Chapter 17.28

The purpose of this chapter is to protect public health, safety, and welfare by:

• A. Preserving and enhancing the positive visual character of the Town, and providing cooling shade, oxygen, and filtering of the Town's air; [Source: 17.28.010.A]

• B. Enhancing well-designed structures and increasing compatibility between abutting land uses and public rights-of-way by providing landscape screening and buffers; [Source: 17.28.010.B]

• C. Providing for the conservation and safeguard of water resources through the efficient use of water, appropriate use of plant materials, and regular maintenance of landscaped areas; and [Source: 17.28.010.C, modified]

• D. Provide for public safety through the design, height, and placement of landscaping which facilitates unobstructed sightlines into public spaces. [CPTED]

• A. Landscaping Required. The provisions of this chapter apply to all development proposed after the adoption date of this Zoning Code. Additions to structures that are twenty-five (25) percent or more of the floor area of the existing structure shall require that the entire parcel be brought into compliance with the

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requirements of this chapter. In the case of an existing use, if the amount of required landscaping cannot be accommodated because of physical constraints on the site (i.e., structures, parking, circulation), the Director shall determine the landscaping requirements necessary to bring the proposed development into substantial conformance with the regulations established in this chapter. [Source: 17.28.020.A, modified]

• B. Other Requirements. Standards for the provision of landscaping within the public right-ofway are located in Title XVI, Chapter 8, Section 16-8-810 of the Town of Windsor Subdivision Ordinance. [Source: 17.28.020.B]

• C. Water-Conserving Landscape Requirements. Water conserving landscape requirements are provided in Title 7, Article 9 (Water Efficient Landscape) of the Municipal Code. [Source: 17.28.020.C]

• D. Low Impact Development Standards. In addition to the landscape design and maintenance standards established in this chapter, landscaping shall also comply with all applicable low impact development design guidelines.

• A. Preliminary Landscape Plan. A Preliminary Landscape Plan shall be submitted as part of an application for a land use entitlement, for new development, and the significant expansion or redevelopment of an existing use as determined by the Director. [Source: 17.28.030.A]

• B. Final Landscape Plan. Following approval of the land use entitlement, a Final Landscape Plan shall be submitted as part of the application for a Building Permit. Final plans shall be consistent with the Town's WELO and LID requirements and approved by the Director and Town Engineer prior to the start of on-

site construction or soil disturbance and prior to the issuance of a Building Permit. [Source: 17.28.030.B, modified]

• C. Content. Preliminary Landscape Plans and Final Landscape Plans shall contain information as specified in the instructions for preparing landscape plans provided by the applicable review authority. [Source: 17.28.030.C, modified]

• D. Review and Approval. After initial application, the Director shall review each Preliminary Landscape Plan and Final Landscape Plan to verify its compliance with the provisions of this chapter. The review authority may approve the submittal in compliance with this chapter or may disapprove or require changes to a submittal that is not in compliance. [Source: 17.28.030.D, modified]

• E. 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 one hundred fifty (150) percent of the total value of all plant materials, irrigation, installation, and maintenance shall be posted with the Town for a two-year period. The Director may require statements of surety for phased development 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 landscaping before occupancy of the site. [Source: 17.28.030.E]

• F. Minor Changes to Approved Plans. Landscape plan approval may include the Director authorizing minor changes from the requirements of this chapter. [Source: 17.28.030.F]

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TOWN OF WINDSOR CODE

Landscaping shall be provided in the locations specified below except for single-unit dwelling uses. [Source: 17.28.040. modified]

• 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, or it is determined by the Director that landscaping is not necessary to fulfill the purposes of this chapter. [Source: 17.28.040.A, modified]

• B. Unused Areas. All areas of a project site not intended for a specific use, including pad sites in shopping centers, and multibuilding projects 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 chapter. [Source: 17.28.040.B, modified]

