§ 36.330

A. The provisions of this Division apply to all new proposed development. An addition to a structure that is 25 percent or more of the floor area of the existing structure shall require that the entire parcel be brought into compliance with the requirements of this Division.

1. In addition, the following landscape projects shall comply with Article III (Water-Efficient Landscape Ordinance) of Chapter 35 (Water) of the South Pasadena Municipal Code:

a. Any amount of landscaping associated with, and required for new construction of private projects including commercial, institutional, multi-family residential, and single-family residential;

b. New and/or re-landscaped areas that are 2,500 square feet or greater and are associated with new construction projects that involve an addition that is 25 percent or greater than the gross floor area of the existing multi-family or commercial structure;

c. New and/or re-landscaped areas that are 2,500 square feet or greater and are associated with new construction projects that involve an addition to a single-family home where the size of the additional floor area is 25 percent or greater than the home’s existing gross floor area on the first floor;

d. Rehabilitated landscaped areas that are 2,500 square feet or greater and are not associated with new construction for multi-family residential, commercial, and other properties (excludes single-family homes).

2. The Water-Efficient Landscape Ordinance does not apply to landscaping for the following properties:

a. A registered State or Federal historical site, or a local designated Cultural Heritage Landmark;

b. Any property listed on the Cultural Heritage Inventory where the Cultural Heritage Commission determines that the landscaping is a contributing element of the cultural resource;

• c. Botanical gardens and arboretums open to the public;

d. Single-family residences unless there is landscaping associated with new construction or an addition to a single-family residence.

3. Landscape concept plan. Should a specific development project require compliance with this Division and the Water-Efficient Landscape Ordinance, no Zoning Approval shall be granted until the Review Authority has approved a Landscape Concept Plan pursuant to Article III (Water Conservation in Landscaping) of Chapter 35 (Water) of the South Pasadena Municipal Code.

4. Landscape permit required. Should a specific development project require compliance with this Division and the Water-Efficient Landscape Ordinance, no Building Permit shall be issued until the Director has approved a Landscape Permit pursuant to Article III (Water Conservation in Landscaping) of Chapter 35 (Water) of the South Pasadena Municipal Code.

No Building Permit shall be issued, and no construction activity shall commence on the site, until the Director has verified that the landscape project submitted with the Building Permit application is as approved by the Review Authority.

B. In the case of an existing use, if the amount of required landscaping cannot be accommodated because of existing buildings or other physical constraints on the site, the applicant shall provide whatever additional landscaping toward meeting these landscape requirements that the Review Authority determines can be reasonably accommodated.

(Ord. No. 2108 § 1; Ord. No. 2247 § 3, 2013.)

A. Landscape Plan. A Landscape Plan shall be submitted as part of an application for a land use entitlement for new development, or the significant expansion or redevelopment of an existing use as for Review Authority review and approval.

1. For the purposes of this Section, “significant expansion” means a 25 percent or greater increase in the ground floor footprint of a single-family dwelling, or a 25 percent or greater increase in the total floor area of another land use.

2. For single-family dwellings, the plan shall cover areas of the site visible from public streets; for other development, the plan shall cover all areas of the site required to be landscaped by Section 36.330.040 (Landscape Location Requirements).

No Building Permit shall be issued and no construction activity shall commence on the site until the Director has verified that the landscape plan submitted with the Building Permit application is as approved by the Review Authority.

B. Content. A Landscape Plan shall contain information as specified in the instructions for preparing landscape plans provided by the Department.

C. Statement of surety. When required by the Director, a statement of surety in the form of cash, performance bond, letter of credit, or certificate of deposit, in an amount equal to 150 percent of the total value of all plant materials, irrigation, installation, and maintenance shall be posted with the City for a two-year period. The Director may require statements of surety for phased projects, a legitimate delay in landscape installation due to seasonal requirements (including adverse weather conditions) and similar circumstances where it may not be advisable or desirable to install all of a project’s landscaping before occupancy of the site.

D. Minor changes to approved plans. Landscape plan approval may include the review authority authorizing minor changes from the requirements of this Division.

(Ord. No. 2108 § 1; Ord. No. 2183 § 13, 2009.)

Landscaping shall be provided in the locations specified below except for single-family uses.

A. Setbacks. All setback and open space areas required by this Zoning Code, and easements for utilities, and drainage courses shall be landscaped, except where a required setback is screened from public view, landscaping would adversely affect existing drainage or erosion control plans, or it is determined by the Director that landscaping is not necessary to fulfill the purposes of this Division.

B. Unused areas. All areas of a project site not intended for a specific use, including pad sites in shopping centers held for future development, shall be landscaped unless it is determined by the Director that landscaping is not necessary to fulfill the purposes of this Division.

C. Parking areas. Parking areas shall be landscaped in compliance with the following requirements.

1. Landscape materials. Landscape materials shall be evenly-distributed throughout the parking lot using a combination of trees, shrubs, and ground cover. At the time of planting, shrubs shall be a minimum container size of five gallons; trees shall be a minimum of 24-inch box.

2. Curbing. Areas containing plant materials shall be bordered by a concrete curb at least six inches high and six inches wide. Alternative barrier design to protect landscaped areas from damage by vehicles may be approved by the Director.

