§ 17.26

This chapter establishes landscape regulations that enhance a development's appearance, reduce heat and glare, control soil erosion, retain and conserve water, screen incompatible land uses, preserve neighborhood integrity, and improve pedestrian and vehicular traffic and safety.

(Ord. No. 2010-265, § 3, 1-27-2010)

The requirements of this chapter for landscape installation and prior plan approval apply to development as follows.

A.

Compliance with Chapter Required. The requirements of this chapter apply to:

1.

All new residential and nonresidential development;

Landscape alterations in existing developments exceeding fifty (50) percent of the total planted area; and,

3.

Golf courses, community gardens, and existing common open space areas of one acre or more.

B.

Exempt Projects. The following projects are exempt from the provisions of this chapter:

1.

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

2.

Replacement or repair of existing plant material or irrigation systems in conjunction with routine maintenance, so long as replacement or repair does not exceed fifty (50) percent of the total landscape area;

3.

Interior remodels, tenant improvements (interior modifications only) and approved demolitions; and

4.

Revegetation projects after a wildfire or prescribed burn.

(Ord. No. 2010-265, § 3, 1-27-2010)

17.26.030 - Landscape plan requirements.

A.

Applicability. This section applies to all proposed development, except for the construction of one single-family dwelling on an individual lot that is not constructed in conjunction with two or more units, or proposed on a site with a cut bank of twenty (20) feet or more in height. Applicants for the approval of individual dwellings, except those located in a scenic corridor, shall instead submit a preliminary planting plan with a planting palette, prior to approval of a final building inspection. Individual dwellings located in a scenic corridor shall submit a preliminary planting plan with a planting palette prior to approval by the reviewing authority. Approved landscaping shall then be installed within ninety (90) days of occupancy

B.

Conceptual Landscape Plan. A conceptual landscape plan shall be submitted with any application for a land use permit, subdivision, new development, or major redevelopment, excluding properties in the RS zoning district.

C.

Landscape Documentation Package. After approval of a land use permit application, a landscape documentation package shall be prepared and submitted concurrent with a building permit application. The landscape documentation package shall be approved before building permit issuance.

D.

Content. Conceptual landscape plans and landscape documentation packages shall contain all information specified in the instructions for preparing landscape plans, provided by the department.

E.

Plan Preparation. A conceptual landscape plan and landscape documentation package shall be prepared by a certified landscape professional registered to practice in the state of California, unless waived by the director.

F.

Review and Approval. After initial application review in compliance with Section 17.60.050, the director and a certified landscape professional selected by the director shall review each conceptual landscape plan and landscape documentation package to verify its compliance with the provisions of this chapter. The director may approve the submittal in compliance with this chapter, and may disapprove or require changes to a submittal that is not in compliance.

(Ord. No. 2010-265, § 3, 1-27-2010)

Landscape shall be provided where required by this section, in compliance with Section 17.26.050, in addition to any areas required by Chapters 17.20 and 17.12.

A.

General Locations for Landscape. Landscape shall be provided in the following locations:

1.

Setbacks. All required setback areas shall be landscaped in compliance with this section, except where (i) enclosed and screened from the public right-of-way and adjoining properties by solid fencing, (ii) a required setback is occupied by a sidewalk or driveway.

2.

Unused Areas. All areas shall be landscaped in compliance with this section, except areas (i) identified in a site plan for a specific use or purpose such as a building, parking lot or site amenities; except where enclosed and screened from the public right-of-way and adjoining properties.

3.

Parking Areas. Landscape shall be provided within parking areas in compliance with subsection (B)(2) of this section and Section 17.28.070.

4.

Slopes. All slopes shall be landscaped in compliance with this section, where grading or the removal of natural vegetation has occurred.

B.

Minimum Areas for Landscaping and Pervious Surfaces. Proposed development and new land uses shall be designed, constructed and maintained with minimum areas of landscaping and pervious paving materials in accordance with the requirements of this chapter. Pervious paving materials allow infiltration of water into soil below paving and minimize surface water runoff. Pervious surface materials can include wood slatted decking, pavers, brick or stone with spaces to allow percolation between the surface materials, pervious concrete or asphalt, or other similar methods approved by the director. The water surface of a lake, pond or swimming pool is considered pervious;

1.

Overall Site Requirements. Proposed development and new land uses shall provide the following landscape and pervious surface areas. Specific requirements for parking areas are provided in subsection (B)(2) of this section.

Table 3-10

Minimum Areas for Landscape and Pervious Surface

a.

Whenever there is residential subdivision with permanent open space dedicated as part of the original subdivision approval and which is controlled by the city, another public agency, or an active Homeowners Association, individual lots within that subdivision may receive a credit against the landscape and pervious surface requirements. This credit shall be equal to the percentage of the total dedicated permanent open space within the lot as determined by the director.

b.

