Loading...
(A) General. Except for projects exempted under § 155.328.020(B) (Exemptions), the requirements in this section apply to projects that:
(1) Construct a new building of 500 square feet or more;
(2) Add 1,000 square feet or more to an existing building; or
(3) Add a multi-family dwelling unit to the site.
(B) Exemptions. This section does not apply to single-family homes in any zoning district.
(C) Non-conformities. Properties non-conforming to the standards in § 155.328.040 (Required Landscape Areas) and § 155.328.050 (General Landscape Requirements) must be brought into conformance when required by § 155.424.030 (Non-conforming Site Features).
(Ord. 885-C.S., passed 5-21-19; Am. Ord. 951-C.S., passed 10-17-23)
(A) Landscape plan required.
(1) An applicant must submit a landscape plan if the proposed project is:
(b) Involves new landscaping or the modification or removal of existing landscaping.
(2) Required landscape plans must be submitted as part of the permit application, if any, and subsequent building permit applications.
(B) Required contents. Landscape plans must include the following features and information:
(1) Site boundaries;
(2) Existing conditions on the property, including contours and existing structures;
(3) New structures and expansions proposed as part of the project;
(4) Existing landscaping, trees and vegetation to be retained, specifying plant location, species and size. Details of existing trees must also include approximate tree diameter measured 48 inches above existing grade and approximate outer limit of tree canopy;
(5) New landscaping proposed as part of the development project, specifying plant location, species, number and size;
(6) Irrigation plan specifying the location, type and size of all components of the irrigation system (if proposed);
(7) Proposed grading if any;
(8) A landscape maintenance plan describing how the landscaping will be maintained in a healthy and thriving condition, including provisions to replace plant material as needed to maintain compliance with the approved landscape plan; and
(9) Additional information as determined by the Department to demonstrate compliance with the requirements of this section.
(C) Review and approval.
(1) For projects that do not require design review, the Department will review all landscape plans to verify compliance with this section as part of the zoning clearance approval.
(2) For projects that require design review, the review authority responsible for approving design review must also approve the landscape plan.
(D) Changes to approved landscape plans.
(1) Only the review authority that approved the landscape plan may allow substantial modifications to an approved landscape plan.
(2) The Director may approve minor changes to a landscape plan previously approved by the City Council, Planning Commission or Design Review Committee. Minor changes are defined as modifications to a landscape plan that do not alter the general design character of the landscaped area or alter a feature of the landscaped area specifically required by the review authority. The Director may also approve changes to a landscape plan required to comply with Building Code or Fire Code requirements.
(Ord. 885-C.S., passed 5-21-19; Am. Ord. 902 C.-S., passed 8-18-20; Am. Ord. 951-C.S., passed 10-17-23)
(A) Parking lots. See § 155.324.080 (Parking Lot Landscaping) for required landscaping in parking lots.
(B) Residential zoning districts.
(1) The following areas, excluding areas required for access to the property, must be landscaped and maintained:
(a) All required front and street side setback areas;
(b) All areas between a building and a front or exterior side lot line; and
(c) Any area between the front or exterior side lot lines and the sidewalk or edge of street curb. See Figure 328-1.
(2) Landscaping is not required in setback or yard areas located behind a four-foot or higher solid fence or wall or in areas not visible from the sidewalk or street.
(3) Landscaping may consist of any combination of living plants, such as trees, shrubs and grass or related natural features, such as rock, stone or mulch. Decorative hardscape featuring pervious materials, such as pervious paver stones, gravel and decomposed granite, is permitted within required landscaping areas.
(C) Mixed-use zoning districts. In mixed-use zoning districts, all areas between a building and a front or exterior side lot line and all areas between the front or exterior side lot lines and the sidewalk or edge of street curb must be landscaped, excluding areas required for access to the property. See Figure 328-2.
(D) Industrial zoning districts. Parking lots in industrial zoning districts must comply with the landscaping requirements in § 155.324.080 (Parking Lot Landscaping). No additional landscaping is required.
