A. Any of the following three methods, or any combination of the following three methods may be used to prepare a preservation plan, except as required in paragraph C. below:
1. Selective Plant Preservation Method.
a. Description. The selective plant preservation method is based on the preservation-in place and salvage and transplanting-on-site of specimens and the mitigation of specimens destroyed or removed from site.
b. Components. The preservation plan for the selective plant preservation method shall be prepared as an integrated, single document and shall include the following components. The requirements of each component are described in the following Section 18.72.100:
i. An inventory of the native plants and safeguarded species on the site;
ii. A site and plant evaluation of the viability and transplantability of the inventoried native plants;
iii. A calculation of preservation and mitigation requirements;
iv. A native plant location/preliminary site plan which shows the location of preserved-in-place specimens, salvaged and transplanted specimens, replacement and supplemental plants, and specimen plants to be destroyed or removed from site on a preliminary site plan for the subject site.
2. Plant Appraisal Method.
a. Description. The plant appraisal method is based on the (1) preservation-in- place, (2) salvage and transplanting-on-site of specimens, and (3) the mitigation of specimens destroyed or removed from the site with specimens of the same size or appraised value.
b. Components. The native plant preservation plan for the plant appraisal method shall be prepared as an integrated, single document and shall include the following components. The requirements of each component are described in the following Section 18.72.100:
i. An inventory of the native plants and safeguarded plants on the site;
ii. A site and plant evaluation of the viability and transplantability of the inventoried native plants;
iii. A calculation of preservation and mitigation requirements;
iv. An appraisal of specimens proposed to be destroyed or removed from on-site;
v. A native plant location/preliminary site plan which shows the location of preserved-in-place specimens, salvaged and transplanted specimens, replacement and supplemental plants, and specimen plants to be destroyed or removed from site on a preliminary site plan for the subject site.
3. Set-aside Method.
a. Description. The set-aside method is based on an evaluation of the resource value of the specimens on-site, the designation of a minimum of thirty percent of the site with the highest resource value as a set-aside area as permanently protected natural open space, wherein development shall not occur, and the preservation in place or salvaging and transplanting on-site of safeguarded plants and specimen saguaros and ironwoods.
b. Components. The native plant preservation plan for the set-aside method shall be prepared as an integrated, single document and shall include the following components. The requirements of each component are described in the following Section 18.72.100:
i. An inventory of all plants protected as safeguarded plants, all saguaros and all ironwood with a caliper of four inches or greater;
ii. A site and plant evaluation of the viability and transplantability of the inventoried safeguarded species, saguaro and ironwood;
iii. A calculation of preservation and mitigation requirements;
iv. A resource value report;
v. A native plant location/preliminary site plan which shows the location of the thirty percent set-aside areas, and the preserved-in-place or transplanted location of safeguarded plants and specimen saguaros and ironwoods outside of the boundaries of the set-aside areas.
B. Off-site mitigation option.
1. An applicant can request to provide off-site mitigation to satisfy a portion of the mitigation required by this chapter provided the applicant submits:
a. A concept plan for the off-site mitigation;
b. A narrative that demonstrates that the off-site mitigation provides more consistency with the purposes and findings of this ordinance than the allowable on-site alternatives, and that full compliance with on-site mitigation creates unsustainable and non-viable plant communities;
c. Description of the mechanism(s) that will provide perpetual management of the off-site mitigation; and
d. Authorizations, as necessary.
2. In the case where off-site mitigation is to be accomplished by participation in a conservation bank, submittal requirements shall also include:
a. The location(s) of the conservation bank;
b. The number of bank credits that will be provided for mitigation of each species; and
c. Demonstration that the number of bank credits is proportional to the number of individuals requiring mitigation.
3. The planning director or designee is authorized to allow off-site mitigation when it has been found that the request is in keeping with the purpose and findings of this chapter. Off-site mitigation may be used only in combination with one or more of the three mitigation methods listed above.
C. Regulated Habitat. All regulated riparian habitat areas as identified on the county's riparian habitat maps shall be established as set-aside areas in compliance with the set-aside requirements in this chapter with the following exception. When it can be demonstrated that there is no "reasonable practical alternative" to disturbing the riparian habitat, that part of the riparian habitat so disturbed shall be excluded from the set-aside requirement. Riparian habitat so disturbed shall be mitigated in conformance with riparian regulations.