Existing single family homes can receive a ten (10) percent credit against the minimum landscape and pervious surface requirements, if a system of storm water management and artificial recharge of precipitation is submitted and approved by the director. Alternative methods may include use of any of the various roof runoff controls: cisterns, rain barrels, dry wells (french drains) and infiltration trenches, stormwater detention tanks, and routing roof runoff through landscape areas. See Figure 3-11.

==> picture [228 x 185] intentionally omitted <==

Parking Area Requirements. Required parking area landscaping shall be provided as set forth herein, and as required by Section 17.28.070E (see also, Figure 3-12 at the end of Section 17.28.070), unless otherwise specified in this chapter. A minimum of thirty (30) percent of all parking lots shall be designed, constructed and maintained as landscaped areas, or other pervious surfacing as approved by the review authority. The landscape and pervious surface required by this subsection may be counted toward compliance with the overall landscape/pervious surface requirements of subsection (B)(1) of this section.

a.

Perimeter Landscaping.

i.

Adjacent to Streets. Parking areas with more than ten (10) spaces adjacent to a public right-of-way shall be designed to provide a landscaped planting strip between the right-of-way and parking, equal in depth to the setback required by the zoning district or ten (10) feet, whichever is less. The buffer should be increased to twenty (20) feet on sites that are deep (two hundred (200) feet or more) or large (fifteen thousand (15,000) square feet or more). Any planting, sign or other structure within the traffic safety visibility area of a driveway shall not exceed forty-two (42) inches in height.

ii.

Adjacent to Residential Use. Parking areas for nonresidential uses adjacent to residential uses shall be designed to provide a landscaped planting strip a minimum of ten (10) feet in width between the parking area and the property line bordering the residential use. A screening wall shall also be provided in compliance with Section 17.20.070(H).

iii.

Side Yard Landscaping—CL, CO and CMU Zones. A minimum of five feet of side yard landscaping shall be provided adjacent to all parking areas abutting nonresidential uses.

iv.

Parking Lot Screening—CB Zone. All parking areas shall be screened to a minimum height of forty-two (42) inches from the top of curb by landscaping, berms/mounding, decorative fences or walls, or appropriate combination of each.

b.

Interior Landscaping.

i.

Planting Strips between Parking Aisles. Parking areas with multiple parking aisles shall be designed to provide a continuous planter strip between each aisle. The planter strip shall be six feet wide, with six-foot by eighteen-foot projecting landscaped islands every ten (10) parking spaces. As determined by the director, adequate pedestrian paths shall be provided throughout the landscaped areas. The planting strips shall include at least one twenty-four (24) inch box shade tree for every three parking spaces. Trees shall be clustered as required by the director.

ii.

Projecting Islands. Planting strips between aisles in parking lots with more than fifteen (15) parking spaces shall include projecting islands to accommodate additional trees and other landscape materials. Islands shall be provided between every ten (10) parking spaces, and shall be a minimum of six feet wide.

iii.

Required Shading. The landscaping program (including tree species selected) shall be designed to provide shading for fifty (50) percent of the parking lot area within fifteen (15) years.

iv.

Bumper Overhang Areas. To increase the parking lot landscaped area, a maximum of two feet of the parking stall depth may be landscaped with low-growth, hearty materials in lieu of asphalt, allowing a bumper overhang while maintaining the required parking dimensions.

v.

Areas not Used for Parking. Areas in a parking lot not used for driveways, maneuvering areas, parking spaces, or pedestrian walkways, shall be landscaped and permanently maintained, in compliance with a program submitted by the applicant and approved by the director.

c.

Curbing and Irrigation. All areas containing plant materials shall be bordered by a concrete curb at least six inches high and six inches wide, and provided with an approved automatic irrigation system.

C.

Specific Zone Landscaping Requirements. The following landscape standards are established for the specified zoning districts, in addition to the standards in subsection (A) of this section. The following landscaped areas may be used to comply with the minimum requirements of subsection (B) of this section.

1.

RS Residential Zone. Fifty (50) percent of the required front setback area shall be permanently landscaped. Street trees shall be planted in front of all structures with a height greater than eighteen (18) feet.

2.

Commercial Zones.

a.

CR Zone:

i.

A minimum ten-foot wide landscape buffer shall be provided along all street frontages. The buffer shall include a landscaped berm with a height of forty-two (42) inches, and two to one slope;

ii.

In instances where a building is not proposed on the property line, a minimum five-foot wide screen planting shall be established along all interior property lines, except that property lines bordering residential zoning districts shall have a tenfoot landscaped setback, including trees at least every twenty (20) feet; and

iii.

