Porterville Municipal Code § 303.04 Areas to Be Landscaped

The specific purposes of the landscaping regulations are to:

A. Improve the appearance of the community by requiring aesthetically pleasing landscaping on public and private sites;

B. Aid in energy conservation by providing shade from the sun and shelter from the wind;

C. Soften the appearance of parking lots and other development through landscaping;

D. Promote conservation of water resources through the use of native and drought-tolerant plants, and water-conserving irrigation practices; and

E. Minimize or eliminate conflicts between potentially incompatible but otherwise permitted land uses on adjoining lots through visual screening. (Ord. 1866, 11-19-2019)

The standards of this chapter apply to all new development or improvements subject to project review and building permits. (Ord. 1866, 11-19-2019)

The following design principles are general standards to be used by City staff in evaluating whether landscape plans conform to the requirements of this chapter:

A. Natural Landscapes. Landscape designs shall incorporate and enhance existing natural landscapes and existing specimen trees and native vegetation (including canopy, understory, and ground cover). Particular care shall be given to preserve intact natural landscapes. Where previous landscaping has dramatically altered natural landscapes, new designs shall seek to reestablish natural landscape patterns and plantings. Natural landscapes and native vegetation do not include weeds.

B. Composition. The quality of a landscape design is dependent not only on the quantity and selection of plant materials but also on how that material is arranged. Landscape materials shall include a combination of ground covers, shrubs, vines and trees with a variety of plant heights and colors.

C. Buffering and Screening. The placement of natural landscape materials (trees, shrubs, and hedges) is the preferred method for buffering differing land uses, for providing a transition between adjacent properties, and for screening the view of any parking or storage area, refuse collection, utility enclosures, or other service area visible from a public street, alley, or pedestrian area. Plants may be used with fences or berms to achieve the desired screening or buffering effect. When used to screen an activity area such as a parking lot, landscaping shall not interfere with public safety.

D. Responsive to Local Context and Character. Landscape designs shall build on the site’s and area’s unique physical characteristics, conserving and complementing existing natural features. Naturalistic design elements such as irregular plant spacing, undulating berm contours, and mixed proportions of plant species shall be used to ensure that new landscaping blends in and contributes to the quality of the surrounding area. Selection and spacing of plant material shall be reflective of the surrounding area’s character.

E. Use of Native and Drought Resistant Plants. Landscape designs shall feature native and/or related plant species and avoid invasive species, especially in areas adjacent to existing native vegetation, to take advantage of the unique natural character and diversity of the region and the adaptability of native plants to local environmental conditions. Where feasible, the re-establishment of native habitats shall be incorporated into the landscape design. In the same manner, landscape designs shall utilize drought tolerant plant materials to the maximum extent feasible. The use of drought tolerant plants shall enrich the existing landscape character, conserve water and energy, and provide as pleasant and varied a visual appearance as plants that require more water.

F. Continuity and Connection. Landscaping shall be designed within the context of the surrounding area, provided that the landscaping is also consistent with these design principles. Where the design intent and the surrounding landscape is naturalistic, plant materials shall blend well with adjacent properties, particularly where property edges meet, to create a seamless and natural landscape. Where the design intent and the surrounding landscape is formal, consistent or similar plant material and spacing shall be utilized. Exceptions shall be made when seeking to create a transition between uses, districts, and tiers.

G. Enhancing Architecture. Landscape designs shall be compatible with and enhance the architectural character and features of the buildings on site, and help relate the building to the surrounding landscape. Major landscape elements shall be designed to complement architectural elevations and rooflines through color, texture, density, and form on both vertical and horizontal planes. Landscaping shall be in scale with on-site and adjacent buildings. Plant material shall be installed at an appropriate size and allowed to accomplish these intended goals. When foundation planting is required, plantings and window boxes shall incorporate artistic elements and be compatible with a building’s architectural character. (Ord. 1866, 11-19-2019)

The following areas shall be landscaped, and may count toward the total area of site landscaping required by the zoning district regulations.

A. Required Setbacks. All required front and street-facing side setbacks, except for areas used for exit and entry, shall be landscaped.

FIGURE 303.04A: REQUIRED SETBACKS

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B. Interior Property Lines Abutting R Districts. A minimum five (5) foot wide landscape buffer shall be provided along interior property lines, where no building abuts a property line, in districts adjacent to an R district.

C. Building Perimeters. The portions of a building façade that face onto a customer parking lot or front a public street shall have one (1) or more landscape planters installed along a minimum twenty (20) percent of that building face. The minimum width of the planter shall be three (3) feet. This standard does not apply where a building is located on the front or corner side property line and there is no setback between the building and the property line.

