§ 33-1339. Standards for landscaping. — Escondido Zoning Code

The following standards shall apply to the installation and maintenance of all landscaped areas to which this article applies:

(a) General.
- (1) Use of plant materials. A high percentage of water conserving plant materials shall be utilized in all designs. The use of turf is therefore discouraged. Areas approved for turf will require the use of lower water usage turf varieties. A higher percentage of turf may be allowed if it is an essential part of the development, such as athletic playing fields for schools or parks upon review of the landscape plans by the city.
- (2) Turf species. Turf species should be limited to low to moderate water using varieties such as Bermuda grass, Buffalo grass, Bahia grass, Zoysia grass and Tall Fescue hybrids, rather than bluegrass or ryegrass variety. Turf shall not be used in areas less than five feet wide, medians, slopes 4:1 or greater, and when not visible from public or occupants view (i.e., behind fences).
- (3) Plant lists. New landscaping should use water conserving plant materials that are native to the San Diego region or are adapted to a hot dry summer/cool winter climate. Non-native or adapted varieties that require large amounts of irrigation to survive the hot dry summer season are to be avoided.
- (4) Quality of plants. All plant material shall conform to the requirements described in the latest edition of American Standards for Nursery Stock published by the American Association of Nurserymen.

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City of Escondido, CA

ESCONDIDO CODE

§ 33-1339

(5) Landscape design. Existing vegetation should be incorporated into the landscape design where possible. (For removal of mature trees and sensitive biological habitat species refer to sections 33-1068 and 33-1069).
(6) Rocky slopes. Requirements contained in this document may be varied for landscaping on slopes which are composed primarily of rocks or granite, as determined by the director. Justification of the request shall require a landscape architect's written statement and proposed alternatives for landscaping.
(7) Trash enclosure areas. Where required, as determined through a plot plan approval process, for industrial, commercial and multifamily residential projects, trash enclosure areas shall contain a minimum three foot planting area at the base of the enclosure wall when the enclosure is visible from the street or surrounding properties. The landscaping in the planting area shall consist of vertical planting (vines, hedges) which will screen the enclosure and irrigation.
(b) Off-street parking areas. All off-street parking shall conform to off-street parking standards, sections 33-760 through 33-769. In addition, off-street parking areas which include more than 10 parking spaces shall be landscaped to conform to the following:
- (1) General.
(A) Planting in parking areas should consist of a mixture of deciduous and evergreen shade trees, groundcover, low shrubs and mulch to provide 100% coverage. Trees must be a minimum of 15 gallons and six feet in height. No turf within the islands or the tree wells of the parking lot shall be allowed.
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- (B) All rows of parking spaces shall be provided with curbed terminal islands to protect parked vehicles and facilitate circulation. Wheel stops shall be provided for each parking space and placed 18 inches from the front of each parking space. Terminal islands shall be a minimum of five feet wide and shall contain at least one tree for each row of parking spaces for which the island is serving. 
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- (2) Interior landscaping.
  - (A) A continuous curbed center island, not less than five feet wide, shall be provided between each double row of parking spaces. Wheel stops may be excluded if the center island is expanded to eight feet wide. The island shall incorporate a minimum of one tree per four opposing parking spaces and groundcover or shrub planting to provide 100% coverage within two years of planting. Trees shall be provided with root control barriers; or
  - (B) Tree wells, four feet by five feet square minimum, resulting from the conversion of two opposing full-size parking spaces to compact, shall be provided at a rate of one tree per six opposing parking spaces in conformance with sections 33-760 through 33-769; or
  - (C) Finger islands, a minimum of five feet wide, parallel with the row of parking spaces, may be utilized for every four abutting parking spaces. Each finger island shall contain at a minimum one tree.
- (3) Perimeter landscaping.

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City of Escondido, CA § 33-1339

ZONING

§ 33-1339

  - (A) Perimeter landscaping is located along interior boundary lines, not fronting along the street, and shall provide landscaping not less than five feet wide and at least one tree for each 30 linear feet of planting. Trees may be planted singly or in clusters; or 

  - (B) Landscaping of front yard setbacks, where required, shall provide a minimum of one tree for every 30 feet of frontage with shrub planting and groundcover and shall provide a visual screen of three to four feet high within two years of planting. Trees may be planted singly or in clusters; or 

  - (C) Landscaping of front yard setbacks, where required, shall provide a minimum of one tree for every 35 linear feet of frontage with mounding three feet to four feet higher than the finished elevation of the parking lot, including groundcover, or turf (not to exceed 25% of frontage landscaped area) and shrubs for 100% coverage, within two years of planting.

