§ 33-1339 - (E) Groundcovers shall provide 100% coverage within one year of planting… — Escondido Zoning Code

(2) Parkways.

- (A) Landscaping within the street right-of-way shall be maintained by the adjacent property owner. 

- (B) Areas within or adjacent to the public right-of-way (not including medians) installed by the developer/property owner and which are maintained by the homeowner's association or the city through landscape maintenance districts shall conform to the following: 

   - (i) Parkways located between the curb and the sidewalk shall be a minimum of six feet wide unless altered by special engineering constraints as determined by the city engineer and shall contain trees as per the street requirements. Parkways may meander, thus reducing or increasing the minimum distance from the curb. The ground surface shall be planted with low spreading shrubs or groundcover to provide 100% coverage. Turf shall not be used unless specifically approved by the director or director of parks and recreation. 

   - (ii) Parkways located between the sidewalks and the edge of development shall contain at a minimum one fifteen (15) gallon tree for every 30 linear feet of frontage. (The calculation establishes the number of required trees; the trees are not required to be located linear or equally spaced.) Although not specifically required, planting areas of variable widths are encouraged, particularly for projects with frontages exceeding 150 feet. Trees without invasive roots and root control barriers shall be required. 

   - (iii) The ground surface shall contain shrubs, mulch, or groundcover to provide coverage within two years. Turf shall not be used unless in areas wider than six feet and approved by the director. If a wall or fence separates the development from the street, planting vines or espalier shrubs may be incorporated into the planting design.

(3) Standard specifications for landscaping and irrigation installation may be obtained from the parks and recreation department.

(g) Revegetation standards. Revegetation of graded slopes and other disturbed areas adjacent to areas of native vegetation is required to provide visual and biological compatibility with the adjacent native plant materials (reference Article 55).
- (1) Invasive, non-native plant materials are prohibited in revegetation areas and shall be removed.
- (2) Permanent irrigation should be avoided where it is contiguous to existing native vegetation. The distance irrigation equipment is placed from natural vegetation shall be determined by the director on a case-by-case basis.
- (3) All manufactured slope areas shall be covered, within 30 days of completion of grading, with plant material straw mulch, jute netting or other approved material for erosion control (reference section 33-1062).

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City of Escondido, CA

ESCONDIDO CODE

§ 33-1339

(4) Plantings shall consist of annuals, perennials, groundcovers, shrubs, and trees compatible with adjacent native vegetation, capable of surviving without permanent irrigation.
(h) Standards for irrigation systems.
- (1) Temporary systems. Aboveground irrigation systems may be utilized for temporary irrigation and must be removed when no longer operational. Installation shall comply with all applicable health and safety codes.
  - (A) Temporary irrigation systems, such as above-ground UV-resistant pipe irrigation, may be approved by the director for revegetated areas and transitional planting where the plant materials, once established, will not require irrigation.
  - (B) Unless otherwise approved by the director, temporary systems shall operate for a maximum of a two year period.
- (2) Slope irrigation.
  - (A) On-grade irrigation systems may be approved for slope areas planted in native vegetation and/or in areas of highly erosive or extremely rocky soils, and for temporary systems.
  - (B) Permanent on-grade systems shall be galvanized steel pipe, fittings and heads, and shall be secured to slopes.
  - (C) Ultra-violet resistant (UV) piping (i.e., brown line) may be used upon approval of the director. UV fittings, risers, as well as pipe stabilizers and stakes shall be required.
- (3) Reclaimed water systems.
  - (A) Irrigation systems utilizing reclaimed water shall comply with City of Escondido design standards or industry standards.
  - (B) The percentages of allowed turf may be varied for projects which have an approved reclaimed water system at the time of approval of the landscape and irrigation plans.
  - (C) Dual piping irrigation systems shall be encouraged for large open landscaped areas such as playgrounds, golf courses, playing fields, etc., for the purpose of utilizing reclaimed water when available.
(i) Installation and maintenance standards.
- (1) Planting installation.
  - (A) All trees shall be staked in accordance with the City of Escondido standard tree staking detail.
  - (B) Groundcover shall be planted in a triangular pattern spaced to ensure 100% coverage within one year of installation.
  - (C) A minimum three inch layer of mulch material shall be applied to all shrub and tree planted areas.

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City of Escondido, CA § 33-1339

ZONING