Medium-to-large size trees shall be used and in scale with the commercial areas and serve as sidewalk canopies, screening and parking area shade and relief.

b.

CL, CO and CMU Zones. Property lines bordering residential zoning districts shall have a ten-foot landscaped setback where required by the review authority, including trees at least every twenty (20) feet.

c.

CB Zone:

i.

A landscaped area with a minimum width of fifteen (15) feet shall be provided from the property line to parking areas, and of thirty (30) feet from the property line to buildings. The landscaped area shall include meandering sidewalks, appropriate mounded landscaping, lawns, shrubs, street trees and clusters of trees, coordinated to create a continuous design along the street frontages; and

ii.

Landscaping shall be designed to create and enhance the visual quality and park-like nature of development within the CB zoning district. Landscaping shall be used (i) to screen and soften parking areas and other broad expanses of paving as provided above; (ii) to provide a park-like setting for structures; and (iii) to buffer and merge the various uses proposed on a site.

d.

CT Zone: The landscape requirements for the CT zone shall be determined by the Old Town Calabasas Master Plan and Design Guidelines.

3.

Special-Purpose Zones. The landscape requirements for the HM, OS, PF and REC zoning districts shall be established and designed for each individual project as part of land use permit approval for each use.

(Ord. No. 2010-265, § 3, 1-27-2010)

Landscape areas and materials shall be designed, installed, and maintained as provided by this section.

A.

Design Standards and Guidelines. The following features shall be incorporated into the design of the proposed landscape and shown on required landscape plans (Section 17.26.030).

1.

Proposed landscape should relate to the architectural design of the structures on the site, and it should be compatible with the character of adjacent landscaping; provided, that this landscaping complies with this chapter.

2.

The protection and preservation of native species and natural site features and areas is encouraged.

3.

Tree planting is encouraged, in addition to that required by Section 17.26.040. Tree selection shall take into consideration the potential for future root damage to public sidewalks and growth of the tree canopy into or near overhead utilities.

4.

Plants with similar water needs shall be grouped together in distinct hydrozones.

5.

Parkway strips shall include design provisions to ensure blending and smooth transitions between different types and patterns of landscaping, and public and private property. To accomplish the foregoing, parkway strips shall utilize street trees

and complementary landscaping.

6.

When inorganic groundcover is used, it shall be in combination with live plants and shall only be used as an accent feature.

7.

Irrigation systems shall be equipped with smart irrigation controllers.

8.

Landscaping should be designed as an integral part of the overall site plan design. Landscaping and open spaces should not be relegated to pieces of the site left over after buildings, parking, and circulation have been laid out.

9.

Landscape design should accent the overall design theme and reinforce the pedestrian scale of the project through the use of structures, arbors, and trellises that are appropriate to the particular architectural style of the project. Pedestrian amenities should be provided throughout the project including benches, trash receptacles, drinking fountains, and lighting.

10.

Unless a street has an existing landscape theme, whenever landscaping of the public parkway is required it should be designed in coordination with the project's on-site landscaping to provide an integrated design concept along street frontages.

11.

Project entries should be designed as special statements reflective of the character of the project so that they reinforce an identity for tenants, and visitors. Accent planting, specimen trees, enhanced paving, and project entry signs should be used in furtherance of the foregoing.

12.

Deciduous shade trees should be planted on the south and east side of structures to maximize summer shade and winter sun.

B.

Plant Material Limitations. Plant materials shall be selected and installed to comply with the following requirements:

1.

Plant materials shall emphasize drought-tolerant and native species;

2.

Plant materials in areas adjacent to and not physically separated from native chaparral should be selected to prevent invasion of the chaparral.

3.

Trees and shrubs shall be planted so that, at maturity, they do not interfere with service lines, and traffic safety visibility areas. See Section17.20.120(D).

Trees planted near public bicycle trails, pedestrian paths, or curbs shall be of a species and installed in a manner which prevents physical damage to sidewalks, curbs, gutters and other public improvements.

C.

Irrigation. Irrigation systems shall be designed and installed as follows.

1.

Equipment.

a.

Anti-Drain Valves. Integral, under the head, or in-line anti-drain valves shall be installed as needed to prevent low head drainage.

b.

Automatic Control Valves. Different hydrozones shall be irrigated by separate valves.

c.

Controllers. Automatic control systems shall be required for all irrigation systems and must be able to accommodate all aspects of the design. Automatic controllers shall be digital, have multiple programs, multiple cycles (start-times), and have sensor input capabilities.

d.

Rain Sensor Devices. Rain sensing override devices shall be required where appropriate on all irrigation systems.

e.