• C. Parking Areas. Parking areas shall be landscaped in compliance with the following requirements: [Source: 17.28.040.C]

  1. Parking Area Landscape Materials. Landscaping materials shall be provided throughout the parking area using a combination of trees, shrubs, and ground cover. To reduce the spread of wildfire due to ember casting, mulch and similar ground cover products are prohibited within five (5) feet of structures. [Source: 17.28.040.C.1, modified]

  2. Curbing. Areas containing plant materials shall be bordered by a concrete curb at least six (6) inches high and six (6) inches wide. Alternative barrier design to protect landscaped areas from damage by vehicles may be approved by the Director. [Source: 17.28.040.C.2]

3. Location of Landscaping. Parking area landscaping shall be located so that pedestrians are not required to cross landscaped areas to reach structure entrances from parked cars. This shall be achieved through proper orientation of the landscaped fingers and islands and may require "cut-throughs" to be provided to prevent the need to walk through landscape areas. [Source: 17.28.040.C.3, modified]

4. Bumper Overhang Areas. To increase the parking lot landscaped area, a maximum of two (2) 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. [Source: 17.28.040.C.4]

5. Perimeter Parking Lot Landscaping. The perimeter of parking lots shall be landscaped as follows:

   • a. Adjacent to Streets. Parking areas for nonresidential uses adjoining a public street shall be designed to provide a landscaped planting strip between the back of sidewalk and parking area equal in depth to the setback required by the zone or a minimum of five (5) feet, whichever is greater. Parking areas for residential uses shall maintain the required setback areas for the zones in which they are located. [Source: 17.28.040.C.5, modified]

   • b. Parking Area Screening. The landscaping shall be designed and maintained to screen cars from view from the street to a height of between thirty (30) inches and forty-two (42) inches. Screening materials may include a combination

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of plant materials, solid masonry walls, or raised planters. Other screening devices which meet the intent of this requirement may be used subject to Director approval. [Source: 17.28.040.C.5.a, modified]

• c. Shade Trees. Except as allowed by Subparagraph d, below, shade trees shall be provided at a minimum rate of one (1) for every thirty (30) linear feet of landscaped area. Plant materials, signs, or structures within a traffic safety sight area of a driveway shall comply with Section 17.20.050 (Height Limit at Street Corners). [Source: 17.28.040.C.5.a]

• d. Reduction in Required Shade Trees. Upon approval by the Director, the required number of shade trees required for parking areas, as specified in Subparagraph c, above, maybe reduced when all of the following findings can be made:

  • i. The applicant proposes the installation of covered shade structures that provide shade (e.g., carports, canopies, etc.);

  • ii. The proposed covered shade structures incorporate photovoltaic solar panels; and

  • iii. The applicant can demonstrate to the Director that the installation of shade structures reduced the urban heat island effect and adds to the sustainability of the project in compliance with General Plan Policies M-6.3, ER-5.16.

• e. Adjacent to Side or Rear Property Lines. Parking areas for nonresidential uses shall provide a perimeter landscaped strip at least five (5) 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 (1) for each thirty (30) linear feet of landscaped area, unless precluded to a Town requirement to install SWLID features in this area. [Source: 17.28.040.C.5.b, modified]

• f. Adjacent to Structures. When parking areas are located adjacent to nonresidential structures, a minimum five-foot wide landscape strip shall be provided adjacent to the structure. This landscape strip shall be installed in compliance with Subsection 17.28.040.D (Firesafe Landscaping Standards), below. [Source: 17.28.040.C.5.c]

• g. Adjacent to Residential Use. Parking areas for nonresidential uses adjoining residential uses shall provide a landscaped buffer yard with a minimum ten-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/glare. Trees shall be provided at the rate of one (1) for each thirty (30) linear feet of landscaped area, unless precluded due to a Town requirement to install SWLID features in this area. [Source: 17.28.040.C.5.d, modified]