(ft = feet, C = caliper, D = diameter, H = height, PIP = preserved-in-place, TOS = transplanted-on-site)
Protected Native Plants | Safeguarded Species | Saguaros | Other Cacti | Ocotillos | Other Succulents & Shrubs | Ironwood Trees | Other Trees | |
Protected Native Plants | Safeguarded Species | Saguaros | Other Cacti | Ocotillos | Other Succulents & Shrubs | Ironwood Trees | Other Trees | |
Inventory of Viables | All | All | 2+ ft H or D | 2+ ft H or D | 2+ ft H | 4+ in. C | 4+ in. C | |
Minimum PIP or TOS | 1 100% | 2 80% | 50% | 50% | 50% | 80% | 50% | |
Preservation-in-place (PIP) credits | n/a | 3 Saguaro credits/ each > 10 ft H saguaro PIP 2 saguaro credits/ each 6-10 ft H saguaro PIP | 2 cacti credits/ each > 4 ft H same species | 2 ocotillo credits/ each > 6 ft H ocotillo PIP | 2 succulent credits/ each > 4 ft H succulent PIP same species | 3 ironwood credits/ each 12-in. C ironwood PIP 2 ironwood credits/ each 6-12-in. C ironwood PIP | 3 tree credits/ each > 12-in. C tree PIP 2 tree credits/ each 6-12-in. C tree PIP | |
Plant Replacement Ratios & Plant Additions | ||||||||
Selective Plant Preservation | Each plant damaged, destroyed, or removed from site | n/a (plants are PIP or TOS 1 ) | 1, 2, 4 replaces 3:1 | replace 2:1 | replace 2:1 | replace 2:1 | replace 3:1 | replace 3:1 |
Each plant transplanted on site | 3 1 additional plant | 2 additional plants/ each = 6 ft H 1 additional plant/ each < 6 ft H | 1 additional plant | 1 additional plant | 1 additional plant | 2 additional plants | 2 additional plants | |
Plant Appraisal Method | Each plant destroyed or removed | n/a | 4 replace 1:1 (same size) | replace 1:1 (same size | replace 1:1 (same size) | replace 1:1 (same size) | replace 1:1 (same size) | replace 1:1 (same size) |
Each plant transplanted on site | 3 1 additional plant | 2 additional plants/ each = 6 ft H // 1 additional plant/ each < 6 ft H | 1 additional plant | 1 additional plant | 1 additional plant | 2 additional plants | 2 additional plants | |
Outside Set Aside Area | ||||||||
Set Aside Method | Each plant damaged, destroyed, or removed from site | n/a | 4 replacement 3:1 | n/a | n/a | n/a | replace 3:1 | n/a |
Each plant transplanted on site | 1 additional plant | 1 2 additional plants/ each = 6 ft H 1 additional plant/ each < 6 ft H | n/a | n/a | n/a | 2 additional plants | n/a | |
Replacement Sizes | ||||||||
Selective Plant Preservation Method & Set Aside Method | n/a | 5 2 ft H (from site) 4 ft H (from off-site or from nursery) | 5 2 ft H or D | 2 ft H (from site) 4 ft H (from nursery) | 5 gallon | 15-gallon can size 6 for supplemental trees (2) 15-gallon cans plus (1) 24-in. box for 3:1 replacement trees | 15-gallon can size 6 for supplemental trees (2) 15-gallon cans plus (1) 24-in. box for 3:1 replacement trees | |
Plant Appraisal Method | Same size or 2+ plants with total appraised value equal to plant being replaced | |||||||
1 All crested saguaros 18 feet in height or greater or with arms six feet or greater in height will remain in place.
2 All saguaros 18 feet in height or greater or with arms six feet or greater in height will remain in place.
3 See Arizona native plant law.
4 Except that all crested saguaros shall be preserved in place or salvaged and transplanted on site.
5 Except blue barrel cactus, pineapple cactus, needle-spined pineapple cactus, desert night-blooming cereus, and thornber pincushion which have a minimum replacement size of four inches in height or diameter.
6 Commercial nursery sizing.
(Ord. 2009-59 § 7, 2009; Ord. 1998-39 § 1 (part), 1998)