FIGURE 303.04C: BUILDING PERIMETERS

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D. Landscaping in Parking Areas. Parking areas shall be landscaped as required by Article 304, On-Site Parking and Loading.

E. Orchards and Gardens. Areas permanently and solely dedicated to edible plants such as orchards and vegetable gardens.

F. Unused Areas. All areas of a project site not intended for a specific use, including areas planned for future phases of a phased development, shall be landscaped or left in a natural state. Access to the unused portion of the site shall be prohibited by a concrete curb, timber barrier or other barrier not less than six (6) inches high. (Ord. 1866, 11-19-2019)

A. Materials:

1. General. Landscaping shall consist of a combination of ground covers, shrubs, vines, and trees. Landscaped areas may include paved or graveled surfaces. Plant materials shall be selected from those species and varieties known to thrive in the Porterville climate and/or listed in Sunset’s Western Garden Book, Region No. 9. Recirculating water shall be used for decorative water features.

2. Ground Cover Materials. Ground cover shall be of living organic plant material. Ground cover may include grasses. The exclusive or majority use of non-plant materials such as gravel, colored rock, cinder, bark, and similar materials may not be used to meet the minimum planting area requirements required by this chapter. Mulch is not a substitute for ground cover plants.

3. Turf Allowance/Drought-Tolerant Materials. The maximum amount of lawn in required landscape areas shall be twenty-five (25) percent except for turf areas that comprise an essential component of a project (e.g., golf courses or playing fields), which are exempt from this limit. The installation of turf on slopes greater than twenty-five (25) percent is prohibited. The use of drought-tolerant or artificial turf plant materials is preferred in these applications to conserve the City’s water resources.

4. Mulch. A minimum three (3) inch layer of mulch shall be applied on all exposed soil surfaces of planting areas except in turf areas, creeping or rooting ground covers or other special planting situations where mulch is not recommended. Stabilizing mulching products shall be used on slopes.

5. Size and Spacing. Plant materials shall be grouped in hydrozones in accordance with their respective water, cultural (soil, climate, sun and light) and maintenance needs. Plants shall be of the following size and spacing at the time of installation:

a. Ground Covers. Areas planted in ground cover plants other than grass seed or sod shall be planted at a rate of one (1) per twelve (12) inches on center.

b. Shrubs. Shrubs shall be a minimum size of one (1) gallon. When planted to serve as a hedge or screen, shrubs shall be planted with two (2) to four (4) feet of spacing, depending on the plant species.

c. Trees. Trees shall be a minimum of fifteen (15) gallons in size with a one (1) inch diameter at breast height (dbh) spaced at thirty-five (35) feet on center. Newly planted trees shall be supported with stakes or guywires.

B. Dimension of Landscaped Areas. No landscaped area smaller than three (3) feet in any horizontal dimension shall count toward required landscaping.

C. Drivers’ Visibility. Trees and shrubs shall be planted and maintained so that at maturity they do not interfere with traffic safety sight areas, or public safety. Notwithstanding other provisions of this section, landscaping must comply with Section 300.16, Visibility at Intersections and Driveways. (Ord. 1866, 11-19-2019)

A. Consistency with Approved Plans. All landscaping and screening shall be installed consistent with approved plans and specifications, in a manner designed to promote and maintain healthy plant growth.

B. Timing of Installation. Required landscaping and screening shall be installed prior to the issuance of a Certificate of Occupancy for the associated project.

C. Exception-Assurance of Landscaping Completion. The Zoning Administrator may permit the required landscaping to be installed within one hundred twenty (120) days after the issuance of a Certificate of Occupancy in special circumstances related to weather conditions or plant availability. A surety in the amount equal to one hundred fifty (150) percent of the estimated cost of landscaping, including materials and labor, as well as an agreement that the required landscaping will be installed within one hundred twenty (120) days, shall be filed with the City to assure completion of landscaping installation within such time. The surety may take the form of cash deposit; and together with the agreement, would provide for payment to the City of any costs incurred in contracting for completion of the required landscaping.

D. Certification of Substantial Completion. Upon completion of the installation of the landscaping and irrigation system, a field observation shall be completed by the licensed project contractor. A certificate of substantial completion shall be submitted to the City by the licensed project contractor. The certificate shall specifically indicate that the plants were installed as specified, that the irrigation system was installed as designed, along with a list of any deficiencies. (Ord. 1866, 11-19-2019)