Soil Moisture Sensors. Soil moisture sensing devices shall be considered where appropriate, such as turf areas.

f.

Sprinkler Heads. Sprinkler heads shall be selected for proper area coverage, application rate, operating pressure and adjustment capability. Sprinklers shall have matched precipitation and application rates within each control valve circuit.

g.

Water Meters. Separate landscape water meters or sub-meters shall be installed for all projects with landscape and nonlandscape areas. Landscape sub-meters, if used, shall be purchased, installed and maintained by the owner.

2.

Recycled Water. For those sites where recycled water systems are feasible (commercial, manufacturing/industrial and common areas for residential developments), a recycled water irrigation system (dual distribution system) shall be required to allow for the current and future use of recycled water in compliance with the requirements of the Las Virgenes Municipal Water District. A recycled water irrigation system shall be designed and operated in accordance with all local and state codes.

3.

Runoff and Overspray. All irrigation systems shall be designed to avoid runoff, low head drainage, overspray or other similar conditions where water flows or drifts onto adjacent property, non-irrigated areas, pedestrian walkways, roadways or structures.

System Performance—Turf Areas. Irrigation systems for turf areas must achieve a minimum distribution uniformity of:

a.

Seventy-five (75) percent for areas of one acre or more of contiguous area;

b.

Sixty-five (75) percent for areas less than one acre but greater than five thousand (5,000) square feet of contiguous area; and,

c.

Fifty-five (55) percent for areas less than five thousand (5,000) square feet of contiguous area.

5.

Water Efficient Systems. Irrigation systems shall be designed to reduce overall water consumption, including irrigation water consumption. The following methods should be utilized in designing water efficient irrigation systems.

a.

Group plants with similar water requirements, and to match these plant groupings with precipitation heads and emitters.

b.

Use drip irrigation for trees, shrub beds and areas of groundcover to eliminate evaporation losses.

c.

Choose low-volume, low-angle sprinklers for lawn areas.

d.

Select heads that fit the size and shape of the areas to be watered.

e.

Program automatic controllers for night irrigation to reduce water losses due to evaporation and wind drift.

f.

Select controllers with adjustable watering schedules and moisture sensors to account for seasonal variations, and calibrate them during installation.

g.

Place three to five inches of mulch on planting beds each spring to minimize evaporation.

h.

Install sub-grade drip irrigation systems to converse water.

D.

Installation. All landscape materials and support equipment shown in an approved landscape documentation package shall be installed on a site as follows:

1.

Timing of Installation.

a.

Building Construction Projects. Except as set forth in Section 17.26.030 (A), required landscape shall be installed and verified by the department prior to approval of a final building inspection or certificate of occupancy.

b.

Residential Subdivisions. The city shall require as a condition of approval that each developer of a residential subdivision record with the county record's office a condition, covenant or restriction against each parcel of the subdivision requiring the complete installation of landscaping in full compliance with this chapter no later than six months from the time title passes to the first purchaser of a constructed residence within the subdivision.

c.

Individual Homes. Prior to approval of a final building inspection, landscape plans shall be reviewed and approved and landscape and irrigation shall be installed.

d.

Delayed Installation. In the event that weather conditions prevent the effective installation of required landscape prior to occupancy, a performance bond in the amount equal to the value of the landscape materials may be permitted, subject to the approval of the director.

2.

Special Requirements for Model Homes. Model homes shall comply with the requirements of this chapter. Code compliant model home landscaping shall include signs identifying the model home as an example of a water efficient landscaping and feature any equipment that has been utilized to achieve water efficiency. The model home shall include information to the visiting public describing the water efficient landscape along with its design, installation, and required maintenance.

3.

Changes to Design. Changes to any portion of an approved landscape documentation package must be approved by the director.

E.

Maintenance of Landscape. Landscape shall be permanently maintained as follows:

1.

General Standard. Maintenance of approved landscape installations shall consist of regular watering, pruning, fertilizing, debris and weed clearing, dead plant removal and replacement, and the repair and replacement of irrigation systems and integrated architectural features.

2.

Maintenance of Common Open Space Areas. For new residential subdivisions, landscaped areas with common open space in excess of one acre, owned and maintained by a homeowner's association shall work with the city to establish a water budget within the first year after installation of all landscaping in the development. The applicant shall have up to five years in which to implement all necessary landscape improvements to the satisfaction of the director.

F.

Oak Tree Removal. No oak tree shall be altered or removed, except one confirmed by city staff as dead, without first obtaining an oak tree permit pursuant to Chapter 17.32.

(Ord. No. 2010-265, § 3, 1-27-2010)

Chapter 17.27 - Lighting