastic (PVC) mainline piping requires placement not less than eighteen (18) inches below final grade, with lateral lines requiring twelve (12) inches. Galvanized lines on slope area may not be above ground.

3. Utilization of reclaimed water as an alternative.

D. Written specifications/applicable details. Three (3) copies of the details and specifications shall be provided for all aspects of the landscape project, including planting, soil preparation, tree staking and guying, separation of different types of planting areas, installation details, and post installation maintenance.

E. Site plan. One (1) copy of the city-approved site plan for the proposed project shall be provided in order for the city landscape consultant (board) to have a clear and accurate portrayal of the project and project site.

F. Architectural elevations. One (1) copy of the proposed project's elevations shall be submitted in order to review compatibility of proposed plant materials with architectural design elements.

G. Grading plan. One (1) copy of the approved grading plan shall be provided in order to review height of graded slopes, pad elevations, and finish grade.

H. Photographs. One (1) colored photograph of proposed major landscaping elements, particularly the trees.

I. Conditions of approval. One (1) copy of the approved project conditions, with the signature of the applicant's landscape architect thereon, shall be submitted with the landscape plans so that the applicant's landscape architect is ensured of having seen the conditions and so that the city's landscape consultant (board) can review the proposed landscape plans for consistency with the specific conditions.

(Ord. No. 15-417, § 2, 8-12-2015; Ord. No. 15-420, § 3, 11-10-2015)

Proposed plant materials shall relate to architectural design elements of the structures on the site and shall be compatible with the character of adjacent landscaping, provided the quality of the adjacent landscaping meets the standards set forth in this section. The following landscape standards for permanent landscaping are minimum requirements.

A. Minimum site coverage. Landscape percentages shall be computed on the basis of the net project site area which includes the area of all structures, drives, walks, and parking on the site, but not areas dedicated for public right-of-way. The required percentages of landscaping relative to site area are set forth in the provisions relating to each land use district.

B. Minimum planter width. Landscaped areas shall be a minimum of four (4) feet wide (including curbs).

C. Perimeter planting. The area within required setbacks of commercial or business projects, not used for other permitted purposes, shall be landscaped.

D. Parking areas. The landscape requirements for parking lots are set forth in the provisions relating to off-street parking.

E. Screening. Landscaping should be used to screen storage areas, trash enclosures, parking areas, public utilities, and other similar land uses or elements which do not contribute to the aesthetic enhancement of the surrounding areas. Landscape screening shall be of a height and density so that it provides the desired effect within five (5) years growing time.

F. Street trees. Street trees may be required as a condition of any permit granted or issued under this article. No street tree will be approved for planting where its growth will cause interference, obstruction, damage, or injury (either directly or indirectly) to the use of a sidewalk or street right-of-way. Street trees shall be planted according to the following standards:

1. Trees shall not be planted within thirty (30) feet of the curb return of a street intersection.

2. Trees shall not be planted closer than four (4) feet from any public walkway or public sidewalk, except where tree wells or parkways are provided in the sidewalk area.

3. Trees shall not be located closer than ten (10) feet from any driveway, utility pole, fire plug or to the rear of any street or directional sign; fifteen (15) feet from light standards, and twenty-five (25) feet from the front of any traffic or directional sign.

4. Trees shall be spaced an average of forty (40) feet apart, but not less than one (1) per lot and two (2) per corner lots.

5. Trees that typically grow taller than twenty (20) feet in height shall not be encouraged under utility wires.

The scope of a project will ultimately determine landscape plant selection. In order for landscaping to relate to architectural design, the following criteria shall apply:

A. Evergreen trees are encouraged against buildings to soften the appearance of bland expanses of walls, and to visually screen neighboring projects and subdivided exterior spaces.

B. Deciduous trees are effectively used for solar control in summer and winter. Some such trees are flowering and are desirable as accents.

C. Large shrubs are effectively used to screen undesirable views and act as an intermediate height element to bring buildings into human scale.

D. Medium/low shrubs are ornamental and provide foliage, texture and color to landscape themes.

E. Vines and espalier are effective screens in visually softening walls and fences. Many vines provide excellent flower color to brighten narrow planters against buildings and walls.

F. Applicable native plant materials and drought tolerant species are encouraged for water conservation.

Irrigated and nonirrigated ground covers shall be as follows:

A. Irrigated ground cover. Low growing spreading shrubs that are drought tolerant are the preferred choice of ground cover planting.

B. Nonirrigated ground cover. In certain situations, temporary plantings may be required where irrigation is not economically feasible nor desirable. Nonirrigated hydromulch seeds are acceptable for natural or undisturbed slopes. Hydromulch seeds should be applied following the first measurable rainfall in the fall of the year or a temporary irrigation method shall be provided to ensure germination and minimum growth. If the natural rainfall fails to provide adequate moisture for germination, supplemental irrigation may be required.

(Ord. No. 15-420, § 4, 11-10-2015)

The city adopts by reference the California State Model Water Efficient Landscaping Ordinance, and any amendments thereto, as the law of the city. One (1) copy of the California State Model Water Efficient Landscaping Ordinance is filed in the office of the planning department, and the ordinance is adopted by reference as if incorporated and set out in this chapter. The requirements of this chapter shall apply in addition to the applicable requirements of the California Model Water Efficient Landscaping Ordinance.

Landscape and irrigation plans subject to the California State Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance shall conform to the requirements of the California State Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance to achieve water efficient landscaping. In the event of a conflict between the California State Model Efficient Landscape Ordinance and another provision of this division, the provision that contains the more stringent water efficiency requirement(s), as determined by the planning director, shall control.

For those sites where the installation of reclaimed water systems is feasible and meets all regulatory requirements, recycled water irrigation systems (dual distribution systems) shall be installed to allow for the current and future use of reclaimed water and shall be designed and operated in accordance with local and state codes.

All public and private properties shall prevent water waste resulting from inefficient landscape irrigation by minimizing runoff, low head drainage, overspray or other similar conditions where irrigation water flows or drifts onto adjacent property, nonirrigated areas, walks, roadways or structures.

(Ord. No. 220, § 1, 4-14-93; Ord. No. 15-420, § 5, 11-10-2015)