The plant preservation plan methods described in 18.72.090 shall include the following components:
A. Plant inventory: All methods require a plant inventory map and a plant inventory list prepared in conformance with the requirements of Section 18.72.S03 of the preservation plan manual and showing the following plants:
1. All existing native plants in Table 18.72.040-1 that meet the following standards:
a. All saguaros;
b. All trees with a caliper of four (4) inches or greater;
c. All succulents and shrubs two (2) feet or greater in height or diameter;
d. Other cacti equal to two (2) feet in height or diameter or greater except that blue barrel cactus, fish hook cactus, compass barrel cactus, needle-spined pineapple cactus, desert night-blooming cereus, and thornber pincushion equal to four (4) inches or greater in height or diameter shall be inventoried; and
2. All existing plants listed as safeguarded plants.
3. Exceptions: Where the set-aside method is used, the following are not required to be listed in the inventory:
a. Any trees other than specimen ironwood;
b. All cacti, succulents and shrubs listed in 1.c. and 1.d. of this section.
B. Site and plant evaluation: All native plant preservation plan methods require a comprehensive analysis and evaluation of the undisturbed site and its native plants and safeguarded plants which shows the following:
1. The condition of each inventoried native plant, plant community, and safeguarded species listed in the plant inventory based on the viability and transplantability rating criteria and standards specified in Section 18.72.S04 of the preservation manual.
2. The criteria and standards used to determine which plants and plant communities will be set-aside, preserved-in-place, salvaged and transplanted-on-site, or destroyed or removed from the site.
C. Calculations: Preservation and mitigation requirements. Protected native plants and safeguarded plants shall be preserved-in-place, transplanted on-site, or mitigated as required by this paragraph and the following paragraphs D through and including G and as demonstrated by Table 18.72.090-1.
1. Safeguarded plants and "crested" saguaros: One-hundred percent (100%) of safeguarded plants and "crested" saguaros shall be preserved-in-place or salvaged and transplanted on-site, except that all "crested" saguaros eighteen (18) feet in height or greater and "crested" saguaros with arms six (6) feet or greater in height shall remain in place, and
2. For the selective plant preservation and plant appraisal methods, the minimum requirements for the preservation-in-place, salvage and transplanting-on-site, and mitigation of inventoried native plants and safeguarded plants are:
a. All other saguaros and ironwoods: A minimum of eighty percent (80%) of the inventoried saguaros and specimen ironwood trees shall be preserved-in-place or salvaged and transplanted-on-site, except that all saguaros eighteen (18) feet in height or greater and saguaros with arms six (6) feet or greater in height shall be preserved-in-place or remain on-site.
b. Other native plants: a minimum of fifty percent (50%) of all specimens, except safeguarded plants, shall be preserved-in-place or salvaged and transplanted on-site.
c. Mitigation requirements for the remaining specimens rated medium to high viability that are destroyed or removed off-site as shown on the preservation plan shall be mitigated by replacement with plants of the same genus and species in conformance with the replacement and size requirements of the following subparagraphs E and G.
3. For the set aside method: Thirty percent (30%) of the site shall be set-aside and the minimum requirements for preservation in place, salvage and transplanting on-site of safeguarded plants, "crested" saguaros, other saguaros, and ironwood trees outside set-aside areas shall be in conformance with the requirements of subparagraphs 1 and 2.a above.
D. Calculations: Bonus credits. For the selective plant preservation and the plant appraisal methods, a bonus credit shall be allowed as follows for specimens, except safeguarded plants, that are preserved-in-place:
1. Each specimen saguaro greater than ten (10) feet in height and fenced in conformance with 18.72.S05 E.8 in the preservation manual may be credited as three saguaros.
2. Each specimen saguaro six (6) to ten (10) feet in height may be credited as two (2) saguaros.
3. Each specimen ocotillo greater than six (6) feet in height may be credited as two (2) ocotillos.
4. Other specimen cacti, succulents and shrubs greater than four (4) feet in height may be credited as two (2) of the same species.
5. Each specimen tree, measuring greater than twelve (12) inches in caliper and fenced in conformance with 18.72.S05 E.8 in the preservation manual, may be credited as three (3) of the same species.
6. Each specimen tree, measuring six (6) to twelve (12) inches in caliper, may be credited as two (2) of the same species.
E. Calculations: Minimum replacement requirements. Specimens destroyed or removed from the site shall be mitigated by replacement plants of the same genus and species according to the following replacement requirements and the size requirements in the following paragraph G:
1. For the selective plant preservation method, the following minimum replacement requirements apply:
a. Each specimen saguaro destroyed or removed from the site shall be replaced on-site with three saguaros, three to one (3:1).
b. Other specimen cacti, yucca, ocotillo, succulents and shrubs destroyed or removed from the site shall be replaced on-site with two plants (2:1) of the same genus and species.
c. Each specimen tree destroyed or removed from the site shall be replaced with three plants (3:1) with trees of the same genus and species.
