Chapter 9.52 — LANDSCAPE STANDARDS

Sections:

9.52.010 Purpose. 9.52.020 Applicability. 9.52.030 Landscape concept plan. 9.52.040 Landscape and irrigation construction plans. 9.52.050 Landscape area requirements. 9.52.060 Landscape requirements for new residential. 9.52.070 Landscape standards. 9.52.080 Maintenance of landscaped areas. 9.52.090 Irrigation design.

The purpose of this chapter is to:

• A. Enhance the appearance of the community by providing standards relating to the quality, quantity, and functional aspects of landscaping and landscape screening.

• B. Protect public health, safety, and welfare by minimizing the impact of all forms of physical and visual pollution, controlling soil erosion, screening incompatible land uses, reducing heat and glare, and enhancing pedestrian and vehicular traffic and safety.

• C. Provide for the conservation of water resources used for landscaping purposes by requiring efficient irrigation system design, appropriate plant materials, and regular maintenance of landscaped areas.

• D. Meet the requirements of the latest adopted State Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance (MWELO).

• A. This chapter applies to all residential, commercial, and industrial development projects in the city.

• B. All projects shall provide and maintain landscaping in compliance with the provisions of this chapter.

• C. Landscape and irrigation plans and any plans for the ornamental use of water, including fountains and ponds, shall be submitted for review for compliance with the requirements of this chapter. No landscaping or irrigation system shall be installed until the applicant receives approval of the final landscape plan. Changes to the approved landscape plans that affect the character or quantity of the plant material or irrigation system design may be required to be resubmitted for review and approval before installation.

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• A. The Director may require a landscape concept plan as part of an application for a site plan review permit, conditional use permit, tentative subdivision map, or other permit or plan.

• B. A landscape concept plan shall meet the intent of this section by exhibiting a design layout that demonstrates the desired landscaping program in terms of function, location, size/scale, and similar attributes. The concept plan shall provide the applicable review authority with a clear understanding of the landscaping program before the preparation of detailed construction landscape and irrigation plans. The concept plan shall include the botanical name and common name of all plants for the site.

• A. When construction landscape and irrigation plans for landscaping are required, they shall be submitted in conjunction with a building permit or subdivision improvement plans.

• B. Landscape and irrigation plans shall be prepared by a State Licensed Landscape Architect, Licensed Landscape Contractor, or a landscape professional approved by the Director.

• C. Landscape and irrigation construction plans shall comply with the latest State MWELO. The Director or the City Engineer may determine other requirements for the contents of construction landscape and irrigation plans consistent with the purposes of this chapter.

• D. Landscape and irrigation construction plans shall, at a minimum, include the following:

  1. Name, address, phone number, and e-mail address of property owner, designer, and contractor.

  2. Qualification certification statement.

  3. Planting notes and details.

  4. Hardscape notes and details.

  5. Grading and utility notes, including proof of mandatory 811 contact.

  6. Irrigation notes and details.

  7. Hydrozone map and designations.

  8. WUCOLS status for plant selection.

  9. MAWA designations and calculations.

  10. Separate system for trees and shrubs.

Landscaping shall be provided in the locations specified in this section:

• A. All building setback areas and open space areas required by this title that are visible from a public right-of-way shall be landscaped.

• B. All areas of a project site not intended for a specific use, including pad sites held for future development, shall be landscaped unless it is determined by the Director that landscaping is not necessary to fulfill the purposes of this chapter.

• C. Parking areas shall be landscaped in compliance with Chapter 9.54.

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• A. The following defines the landscaping requirements for all new residential developments:

  4. All new residential developments shall provide landscaping and automatic irrigation in the front yard setback area.

  5. The front-yard setback shall be landscaped with a minimum of sod and two trees per lot and shall be planted a minimum of 10 feet from any common property line.

     1. Multi-family residential development shall provide one tree per unit on the site.

  6. All landscaping shall be watered by an automatic irrigation system.

  7. All sod shall be uniformly cut and fully mature prior to installation.

  8. All trees shall be a minimum of 15 gallons and free of insect infestation, plant diseases, sun scalds, or any other objectionable disfigurements.

  9. All new trees shall be required to have heavy-weight tree stands to provide support.

  10. All landscaping and irrigation required under these standards shall be installed prior to issuance of a Certificate of Occupancy.

• A. Landscape areas and materials shall be designed, installed, and properly maintained in compliance with this section.

• B. The following features shall be incorporated into the design of the proposed landscape and shown on the required landscape plans.

  1. Publicly maintained landscape areas shall be separated from privately maintained landscape areas with, at a minimum, a six-inch-wide concrete mow strip.

  2. Pedestrian access to sidewalks and structures shall be integrated with the design of landscaped areas.

  3. Landscape adjacent to driveways and parking areas shall be protected from vehicle damage through the provision of a minimum six-inch-high and six-inch-wide concrete curb. An alternative type of barrier may be approved by the Director.

  4. Street trees shall be included at 30 feet in the center for all projects except for single-family lots.

  5. Trees and shrubs shall be planted so that at maturity, they do not interfere with utility lines and traffic safety sight areas.

  6. Trees and shrubs shall be planted and maintained in a manner that protects the basic rights of adjacent property owners, particularly the right to solar access. Trees shall be pruned so that the canopy is no less than six feet above ground level.

  7. Trees planted within five feet of sidewalks or curbs shall have an 18-inch by 10-foot-long linear ribbed root barrier placed at each edge of the sidewalk or face of the curb and centered on the tree.

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8. Landscape areas with exposed soil shall have a minimum of three inches of mulch evenly applied over the exposed soil. Mulch may include bark or decomposed granite (3/8” Minus).

9. Soil amendments shall be added, as recommended by a soils report prepared by a certified lab. A copy of the report shall be included with the landscape plans.

• l. Plant materials shall be selected and installed in accordance with the following requirements:

  1. All trees shall be sized 15 gallons or larger.

  2. The size of 70 percent of plants and shrubs shall be at least five gallons or larger. The remaining plants and shrubs shall be sized one gallon or larger.

  3. The size of groundcover at planting shall be one gallon or larger.

  4. Groundcover shall be designed to have 100 percent coverage within two years.

  5. Drought-tolerant plant material and climate-appropriate species shall be selected and emphasized in the design whenever possible.

  6. In planting areas where groundcover or turf is not used, shrubs or other approved plant material shall cover 80 percent of the ground surface within two years.

A required landscaped area shall be planted with live and healthy plant materials suitable for screening and/or ornamenting the site. Landscaped areas shall be watered by automatic systems and designed and developed in accordance with the most recent State MWELO.

For the efficient use of water, an irrigation system shall meet all the requirements listed in this section and the latest MWELO. The irrigation system and its related components shall be planned and designed to allow for proper installation, management, and maintenance.

Zoning Ordinance

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City of Avenal Municipal Code Title 9 – Zoning Ordinance