Division 4 — LANDSCAPE STANDARDS

This section is adopted in compliance with the California Water Conservation Landscape Act, Government Code Section 65595(c)(1), to provide water conserving landscape standards for all new or substantially remodeled commercial, industrial and high density residential development within the City.

(Ord. No. 503, 12-16-2014)

All new or Substantially Improved industrial, commercial and high density residential development projects, including government projects, are subject to the landscape standards identified in this section unless they are specifically exempted by Section 28.43.040. Landscape Plan review shall be administered though the Site Plan Review process pursuant to Section 28.52.030, the Use Permit process pursuant to Section 28.52.040, or through any other discretionary permit that requires it as indicated in Article V, Division 3.

(Ord. No. 503, 12-16-2014)

All Landscape Plans shall meet the following criteria.

A.

Preparation by Licensed Professional. The landscape plan shall be developed by one of the following professions licensed in the State of California: a Landscape Architect, a Landscape Contractor (who will also do the installation), or a Nurseryperson (as required by Section 5640 (et al.) of the California Business and Professions Code). The preparer's name, contact information and license number shall appear on all plan sheets.

B.

Document Size. Plans shall be submitted for review in a format large enough to read, but not less than 11″ x 17″.

C.

Landscape Area Defined. A minimum of 10% of the project area shall be landscaped with a combination of plants and hardscape in conformance with this section. While the Landscape Area must include the footprints of buildings or structures, sidewalks, driveways, parking lots, decks, patios, gravel or stone walkways, or areas designated for non-development (e.g., open spaces and existing native vegetation), these areas cannot be counted toward the 10% minimum Landscape Area requirement.

D.

Content of Plan: The plans shall include all of the following.

1.

A Site Plan showing the entire lot (including areas designated for non-development), drawn to scale, and showing the footprint of all buildings and structures.

2.

A plant key, including botanical and common names for all plants and the nature and type of plant (i.e., evergreen tree, deciduous tree, perennial shrub, flowering ground cover, evergreen groundcover, annual flower, etc.).

3.

A material key indicating the location and type of hardscape used in the plan.

4.

A landscape design plan that includes:

a.

A square footage measure of landscaped area.

b.

Appropriate landscape treatment of water retention basins and snow management areas.

c.

Drought tolerant landscaping appropriate to the area, with at least 50% of the landscape plants being evergreen to avoid a bare landscape in winter months.

d.

Not more than 50% of the required landscape area covered in rock. Where rock is utilized, various sizes should be utilized to provide interest. Artificially colored rock is not encouraged.

e.

Limited use of turf and other water intensive plants. If used at all, turf shall be restricted to active use or play areas.

5.

Trees planted throughout the development at a minimum density equivalent to 1 for every 300 square feet of landscaped area. Where a calculation results in a fraction of a tree, the number of trees required shall be rounded to the nearest whole number. Trees may be clustered in groups or planted individually. At least 50% of the trees must be evergreen trees to avoid a bare landscape in winter months.

6.

An irrigation plan, including:

a.

The use of automatic irrigation equipment designed for water conservation.

b.

Placement and calibration of irrigation equipment to minimize landscape irrigation overspray and runoff.

c.

A list of water conserving management practices specifically tailored to site conditions that can be included in a landscape maintenance agreement for the project. Such a document should include:

i.

Recommendations for the timing and duration of irrigation.

ii.

List of annuals and perennials that will need to be replanted, and recommendations as to when this should occur.

iii.

List of plants that will need regular trimming to maintain healthy growth, the degree to which they should be trimmed, and when this should occur.

iv.

Instructions for periodic mulching to ensure healthy plant growth and water conservation.

v.

What irrigation equipment will need periodic maintenance and adjustment, and when this should occur.

vi.

Any other information that will aid in conserving water.

7.

A grading plan showing the finished elevation of all landscaped areas in 1 foot contour lines.

(Ord. No. 503, 12-16-2014)

The following projects are exempt from this Section.

A.

Any project that does not require discretionary review.

B.

Any project within the Downtown Historic District (-DH) Overlay Zone.

C.

Uses requiring a temporary permit. (For example: Staging Areas for construction, or Special Event permits.)

(Ord. No. 503, 12-16-2014)