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TOWN OF WINDSOR CODE

• h. Adjacent to Creeks and Railroad Tracks. Whether on publicly owned land or privately held real property, all landscaping shall be designed and maintained to not exceed three (3) feet in height at maturity to maintain sightlines. [CPTED]

6. Interior Parking Lot Landscaping. The interior of parking lots shall be landscaped as follows:

• a. Amount of Landscaping. Landscaping within interior parking lots shall be provided in compliance with the following:

  - i. Multi-unit dwellings, commercial, and office uses shall provide landscaping within the parking area at a minimum ratio of ten (10) percent of the gross area of the parking lot. One (1) shade tree shall be provided for every five (5) parking spaces. [Source: 17.28.040.C.6.a.(1)] 
  
  - ii. Industrial and manufacturing uses shall provide landscaping within the parking area at a minimum ratio of six (6) percent of the gross area of the parking lot. One (1) tree shall be provided for every five (5) parking spaces. [Source: 17.28.040.C.6.a.(2)] 
  

  • b. Location of Landscaping. Landscaping shall be evenly dispersed throughout the parking area. Use of an orchard-style planting scheme (placement of trees in uniformly spaced rows) is encouraged for larger parking areas. Parking lots with more than one hundred

    • (100) spaces shall provide a concentration of landscape elements at primary entrances, including specimen trees, flowering plants, enhanced paving, and project identification. [Source: 17.28.040.C.6.b]

• D. Firesafe Landscaping Standards. Landscaping shall comply with all the following firesafe landscaping standards:

  1. Ground Cover. To reduce the spread of wildfire due to ember casting, mulch and similar ground cover products are prohibited within five (5) feet of all structures. Alternative ground cover materials include, but are not limited to, lava rock, river rock, gravel, decomposed granite, or any other groundcover determined by the Director to follow the standards of this chapter. [Source: 17.28.040.C.1, modified]

  2. Vegetation Adjacent to Structures. In addition to the groundcover standards established in Paragraph 1, above, trees and shrubs located within five (5) feet of any structure shall be planted and maintained at a minimum distance of five (5) feet apart. [Source: NEW]

  3. Allowed Plant Materials. New landscaping shall incorporate only the firewise plant materials approved by the Sonoma County Fire District and the California Fire Safe Council. The planting of juniper and manzanita are prohibited. [Source: NEW]

• E. Low Impact Design (LID) Landscaping. All development projects shall include all requirements related to the latest version of the Storm Water Low Impact Development Technical Design Manual for stormwater capture. These features require specific plantings, erosion control, overflow infrastructure and maintenance.

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These features must be maintained through a recorded document that runs with the title of the property in perpetuity and cannot be removed. (Source: California Regional Water Quality Control Board, North Coast Region - National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Permit for Discharges from the Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems).

• A. Maintenance Required. All landscaped areas shall be maintained in a healthful and sound condition at all times. Irrigation systems and their components shall be maintained in a fully functional manner consistent with the originally approved design and the provisions of this chapter. Regular maintenance shall include checking, adjusting, and repairing irrigation equipment; resetting automatic controllers; aerating and dethatching turf areas; adding/replenishing mulch, fertilizer, and soil amendments; pruning; and weeding all landscaped areas. [Source: 17.28.050.A]

• 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, non-irrigated areas, walks, roadways, or structures is prohibited. [Source: 17.28.050.B]

• C. Removal or Modification of Required Improvements. The removal and/or modification of required drainage features (e.g., Low Impact Development guidelines, WELO standards, etc.) shall require the approval of the applicable review authority. [Source: NEW]

Developers shall provide information to prospective single-unit homebuyers regarding low impact development (LID) and drainage features

and water-efficient landscaping (WELO) features and techniques constructed on the parcel. A sample of the information to be provided shall be submitted to the Director and Public Works Director for approval prior to issuance of a Building Permit. [Source: 17.28.060, modified]