(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 is 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)