§ 33-1052. Definitions.

For the purposes of this chapter the definitions listed hereunder shall be construed as specified in this section:

"Approval" means a written engineering or geological opinion concerning the progress and completion of the work.

"As-graded" means the extent of surface conditions on completion of grading.

"Bedrock" means in-place solid rock.

"Bench" means a relatively level step excavated into earth material on which fill is to be placed.

"Best management practices (BMPs)" means specific stormwater management techniques that are applied to manage construction site runoff and minimize site erosion.

"Borrow" means earth material acquired from an off-site location for use in grading on a site.

"Civil engineer" means a professional engineer registered in the state to practice in the field of civil works.

"Civil engineering" means the application of the knowledge of the forces of nature, principles of mechanics and the properties of materials to the evaluation, design and construction of civil works for the beneficial uses of mankind.

"Clearing" includes the modification or trimming or pruning or destruction or removal of vegetation.

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"Compaction" means the densification of a fill by mechanical means.

"DBH (diameter breast height)" is the diameter of a tree trunk four and one-half (4½) feet above the natural grade.

"Director" shall refer to the director of community development.

"Dripline" is the outermost edge of the tree's canopy.

"Earth material" means any rock, natural soil or fill and/or any combination thereof.

"Engineering geologist" means a geologist experienced and knowledgeable in engineering geology.

"Engineering geology" means the application of geologic knowledge and principles in the investigation and evaluation of naturally occurring rock and soil for use in the design of civil works.

"Erosion" means the wearing away of the ground surface as a result of the movement of wind, water and/or ice.

"Erosion control system" means permanent and/or temporary erosion control devices/features installed in graded areas to prevent erosion and site runoff.

"Excavation" means the mechanical removal of earth material.

"Fill" means a deposit of earth material placed by artificial means.

"Grade" means the vertical location of the ground surface.

• (1)

  • "Existing grade" is the grade prior to grading;

• (2) "Rough grade" is the stage at which the grade approximately conforms to the approved plan;

• (3) "Finish grade" is the final grade of the site which conforms to the approved plan.

"Grading" means any excavating or filling or combination thereof.

"Hillside area" means a parcel or portion of a parcel with slope over 15% which is shown as such on the hillside and ridgeline overlay map on file with the City of Escondido planning division.

"Hillside and Ridgeline Overlay (HRO) District" is defined on the hillside and ridgeline overlay map on file with the City of Escondido. The overlay district generally encompasses parcels with a slope of 15% or greater on any portion of the parcel, and/or located in proximity to an identified intermediate or skyline ridge, and located in an area that has not been developed to its full potential at the time of adoption of the ordinance codified in this chapter.

"Intermediate ridge" means a long, narrow, conspicuous elevation identified on the hillside and ridgeline overlay map on file in the planning division. The precise location shall be determined during the project review process. Intermediate ridges generally have visible land behind them which creates a backdrop to the ridge and generally have the height from 500 feet to 900 feet mean sea elevation in the south portions of the city and from 900 feet to 1,500 feet mean sea elevation in the north portions of the city as separated by El Norte Parkway.

"Key" means a designed compacted fill placed in a trench excavated in earth material beneath the toe of a proposed fill slope.

"Landscaping" means vegetation:

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• (1) "Ornamental landscaping" includes all vegetation, but excludes required landscaping, sensitive biological habitat, mature trees, and protected trees.

• (2) "Required landscaping" is landscaping specifically mandated as a condition of approval by either the administrative or discretionary approval process relating to land use compatibility, ordinance development standards, environmental mitigation, and/or required slope planting ratios.

"Mature tree" is any self-supporting woody perennial plant, native or ornamental, with a single well-defined stem or multiple stems supporting a crown of branches. The single stem, or one of the multiple stems of any mature oak tree (genus quercus), shall have a diameter four inches or greater when measured at four and one-half (4½) feet DBH above the tree's natural grade. All other mature trees shall have a diameter of eight inches DBH, or greater, for a single stem or one of the multiple stems.