3. Location of landscaping. Parking lot landscaping shall be located so that pedestrians are not required to cross landscaped areas to reach building entrances from parked cars. This should be achieved through proper orientation of the landscaped fingers and islands.

4. Bumper overhang areas. To increase the parking lot landscaped area, a maximum of two feet of the parking stall depth may be landscaped with low-growth, hearty materials in lieu of paving, allowing a two-foot bumper overhang while maintaining the required parking dimensions.

5. Parking lot perimeter landscaping. Parking area perimeters shall be landscaped as follows. Tree spacing requirements of this Subsection may be adjusted during Design Review based upon the growth characteristics and proper maintenance practices for the species of trees proposed.

a. Location and size of landscape areas.

(1) Adjacent to streets. Parking areas for nonresidential uses adjoining a public street shall be designed to provide a landscaped planting strip between the street right-of-way and parking area equal in depth to the setback required by the zoning district or 10 feet, whichever is more. Parking areas for residential uses shall not be located within the required setback areas.

(2) Screening plant materials. The landscaping shall be designed and maintained to screen cars from view from the street and shall be a height of between 30 and 36 inches at maturity. Screening materials may include a combination of plant materials, earth berms, solid masonry walls, raised planters, or other screening devices to meet the intent of this requirement, however screening materials may not use only solid masonry walls without plant cover.

e designed and maintained to screen cars from view from the street and shall be a height of between 30 and 36 inches at maturity. Screening materials may include a combination of plant materials, earth berms, solid masonry walls, raised planters, or other screening devices to meet the intent of this requirement, however screening materials may not use only solid masonry walls without plant cover.

(3) Shade trees. Shade trees shall be provided at a minimum rate of one for every 30 linear feet of landscaped area, and may include areas of clustered trees.

b. Adjacent to side or rear property lines. Parking areas for nonresidential uses shall provide a perimeter landscaped strip at least five feet wide (inside dimension) where the facility adjoins a side or rear property line. The perimeter landscaped strip may include a required yard or buffer area. Trees shall be provided at the rate of one for each 30 linear feet of landscaped area.

c. Adjacent to structures. When parking areas are located adjacent to nonresidential structures, a minimum five-foot wide landscape strip (inside dimension) shall be provided adjacent to the structure and shall include trees planted at the rate of one for each 30 feet of landscape area.

d. Adjacent to residential use. Parking areas for nonresidential uses adjoining residential uses shall provide a landscaped buffer yard with a minimum 10-foot width between the parking area and the common property line bordering the residential use. A solid masonry wall or fence and landscape buffer shall be provided along the property line to address land use compatibility issues such as nuisance noise and light or glare. One tree shall be provided for each 30 linear feet of landscaped area.

6. Interior parking lot landscaping. Landscaping is required within parking lots to provide shade, reduce pavement heat gain and adjacent building heating during the summer, and soften the appearance of large paved areas.

a. Minimum area of landscaping. A minimum of 10 percent of the total off-street parking area shall be landscaped with trees, shrubs, and groundcover; except that this requirement may be reduced during Design Review where it is determined that the specific proposed landscape design will better achieve the intent of this Subsection. The perimeter landscaping required by Subsection C.5 shall not be considered part of the required parking lot landscaping.

b. Shading requirement. Canopy trees shall be provided throughout the parking area at the equivalent of one tree for every four spaces, to provide shade. The required trees may be clustered if approved during Design Review.

c. Planter dimensions. Planters with trees shall have a minimum interior dimension of five feet by five feet. All ends of parking lanes shall be separated from drive aisles by landscaped islands. Diamond shaped landscaped areas shall not be permitted. See Figure 3-24 for appropriate planter designs.

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Figure 3-24. Parking Lot Planter Areas

d. Larger projects. Parking lots with more than 150 spaces shall provide a concentration of landscape elements at primary entrances, including specimen trees, flowering plants, enhanced paving, and project identification.

(Ord. No. 2108 § 1; Ord. No. 2183 § 14, 2009.)

A. Maintenance required. All landscaped areas shall be maintained in a healthful and sound condition at all times, in compliance with the approved Landscape Plan. Irrigation systems and their components shall be maintained in a fully functional manner consistent with the originally approved design and the provisions of this Division. The maintenance required by this Section shall include checking, adjusting, and repairing irrigation equipment; resetting automatic controllers; aerating and dethatching turf areas; adding/replenishing mulch, fertilizer, and soil amendments; the replacement of dead or diseased plants; pruning; and weeding all landscaped areas.

B. Water waste prohibited. Water waste in existing developments resulting from inefficient landscape irrigation leading to excessive runoff, low head drainage, overspray, and other similar conditions where water flows onto adjacent property, nonirrigated areas, walks, roadways, or structures is prohibited.

(Ord. No. 2108 § 1.)

The project applicant shall provide information to prospective buyers of new single-family homes regarding water-efficient landscaping techniques. A sample of the information to be provided shall be submitted to the Director for approval prior to issuance of a Building Permit.

(Ord. No. 2108 § 1.)

Division 36.340. Hillside Protection

Sections:

36.340.010 Purpose of Division.

36.340.020 Applicability.

36.340.030 Permit and Application Requirements.

36.340.040 Hillside Development Design Guidelines.

36.340.050 Hillside Project Development Standards.