§ 9103.09

The City promotes the value and benefits of landscapes while recognizing the need to conserve water and other resources as efficiently as possible. This Section establishes minimum landscape standards for all

uses in compliance with applicable state standards and guidelines and to promote sustainable development. The purpose of this Section is to establish a structure for planning, designing, installing, maintaining, and managing water-efficient landscapes in new construction and rehabilitated projects.

A.

General. This Section shall supplement the Water Efficient Landscaping Ordinance (Sections 7554.2— 7554.9) and shall apply to all of the following landscape projects, as listed in Section 7554.3:

1.

New construction projects with an aggregate landscape area equal to or greater than 500 square feet requiring a building or landscape permit, plan check, or design review;

2.

Rehabilitated landscapes projects with an aggregate landscape area equal to or greater than 2,500 square feet requiring a building or landscape permit, plan check, or design review; and

3.

Existing landscape areas that are one acre or more for which a water efficient landscape worksheet shall be prepared according to the specifications for existing landscapes in the Landscape Documentation Package.

B.

Exemptions. The provisions of this Section shall not apply to:

1.

Registered local, state or federal historical sites;

2.

Ecological restoration projects that do not require a permanent irrigation system;

3.

Mined-land reclamation projects that do not require a permanent irrigation system; or

4.

Botanical gardens and arboretums open to the public.

9103.09.030 - Landscape Plan Required; What Constitutes Landscape Materials.

A.

Plan Check Requirements and Content. A Landscape Documentation Package prepared by a licensed landscape architect shall be required for all applicable projects as described in the Water Efficient Landscaping Ordinance (see Section 7554.3), and for any project involving the installation of artificial turf within the front or street side yards.

A.

Applicability. The standards in this Section shall apply to residential and non-residential uses.

B.

Landscape Requirement for Residential Zones. All areas of a site not devoted to structures, driveways, or walkways shall be landscaped with lawn, trees, shrubs, or other plant materials, and shall be permanently maintained in a neat and orderly manner.

1.

R-M, R-0 and R-1 Zones.

a.

The front and street-side areas shall be landscaped with lawn, trees, shrubs, or other plant materials, and shall be permanently maintained in a neat and orderly manner.

b.

Hardscape materials, of driveways and pedestrian walkways but not including pavement, concrete, interlock pavers, and the use of artificial turf, shall not cover more than 40 percent of the front or street side yard. See Figure 3-17 (Front Yard Area-60% Landscaping Required).

Figure 3-17

Front Yard Area - 60% Landscaping Required

==> picture [240 x 157] intentionally omitted <==

2.

R-M Zone. All cut or fill slopes exceeding six feet six inches in vertical height between two or more contiguous lots shall be planted with adequate plant material to protect the slope against erosion. The

planting shall cover the bank within two years from the time of planting. The permittee, owner, or developer shall water the planted slopes at sufficient time intervals to promote growth.

3.

R-2 and R-3, and R-3-R Zones.

a.

The front/street side yard areas shall be landscaped with lawn, trees, shrubs, or other plant materials, and shall be permanently maintained in a neat and orderly manner.

b.

Hardscape materials, of driveways and pedestrian walkways but not including pavement, concrete, interlock pavers, and the use of artificial turf, shall not cover more than 40 percent of the front or street side yard. See Figure 3-17 (Front Yard Area-60% Landscaping Required).

C.

Landscape Requirement for Commercial, Mixed Use, and Industrial Zones.

1.

Required Areas. All setbacks, parkways, open areas, plazas, paseos, and non-work areas that are visible from a public street/alley or from a parking lot available to the general public shall be landscaped.

2.

Landscape Coverage Requirement. Shrubs, groundcover, and other plant material shall cover all areas not occupied by structures, parking areas, storage, trash enclosures, driveways, and sidewalks at the time of issuance of a Certificate of Occupancy. Embellished pavement, fountains, and similar hardscape materials may, in part, be substituted for the required landscaping through the Site Plan and Design Review process.

3.

Parkway-adjacent Planting and Maintenance. All landscaped parkway areas located between the sidewalk and the edge of development shall meet the following requirements:

a.

The ground surface shall contain low shrubbery, mulch, or ground cover to provide coverage within two years.

b.

If a wall or fence separates the development from the street, planting vines or espalier shrubs shall be incorporated into the planting design.

