Chapter 17.16 — (S) SCENIC OVERLAY DISTRICT

The Scenic Overlay District is intended for use in areas of high scenic value to preserve and enhance these values and to assure exclusion of incompatible uses.

The purpose of this Scenic Overlay District is to implement the policies of the General Plan Environmental Resources Management Element by preserving a sense of open space and important scenic and visual resources identified by the community. (Code 1987 § 17.04.010; Ord. 772 § 17.04.010, 1986)

In any base district where the district symbol is followed by, as a part of such symbol, a parenthetically enclosed letter "S," thus "(S)," the additional-requirements, limitations and standards contained in this section shall apply. The district symbol shall constitute the "base district" and the "S" suffix shall constitute the "overlay district." In the event of conflicting provisions of such a combined district, the requirements of the S district shall take precedence over the requirements of the base district. Uses permitted by the S district must in each instance be in compliance with those uses permitted by the applicable base district regulations and any other overlay district regulations. (Code 1987 § 17.04.020; Ord. 772 § 17.04.020, 1986)

All uses permitted in the base district are subject to design review approval pursuant to LEMC § 17.415.050 and § 17.415.060 and will be evaluated against the site development standards of LEMC § 17.16.040 .

(Code 1987 § 17.04.030; Ord. 772 § 17.04.030, 1986; Ord. 1415 § 3 (Exh. F § 1), 2019)

• A. Corridor Planning.

  1. The natural and aesthetic aspect of the site shall be retained and incorporated into all development plans;

  2. Lagoons, watercourses, wetlands and wildlife habitats shall be maintained and protected where feasible;

  3. Developments shall be of a design which acts to preserve scenic vistas and viewpoints and to minimize any detrimental impact to hillsides and open space;

  4. All architectural elements shall be of a design, color and material that blends and enhances the surrounding scenic viewshed and the existing architectural scheme.

• B. Roadway Designs.

  1. Streets and highways shall be designed in a manner which acts to minimize the adverse visual and physical impacts the roadway will have on the scenic corridor;

  2. Scenic turnouts shall be provided at appropriate vista or viewpoint locations;

  3. Pedestrian, equestrian and bicycle trails shall be included in conformity with the General Plan;

  4. All roadways which cross major drainage courses shall be grade separated from trails and greenbelts established in conjunction with these features in such a manner as to permit unencumbered use of the trails and greenbelts;

  5. Access points shall be limited along a scenic highway.

• C. Lighting.

  1. Lighting within the Scenic Overlay District (S) shall adhere to the lighting regulations provided for in the base zoning district;

  2. All lighting shall be designed and located in a manner which does not disturb the scenic value or other public interests included within a scenic corridor.

• D. Utilities. Where practical, all new utilities, including the linkage between main line and structures, shall be underground.

• E. Grading.

  1. Siting and location of roads, buildings and other structures shall be engineered to minimize grading and to retain existing landforms and characteristics in a natural state;

  2. Development projects shall be designed to utilize the natural grade rather than graded building pads; terrace, step-type building pads which substantially alter the natural contours shall be prohibited;

  3. Where natural grade and cut and fill slopes meet, there shall be a gradual transition from the graded slope to the natural configuration consistent with the topography within the area.

• F. Vegetation.

  1. Landscape plans shall attempt to incorporate existing on-site trees and shrubbery into the landscaping scheme;

  2. Landscape areas shall have irrigation facilities where necessary to maintain plan materials. The use of automatic watering systems will be considered;

  3. Erosion retardant vegetation should be utilized on all cut and fill slopes. Such vegetation should be compatible with the surrounding natural vegetation;

  4. Native fire-resistant plant material should be utilized along firebreak areas or near structures sited in a rural environment;

  5. Tree species to be planted within a given corridor should be consistent with other tree species within the area.

• G. Signing.

  1. All signs shall conform to the regulations pursuant to Chapter 17.196 LEMC.

2. All signs shall be designed and located in a manner which does not disturb the scenic value or other public interests included within a scenic corridor.

(Code 1987 § 17.04.040; Ord. 772 § 17.04.040, 1986)