(A) Landscape design criteria. For the efficient use of water, a landscape shall be carefully designed and planned for the intended function of the project. A landscape design plan meeting the following design criteria shall be submitted as part of the Landscape Documentation Package:
(1) Plant material.
(a) Any plant may be selected for the landscape, providing the estimated total water use (as described in § 153.160.110(D)) in the landscape area does not exceed the maximum applied water allowance (as described in § 153.160.110(C)). To encourage the efficient use of water, the following is highly recommended:
1. Protection and preservation of native species and natural vegetation.
2. Selection of water-conserving plant and turf species.
3. Selection of plants based on disease and pest resistance.
4. Selection of trees based on applicable local tree ordinances or tree shading guidelines.
5. Selection of plants from local and regional landscape program plant lists.
(b) Each hydrozone shall have plant materials with similar water use, with the exception of hydrozones with plants of mixed water use, as specified in § 153.160.100(A)(2)(d).
(c) Plants shall be selected and planted appropriately based upon their adaptability to the climatic, geologic and topographical conditions of the project site. To encourage the efficient use of water, the following is highly recommended:
1. Use the Sunset Western Climate Zone System which takes into account temperature, humidity, elevation, terrain, latitude and varying degrees of continental and marine influence on local climate.
2. Recognize the horticultural attributes of plants (i.e., mature plant size, invasive surface roots) to minimize damage to property or infrastructure (e.g., buildings, sidewalks, power lines).
3. Consider the solar orientation for plant placement to maximize summer shade and winter solar gain.
(d) Turf is not allowed on slopes greater than 25% where the toe of the slope is adjacent to an impermeable hardscape and where 25% means one foot of vertical elevation change for every four feet of horizontal length (rise divided by run x 100 = slope percent).
(e) A landscape design plan for projects in fire-prone areas shall address fire safety and prevention. A defensible space or zone around a building or structure is required pursuant to Cal. Pub. Res. Code §4291(a) and (b). Avoid fire-prone plant materials and highly flammable mulches.
(f) The use of invasive and/or noxious plant species is strongly discouraged.
(g) The architectural guidelines of a common interest development, which include community apartment projects, condominiums, planned developments and stock cooperatives, shall not prohibit or include conditions that have the effect of prohibiting the use of low-water use plants as a group.
(2) Water features.
(a) Recirculating water systems shall be used for water features.
(b) Where available, recycled water shall be used as a source for decorative water features.
(c) Surface area of a water feature shall be included in the high water use hydrozone area of the water budget calculation.
(3) Mulch and amendments.
(a) A minimum two-inch layer of mulch shall be applied on all exposed soil surfaces of planting areas except in turf areas, creeping or rooting groundcovers or direct seeding applications where mulch is contraindicated.
(b) Stabilizing mulching products shall be used on slopes.
(c) The mulching portion of the seed/mulch slurry in hydro-seeded applications shall meet the mulching requirement.
(d) Soil amendments shall be incorporated according to recommendations of the soil report and what is appropriate for the plants selected.
(B) Landscape design plan attributes. The landscape design plan, at a minimum, shall have the following items:
(1) North arrow.
(2) Scale (preferably an engineer's scale of 1"=10' or 1"=20').
(3) Delineated property lines and easements, including utility easements.
(4) Adjacent streets, including location, dimension, and centerline.
(5) Existing and proposed public improvements, including right-of-way and street dedications.
(6) All existing and planned buildings and structures on site.
(7) Delineate and label each hydrozone by number, letter or other method.
(a) Identify each hydrozone as low, moderate, high water or mixed water use. Temporarily irrigated areas of the landscape shall be included in the low water use hydrozone for the water budget calculation.
(b) Identify recreational areas.
(c) Identify areas permanently and solely dedicated to edible plants.
(d) Identify areas irrigated with recycled water.
(e) Identify type of mulch and application depth.
(f) Identify soil amendments, type and quantity.
(8) Identify type and surface area of water features.
(9) Identify hardscapes (pervious and non-pervious).
(10) Identify location and installation details, and 24-hour retention or infiltration capacity of any applicable stormwater best management practices that encourage on-site retention and infiltration of stormwater. Stormwater best management practices are encouraged in the landscape design plan and examples include, but are not limited, to:
(a) Infiltration beds, swales and basins that allow water to collect and soak into the ground.
(b) Constructed wetlands and retention ponds that retain water, handle excess flow and filter pollutants.
(c) Pervious or porous surfaces (e.g., permeable pavers or blocks, pervious or porous concrete, etc.) that minimize runoff.
(11) Identify any applicable rain harvesting or catchment technologies as discussed in §153.160.220 and their 24-hour retention or infiltration capacity.
(12) Identify any applicable graywater discharge piping system components and area(s) of distribution.
(13) Contain the following statement: "I have complied with the criteria of the ordinance and applied them for the efficient use of water in the landscape design plan."
(14) Bear the signature of a licensed landscape architect, licensed landscape contractor or any other person authorized to design a landscape. (See Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code §§ 5500.1, 5615, 5641, 5641.1, 5641.2, 5641.3, 5641.4, 5641.5, 5641.6, 6701 and 7027.5, § 832.27 of Title 16 of the California Code of Regulations and Cal. Food & Agric. Code § 6721.)
(Am. Ord. 1379, passed 11-4-15)