(c) Planting on slopes.
- (1) All manufactured slopes over three feet high shall be planted with an appropriate and attractive mix of trees, shrubs and groundcovers;
- (2) Groundcover to provide 100% coverage within one year of installation.
(d) Commercial/industrial developments.
(1) The following standards shall apply to all commercial and industrial zones. Specific standards may be developed for the downtown specific plan or an approved area plan.
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- (A) A landscape strip must be located on the subject property, adjacent to the public right-of-way, except when a setback is not required within the zone. 

- (B) Trees, shrubs, groundcover to provide 100% coverage of those areas not utilized for building, parking, storage or trash enclosure. Embellished pavement and inert materials may be used for up to 25% of the required landscaping. Variations in these requirements may be specifically approved by the director. 
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- (2) Perimeter planting area. In addition to landscape requirements for parking areas, required front yard, side yard and rear yard setbacks for industrial and commercial uses shall be landscaped with trees, shrubs, and groundcovers.
- (3) Loading areas. Loading areas for commercial and industrial uses shall incorporate landscaping to provide screening of the loading area from public rights-of-way, adjacent uses and pedestrian circulation.
- (4) Buffer areas. Where commercial or industrial use abuts a residential use a landscaped buffer area shall be provided. The buffer area shall be planted with a minimum of one tree per every 25 linear feet to the adjacent property. (This calculation establishes the number of required trees; tree placement does not have to be linear or equal spacing.) Shrubs and groundcover shall be planted to provide 100% coverage within two years of planting. Where possible, vines shall be grown onto walls and fences to soften their appearance.
(e) Residential development.

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City of Escondido, CA

ESCONDIDO CODE

§ 33-1339

(1) Single-family subdivisions.
- (A) Front yard landscaping installed by the developer shall contain, at a minimum, one tree (15 gallon minimum and six feet in height) per lot, placed in varying locations on each lot in addition to the required number of street trees.
- (B) Common areas and recreation areas shall contain trees, shrubs, groundcovers, and/or turf (turf shall not exceed 40% of the landscaped area) to provide 100% coverage within two years. Embellished pavement and inert materials may be used for up to 25% of the required landscaping, may be specifically approved by the director.
(2) Multifamily. Landscaped areas in multifamily projects shall contain, at a minimum, the following:
- (A) One tree per dwelling unit shall be provided in the common landscaped area in addition to the required number of street trees.
- (B) All areas not used for walkways, driveways, or other hard surface shall be landscaped with shrubs, groundcovers and turf. Turf areas shall not exceed 40% of total landscaped area and shall be located in areas where the turf is functional (i.e., play areas) unless specifically approved by the director.
(C) In addition to landscape requirements for parking areas, required front yard, side yard and rear yard setbacks shall be landscaped with trees, shrubs, groundcover and/or turf. Pavement shall be limited to pedestrian walkways.
(f) Medians and parkway planting standards (within the public right-of-way)—General. New development or modifications to existing development requiring administrative or discretionary approval shall be required to landscape or bond for the landscaping of the parkway and/or median as determined by the city engineer and the director of parks and recreation.
- (1) Medians.
  - (A) Embellished pavement (i.e., stamped concrete, brick, river rock set in mortar) shall be used for all areas within the median which measure five feet wide or less. Additionally, embellished pavement may be used in conjunction with planting for a minimum of 15% and a maximum of 30% of the area within the median, as determined by the director of parks and recreation.
  - (B) Topsoil provided for the median shall be suitable for plant growth and free of harmful substances or hazardous materials. Class A topsoil (as defined in Section 212-1.1.2 of the Standard Specification for Public Work Construction) shall be required for all medians and parkway planting areas.
  - (C) Medians shall be planted with trees which are a minimum of 15 gallon, six feet high and a two inch caliper; unless palms are used, which shall be a minimum of six foot brown trunk height (BTH). Trees shall be at least three feet from any median curb and not closer than 20 feet from the nose of the median (the city engineer may require greater setbacks for specific situations).
  - (D) Shrubs shall be spaced to provide 100% coverage within (2) years.

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City of Escondido, CA § 33-1339

ZONING