Required Landscaping for Loading Areas. Loading areas shall incorporate landscaping to provide screening if visible from the public right-of-way, adjacent uses, and pedestrians.

5.

Special Requirements for Drive-through Businesses.

a.

Five-foot-wide raised planters shall be located along the street side property line, except for curb cut openings.

b.

Three-foot-wide raised planters shall be located along the walls of the interior property lines to a distance equal to the front building line. For this purpose, canopies and other such structural appurtenances shall not be considered the front building line.

c.

A minimum of 150 square feet of raised planting area shall be located at the intersection of two property lines at a street corner.

d.

A minimum of 30 square feet of raised planting area shall be located along the building facades fronting on the street.

e.

All planting areas shall be separated from adjacent asphaltic concrete paving by six-inch minimum curb walls.

D.

Artificial Turf.

1.

Locations Permitted.

a.

Back Yards and Interior Side Yard Areas. Artificial turf is permitted in any zone within any back yard and/or interior side yard areas.

b.

Front and Street-Side Yards. In any zone, a maximum of 15 percent of the yard area within the front or street side yards may be installed with artificial turf. Artificial turf shall not be installed within 10 feet of a sidewalk or within 20 feet from the curb if there is no sidewalk.

c.

Not Permitted in Parkways. Artificial turf is not permitted within any parkway areas.

2.

Minimum Standards. To be used in the front or street-side yard, artificial turf must meet minimum standards for materials, installation, and maintenance.

a.

Materials and Style. Artificial turf must have a minimum eight-year no-fade warranty as issued by the manufacturer; be cut-pile infill and made from lead-free polypropylene, polyethylene or a blend of such fibers on a permeable backing; and, have a minimum blade length (pile height) of 1.5 inches, or as

determined by the Director as manufacturing processes are updated. Nylon-based or plastic grass blades are not permitted. The use of indoor/outdoor carpeting, and artificial shrubs, flowers, trees and vines instead of natural plantings is prohibited. Infill medium must consist of ground rubber; rubber coated sand or other approved mixtures and must be brushed into the fibers of the artificial turf. The style of the fiber, color, and texture shall resemble fescue, rye, and other common natural grass blades.

b.

Installation. Artificial turf must be installed per all manufacturer's requirements and must include removal of all existing plant material and top three inches of soil in the installation area; placement of filter fabric or synthetic porous material over compacted and porous crushed rock or other comparable material below the turf surface to provide adequate drainage; and, the area must be sloped and graded to prevent excessive pooling, runoff, or flooding onto adjacent property. Artificial turf areas must be sufficiently drained to live planting areas to provide complete infiltration of runoff. Artificial turf must be separated from live planting areas by a barrier such as a mow strip or bender board to prevent mixing of natural plant materials and artificial turf. Artificial turf must be permanently anchored with nails and glue, and all seams must be nailed, or sewn, and glued, with the grain pointing in a single direction.

c.

Maintenance. Artificial turf must be maintained in a green, fadeless condition; free of weeds, stains, debris, tears, holes, depressions, ruts, odors, and looseness at edges and seams. Damaged or worn areas in the artificial turf surface must be repaired or removed and replaced in a manner that results in consistent appearance with the existing artificial turf. The artificial turf surface must be replaced once it is unable to be maintained as required. Vehicle parking on artificial turf is prohibited.

(Ord. No. 2375, § 4(Exh. A), 4-6-21; Ord. No. 2401, Exh. B, 4-15-25)

9103.09.050 - Landscape Irrigation and Maintenance.

A.

The owner of any property, or any other person or agent in control of a property, on which is located any retaining walls, cribbing, drainage structures, planted slopes and other protective devices, required according to a permit granted under this Code or required under the issuance of a grading permit, shall

maintain the retaining walls, cribbing, drainage structures, planted slopes, and other protective devices in good condition and repair at all times.

B.

All landscaped areas in non residential zones shall be provided with a permanent irrigation system installed below grade except for sprinkler heads. All domestic water supply lines to which irrigation systems are connected shall, when necessary, be protected by installation of atmospheric or pressure type vacuum breakers. At least one hose bibb shall be located each 100 linear feet, starting with one hose bibb at the front wall. Hose bibbs, wherever possible, shall be located in planting beds. In no case shall hose bibbs be located where they will interfere with pedestrian or vehicular circulation.

Section 9103.11 - Signs