Wasco Municipal Code Ch. 17.34 Landscaping

Sections:

A. The purpose of this chapter is to establish a structure for planning, designing, installing, maintaining, and managing water-efficient landscapes in new construction and rehabilitated projects.

B. This chapter shall supplement Ordinance No. 2015-659 adopting the State Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance by reference, and shall apply to all of the following landscape projects:

1. New construction projects with an aggregate landscape area equal to or greater than five hundred
square feet requiring a building or landscape permit, plan check, or design review; and

2. Rehabilitated landscape projects with an aggregate landscape area equal to or greater than two
thousand five hundred square feet requiring a building or landscape permit, plan check, or design review.
(Ord. 706 §3 (Exh. A), 2019).

A landscape design package prepared by a licensed landscape architect or licensed landscape contractor shall be required for all applicable landscape projects and for any project involving the installation of artificial turf within the front or street side yards. (Ord. 706 §3 (Exh. A), 2019).

All landscape and irrigation plans shall be compliant with these standards and the State Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance as reflected in Exhibit A to Ordinance No. 2015-659 codified in this chapter. In addition the following design standards shall apply to all districts:

A. General Landscape Requirements.

1. All areas within a required setback shall contain living groundcover or a combination of living and
nonliving ground coverings as described below.

a. “Living groundcover” means low-growing plants or shrubs that after being planted will grow
together to form a minimum of fifty percent coverage in one year or less.

b. “Nonliving groundcover” means forest humus or walk-on bark, rock, decomposed granite and other
similar materials.

c. All soil surfaces are to be covered by plant materials or nonliving groundcovers.

2. Trees.

a. Spacing of trees to be variable depending on type and eventual size, but that there be a general
minimum standard of one tree with a minimum trunk diameter of two inches at four feet above finished
grade at time of planting, for each twenty feet of frontage of a required landscaped setback, exclusive of
vehicular sight lines.

b. Trees to be used in parking lots shall be of a type that will form a full head on a single trunk, i.e.,
Chinese Elm, Chinese Pistache, Golden Rain, Valley Oak or other approved species. All trees planted
within public right-of-way shall be consistent with the city street tree master plan.

c. Where trees are planted in paved areas which are unprotected by curbs they shall have a protective
tree grate or equivalent device. Tree grates shall be cast iron with a natural finish. A deep root-directing
device shall also be used.

d. Landscape setback areas (excluding driveway approaches, maneuvering areas, and public
sidewalks) shall be landscaped. Within this area, trees shall not be planted more than twenty feet apart,
and shall not be planted within five feet of any curb, sidewalk or driveway unless a root-directing device
is used. No plant that will grow to a height of more than eighteen inches shall be planted in the street
right-of-way or within sight triangles unless approved as a street tree consistent with the city street tree
master plan.

3. Shrubs.

a. At least seventy-five percent of shrubs planted shall be of five-gallon minimum size.

b. Shrubs within a required setback shall be spaced in such a way so that at maturity the plants will
provide fifty percent ground coverage.

4. Mounding.

a. Mounding shall not be proposed for landscape areas which are ten feet or less in width.

b. Mounds shall be compacted prior to planting to prevent excessive settlement.

c. Black plastic shall not be used under wood chips on mounds, or slopes in general.

d. Mounds may not be used within street corner sight triangles, or in areas that will create hazards to
pedestrians or motorists.

5. Parking Lots.

a. Trees shall be planted in all parking lots at a 1:3 ratio of trees to parking stalls.

b. Such tree planters shall contain approved trees on thirty-foot centers or in such a manner as to
have fifty percent shade coverage of the parking lot in ten years.

c. Shrubs and trees to be arranged in such a way as to avoid damage from the front of parked cars
extending into the planter areas.

6. Turf.

a. Installation of turf shall be in accordance with the requirements of these standards and the State
Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance as reflected in Exhibit A to Ordinance No. 2015-659 codified
in this chapter.

7. Irrigation Plans.

a. All landscaped areas of living plant materials shall be irrigated. Irrigation plans shall be required to
be submitted along with landscape plans. All proposed irrigation systems shall be in accordance with the
requirements of the State Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance as reflected in Exhibit A to
Ordinance No. 2015-659 codified in this chapter.

8. Park Strips.

a. Park strips shall be developed in accordance with these standards and the State Model Water
Efficient Landscape Ordinance, the city of Wasco Subdivision Ordinance and the following standards:

i. Drought-tolerant trees from the city’s master street tree list shall be planted every thirty feet
and shall be drip irrigated.

ii. Drought-tolerant groundcover shall be installed in all new park strips. Groundcover shall mean
low-growing spreading plants not over twelve inches in height when mature. Drought-tolerant
groundcover shall also include permeable pavers, compacted decomposed granite, or other similar
nonliving permeable material. Drought-tolerant groundcover shall not include grass, bark, gravel or
any other material that may be easily relocated outside the park strip area. Solid concrete or asphalt
paving is prohibited.

B. Residential Landscape Requirements.

1. All new residential landscaping shall be installed in accordance with these standards and the State Model
Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance as reflected in Appendix A* to the ordinance codified in this chapter.

2. New front yard landscaping shall include a minimum of two drought-tolerant shade trees from the city’s
master street tree list.

3. A maximum of forty percent of the required front yard setback area may be paved for access to off- street parking or driveway access to off-street parking. An additional maximum of ten percent may be paved for walkways or uncovered patio use (See Figure 3-3).

   4. Paved/hardscape courtyards are permitted in the front yard and may exceed the forty percent maximum paving requirement; provided, that there is a solid barrier preventing vehicular access to the courtyard area. Barrier screening for paved courtyard areas shall be located a minimum of five feet behind the back of the sidewalk and shall be no taller than four feet. Barrier screening materials shall be limited to natural stone, masonry or block walls, wooden fencing that is stuccoed to match the residence, and/or wrought iron fencing. The courtyard area shall have a minimum of twenty percent permeable paving materials to allow for water infiltration. Paved areas shall not drain onto adjacent properties. The area between the fence and sidewalk shall be landscaped with drought-tolerant plants and groundcover (See Figure 3-4 example).

   5. Turf shall not exceed twenty-five percent of the total landscaped area of the lot.

   6. All plant materials shall have a WUCOLS water rating of low or very low.

   7. Living plant material shall provide coverage of not less than fifty percent of the landscaped area in front yards within one year of planting.

      Figure 3-3. Front Setback Area – 40% Maximum Vehicle Access Paving

      Figure 3-4. Front Yard Courtyard Example

C. Commercial, Industrial and Multifamily Landscape Requirements.

1. For parking lots containing six or more spaces landscape islands of a minimum area of eighty square feet
shall be established at a maximum separation of ten continuous parking stalls. The islands shall be
landscaped with groundcovers and with a minimum of one fifteen-gallon tree planted in each island. Actual
numbers of trees will be based on the size of the project as determined by the planning director.

2. All landscaping as required in this chapter shall be reviewed by the planning director as to the type,
density of planting and size of plants intended for use. All landscaped areas shall be permanently maintained
in good condition by the property owner.

3. All landscaped areas in commercial, industrial, and multifamily projects shall be surrounded with six-
inch-high concrete curbing, unless waived by the site plan review committee.

4. All landscaping on public property and parks shall conform to standards adopted by the city of Wasco

and Wasco recreation and park district.

5. Buffer planting shall occur along freeways and major arterials in order to visually screen uses and
provide noise reduction. The landscaping shall be in addition to screening requirements set forth in this
chapter. (Ord. 706 §3 (Exh. A), 2019).

• Appendix A is on file in the office of the city clerk.