(Ord. 885-C.S., passed 5-21-19; Am. Ord. 951-C.S., passed 10-17-23)
(A) Parking lots. See § 155.324.080 (Parking Lot Landscaping) for landscaping requirements that apply to new parking lots with four or more spaces.
(B) Vision clearance area. Landscaping must comply with the vision clearance area requirements in § 155.308.040 (Vision Clearance Area).
(C) Public safety. Plant species must be selected and located so that at maturity they do not interfere with pedestrian, bicycle or vehicular circulation and do not conflict with utilities and overhead lights.
(D) Native plants. At least 75%, by count, of all new in-ground shrubs, groundcover, and trees will involve only the use of species native to Eureka as listed by the California Native Plant Society, with the remainder being noncompeting exotic species.
(E) Invasive plants. Planting species with a "High" rating in the California Invasive Plant Council's Cal-IPC inventory of invasive plants are prohibited.
(F) Trees.
(1) Trees must be a minimum 15-gallon size unless the reviewing authority determines that a smaller size is sufficient for the site.
(2) Trees in landscape planters less than ten feet in width or located closer than five feet from a public sidewalk, street or permanent structure on an adjacent property must be planted with root barriers or root barrier panels to prevent damage to adjacent structures or pavement.
(G) Groundcover and shrubs.
(1) A minimum of 50% of required landscape area must be covered with groundcover, shrubs, turf or other types of plants at maturity.
(2) Groundcover must be provided throughout the landscaped area and must be spaced to achieve full coverage of the groundcover area within one year.
(3) A maximum of 50% of the required landscape area may consist of mulch, bark chip, crushed rock, pebbles, stone or similar non-plant materials.
(4) Landscaped areas must be top dressed with bark, chip, mulch or other similar mat ial to cover exposed bare soil.
(H) Timing of installation.
(1) Landscaping must be installed prior to receiving a temporary or final certificate of occupancy.
(2) The Director may defer the installation of landscaping for a maximum of 180 days after project occupancy/completion in cases of delays caused by inclement weather, unavailability of plant materials, construction scheduling or other similar issues. The Director may require the applicant to provide adequate security to guarantee the landscaping installation in accordance with § 155.420.070 (Performance Guarantees).
(Ord. 885-C.S., passed 5-21-19; Am. Ord. 902 C.-S., passed 8-18-20; Am. Ord. 916-C.S., passed 7-6-21; Am. Ord. 951-C.S., passed 10-17-23)
(A) General. In addition to the requirements of this section, all applicable development in Eureka must also comply with the California Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance (WELO) as required by California Water Conservation in Landscaping Act (Cal. Gov’t Code §§ 65591 et seq.).
(B) When required. The following landscape projects must comply with the WELO requirements:
(1) Total combined landscaped area of 2,500 square feet or more installed by a public agency or commercial developer; and
(2) Total combined landscaped area of 5,000 square feet or more in a single-family or multi-family residential project installed under the direction of the homeowner(s).
(C) Conflicts. If conflicts occur between the Government Code or WELO and this section, the more restrictive will control.
(Ord. 885-C.S., passed 5-21-19)
The following maintenance requirements and enforcement procedures apply to landscaping installed as part of a city-approved landscaping plan.
(A) Maintenance required.
(1) Dead and dying plants. All landscaping must be maintained free of physical damage or injury from lack of water, excess chemical fertilizer or other toxic chemical, blight or disease. Dead or dying plants must be removed and replaced with landscaping of similar size and maturity.
(2) Weed removal. Landscaping must be kept free from weeds.
(B) Irrigation systems. Irrigation systems must be maintained in a fully functional manner as approved by the city and required by this section. Watering schedules should be adjusted periodically to reflect seasonal variations.
(C) Violations. Failure to maintain landscape areas in compliance with this section will be deemed a nuisance subject to the enforcement procedures in § 155.428 (Enforcement and Penalties).
(Ord. 885-C.S., passed 5-21-19)
Loading...