Banning Municipal Code Art. I General Provisions

The purpose of this chapter is to establish landscaping regulations that are intended to:

A. Protect and preserve the natural environment in the City of Banning, and to incorporate green space, vegetation, and shade into the urban landscape.

B. Enhance the aesthetic appearance of development in all areas of the City by providing standards for quality, quantity and functional aspects of landscaping and landscape screening.

C. Reduce the heat and glare generated by development

D. Increase the compatibility between residential land uses and those abutting commercial and industrial land uses.

E. Provide privacy within residential developments, and to provide privacy on the perimeter of residential areas from various residential, commercial or other uses outside of the development.

F. Protect the public health, safety and welfare by minimizing the impact of all forms of physical and visual pollution, controlling soil erosion, screening incompatible land uses, preserving the integrity of neighborhoods, and enhancing pedestrian, cyclist and vehicular traffic and safety.

G. Increase the liveability of the City of Banning for children, adults, and visitors.

(Zoning Ord. dated 1/31/06, § 9108.01.)

A. A concept landscaping plan shall be submitted as part of a planning permit application. The concept plan shall meet the intent of this chapter by exhibiting a generalized design layout which adequately demonstrates the desired landscaping program in terms of location, size/scale, function, theme and other attributes.

B. The concept plan shall provide the review authority with a clear understanding of the landscaping program prior to the preparation of a detailed, comprehensive landscaping plan. All landscaping plans must take into account the preservation of natural features including hills, topography, trees, shrubs, wildlife habitat, etc. The landscaping plan should refer to such natural elements, and enhance rather than detract from such elements.

C. Landscaping plans shall rely primarily on indigenous plant and tree species which are suitable to the local climate and soil types, rather than relying on foreign or invasive species which often compete with, and displace local species. The use of indigenous plant, shrub and tree types is also important in providing continuity of habitat for wildlife species, including local birds. The use of invasive species which have proven to be detrimental to flora species native to Southern California are strongly discouraged in all landscaping plans. Such species include the tamarisk (or salt cedar tree), and the Russian olive. Likewise many plants and trees from other areas (such as the tropics or the American southeast) have much greater water requirements than native species, and the planting and maintenance of such flora species will undermine the City's goal of water conservation.

(Zoning Ord. dated 1/31/06, § 9108.02.)

A comprehensive landscaping plan shall be prepared following approval of the permit application by the review authority, and shall be submitted at the same time as the grading plan and related documents and reports. The landscape and irrigation plans shall be approved by the Community Development Department, and this department may obtain any necessary input from the Public Works Department. Landscaping requirements include the following:

A. Designs shall be in harmony with the surrounding environment.

B. Landscape design and construction shall emphasize drought-tolerant landscaping whenever and wherever possible.

C. A comprehensive landscape and irrigation plan shall include, but not be limited to:

1. List of all plants (common and Latin) including trees and shrubs;

2. Size of plants;

3. Location of plants;

4. Irrigation plan for the plants;

5. Hardscape;

6. Water elements;

7. Any other information deemed necessary by the City.

D. Planting of trees and shrubs shall comply with the following installation requirements:

1. Landscape areas shall include plant material and planting methods which are suitable for the soil of the site. The minimum percentage of plant sizes shall be as follows:

2. Trees and shrubs shall be planted so that at maturity they do not interfere with service lines, traffic safety sight area, and the basic property rights of adjacent property owners.

3. A variety of flowering trees, fragrant trees, and fruit trees, may all be included in the landscaping plan.

4. Trees planted near public rights-of-way shall have a limited deep root system and shall be installed so as to prevent physical damage to sidewalks, curbs, gutters and other public improvements.

5. Tree grates shall surround trees installed in paved areas or sidewalks. Trees with a deep root system shall be used in such areas.

F. Concrete mow strips are required to separate all turf areas from other landscaped areas in the commercial and industrial districts.

G. Inorganic groundcover shall be used in combination with live plants, and shall be used as an accent feature.

H. All landscaping shall include a water-efficient automatic irrigation system.

I. The front yards, and side yards visible from the public right-of-way, of all residential subdivisions shall be landscaped with trees, shrubs and groundcover. At a minimum, each front yard shall include 2 24 inch box trees, and sufficient shrubs and groundcover to provide full coverage within 2 years of installation.

(Zoning Ord. dated 1/31/06, § 9108.03.)

Landscape standards for setback and parkway areas shall include, but not be limited to:

[Figure]

A. Setback and parkway areas shall utilize uniform street tree plantings with complementary landscape materials.

B. Mounding or berming shall be incorporated within the overall design, with landscaped slopes not exceeding a three to one ratio, or four feet in height. A minimum of six feet of landscaping shall be placed on the exterior of perimeter walls and fences.

C. Walls and fences should be incorporated into the landscape design, including meandering walls, wall breaks, or openings where the design shall complement the landscaping of the adjacent development.

[Figure]

D. All designs shall ensure compatibility with established setback and parkway areas, including transitions between landscape types and patterns.

E. Street trees shall be 24 inch box specimens or larger.

(Zoning Ord. dated 1/31/06, § 9108.04.)

A. Landscaping shall be permanently maintained by the developer or his/her successors. All required landscaping shall be properly installed, irrigated, and inspected prior to the issuance of a Certificate of Occupancy.

B. Maintenance of approved landscaping shall consist of:

1. Regular watering;

2. Mowing;

3. Pruning;

4. Fertilizing;

5. Clearing of debris and weeds;

6. Removal and replacement of dead plants;

7. The repair and replacement of irrigation systems; and

8. The repair and replacement of integrated architectural features.

(Zoning Ord. dated 1/31/06, § 9108.05.)

A. Removal of healthy, shade providing, and aesthetically valuable trees shall be strongly discouraged, and shall be in conformance with the policies and programs of the General Plan. A tree removal and replacement plan shall be required for the removal and replacement of all trees in excess of 50 years of age, unless their removal is required to protect the public health and safety.

B. Each tree that is removed in a new subdivision is considered a part of the common wealth of the citizens of Banning, is an important component of the habitat of surrounding wildlife, and is of value to the City. Each identified tree removed shall be replaced with at least one 36 inch box specimen tree, in addition to any other required landscaping. Individual single family residential lots of less than one-half acre and commercial tree farms shall be exempt from this provision.

(Zoning Ord. dated 1/31/06, § 9108.06.)