"Permanent erosion control devices" means features installed on-site for the permanent control of erosion and site runoff, including, but not limited to, required landscaping, permanent desilting basins, etc. (see also City of Escondido Stormwater Management Requirements document).

"Professional" shall refer to a qualified botanist, certified arborist, or other qualified professional acceptable to the director of community development.

"Protected tree" is any oak (genus quercus) which has a 10 inch or greater DBH, or any other species or individual specimen listed on the local historic register, or determined to substantially contribute to the historic character of a property or structure listed on the local historic register, pursuant to Article 40 of the Escondido Zoning Code.

"Record plan" means a final plan certified by the project civil engineer to reflect "as-built" conditions.

"Routine maintenance" includes trimming, pruning, weeding, mowing, replacement or substitution of vegetation in ornamental and required landscapes. Routine maintenance does not include the removal or alteration of sensitive biological habitats and/or sensitive biological species or removal and replacement of mature or protected trees.

Trimming, pruning, and shaping of mature or protected trees shall not involve topping but may allow removing up to one-third (⅓) of the living crown during a single pruning in order to establish or maintain a crown ratio that is twice as high as the trunk or as deemed appropriate by the director.

"Sensitive biological habitat" is any biological habitat that supports or has the potential to support any rare, endangered, threatened or candidate species of plants, trees, or animals or species of special concern as defined by the California Endangered Species Act (Fish and Game Code Section 2050 et seq.) or Federal Endangered Species Act (16 U.S. C1531 et seq.).

"Sensitive biological species" is any rare, endangered, threatened or candidate species of plants, trees or animals, or species of special concern as defined by the California Endangered Species Act (Fish and Game Code Section 2050 et seq.) or Federal Endangered Species Act (16 U.S. C1531 et seq.).

"Site" means any lot or parcel of land or contiguous combination thereof, under the same ownership, where grading is performed or permitted.

"Skyline ridge" means a long, narrow, conspicuous elevation identified on the hillside and ridgeline overlay map on file in the planning division. The precise location shall be determined

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during the project review process. Skyline ridges generally define the horizon and have the height over 900 feet mean sea elevation in the south portions of the city and over 1,500 feet mean sea elevation in the north portions of the city as separated by El Norte Parkway.

"Slope" means an inclined ground surface the inclination of which is expressed as a ratio of horizontal distance to vertical distance.

"Soil" means naturally occurring superficial deposits overlying bedrock.

"Soils engineer" means a civil engineer experienced and knowledgeable in the practice of soils engineering.

"Soils engineering" means the application of the principles of soil mechanics in the investigation, evaluation and design of civil works involving the use of earth materials and the inspection and testing of the construction thereof.

"Stormwater Discharge Permit" means Order No. 2001-01 NPDES No. CASO108758 and amendments thereto, issued by the California Regional Water Quality Control Board, San Diego Region identifying Waste Discharge Requirements for discharges of urban runoff within the San Diego Region.

"Stormwater Management Requirements" (separate document adopted by resolution and as amended, available at engineering and planning counters) means techniques required to minimize erosion and manage construction site runoff.

"Temporary erosion control device" means interim features installed on-site during construction to control erosion and site runoff, including, but not limited to, geotextiles and mats, sandbagging, temporary drains and swales. (also see City of Escondido Stormwater Management Requirements document).

"Tree survey" is a drawing prepared to scale which provides the location, DBH, health and condition, and botanical and common names of mature and protected trees located on a given parcel. Said survey shall show any improvements, drainage, structures, or buildings existing or proposed for development and designate trees proposed for removal or retention. The drip lines of each tree shall also be graphically indicated on the drawing.

"Vegetation" means any plant life and plant cover including mature trees, protected trees, and sensitive biological habitat.

(Ord. No. 2001-21, § 5, 8-22-01; Ord. No. 2017-03R, § 4, 3-22-17; Ord. No. 2018-07R, § 7, 4-18-18)