2. For the plant appraisal method, each specimen plant destroyed or removed from the site shall be replaced one for one (1:1) with plants of the same genus and species.
3. For the set-aside method, all specimen saguaros and ironwoods outside the set-aside area(s) that are destroyed, or removed from the site shall be replaced in conformance with the plant replacement requirements for the selective plant preservation method in subparagraph 1.a and 1.c above.
F. Calculations: Minimum supplemental requirements. Specimens salvaged and transplanted on-site shall be supplemented with an additional plant or plants of the same genus and species according to the following supplemental requirements and the size requirements in the following paragraph G:
1. For the selective plant preservation method and the appraisal method, the following minimum supplement requirements apply:
a. Each specimen saguaro, six (6) feet or greater in height salvaged and transplanted on-site, shall be supplemented with two (2) additional saguaro planted on-site; each specimen saguaro less than six (6) feet in height salvaged and transplanted on-site shall be supplemented with one (1) additional saguaro planted on-site.
b. Other specimen cactus, yucca and ocotillo and any safeguarded plants of any size, salvaged and transplanted on-site shall be supplemented with the planting on-site of one (1) additional plant of the same genus and species. NOTE: See the Arizona native plant law for any provisions which supersede or supplement these regulations as they apply to safeguarded plants.
c. Each specimen tree, except for safeguarded plants, transplanted on-site shall be supplemented with two (2) additional trees of the same genus and species.
2. For the set-aside method, all specimen saguaros outside set-aside areas, except crested saguaros, and all specimen Ironwoods and all safeguarded plants outside set-aside areas that are transplanted on-site shall be supplemented in conformance with the plant supplement requirements for the selective plant preservation method in paragraph 1 above.
G. Minimum replacement and supplemental sizes.
1. For the selective plant preservation method, the following minimum standards apply for all specimens:
a. Saguaros: Two (2) feet in height from on-site or four (4) feet in height from off-site or from a plant nursery.
b. Tree: Commercial nursery sizing for supplemental trees shall be fifteen- (15) gallon can size. The size of three to one (3:1) replacement trees shall be two (2) fifteen- (15) gallon cans and one (1) twenty-four- (24) inch box.
c. Other native cacti and succulents. Two (2) feet in height or diameter, except that blue barrel cactus, fish hook cactus, compass barrel cactus, needle-spined pineapple cactus, desert night-blooming cereus, and thornber pincushion shall have a minimum replacement size of four (4) inches in height or diameter.
d. Ocotillo: Two (2) feet in height (from on-site) or four (4) feet in height (from nursery).
e. Yucca and other native shrubs. Five- (5) gallon.
2. For the plant appraisal method, supplemental plant sizes shall be the same as in paragraph 1 above. The size of a replacement plant shall be equal to or greater than the caliper and no less that three quarters (¾) of the height and spread of the specimen being replaced, or a destroyed or removed specimen may be replaced with two (2) or more native plants with a minimum fifteen- (15) gallon can size and which have a total appraised replacement value no less than the appraised value of the plant being replaced.
3. For the set-aside method, replacement and supplemental size requirements for specimen saguaros, except crested saguaros, and specimen ironwood, outside set-aside areas shall be in conformance with the plant replacement and supplement requirements for the selective plant preservation method in subparagraph 1.a and 1.b above.
H. Native plant location/preliminary site plan. A native plant location/preliminary site plan, prepared in conformance with the requirements of 18.72.S05 in the plant preservation manual shall promote the preservation and enhancement of the site's native vegetation and undisturbed natural environment. The plan shall minimize disturbance of native vegetation and promote the preservation-in-place of significant specimens, plant communities, animal habitats and set-aside areas. Compliance with the minimum requirements of Sections 18.72.090 and 18.72.100 is required.
1. Site design and plant preservation shall support the following objectives:
a. The preservation-in-place of tall saguaros and large trees, in particular saguaros six (6) feet and greater in height and trees eight (8) inches and greater in caliper.
b. The protection from removal, relocation, or destruction of the understory vegetation of specimen plants and plant community(ies) to be preserved-in-place.
c. The continuity and linkage of on-site resources that extend beyond the site (i.e., natural open spaces, vegetative and animal habitat, hiking, riding, and equestrian trails).
d. To minimize the fragmentation and destruction of plant communities for the purpose of preserving wildlife and riparian habitat.
e. To limit the size of site development areas and building envelopes in order to preserve the site's natural features and amenities.
f. To locate salvaged and transplanted specimens on the site within common areas or landscape bufferyard areas as required by Chapter 18.73 and within the front yards of residential lots for the purpose of improving public and private streetscapes and to limit the net loss of native plant diversity and volume, and wildlife habitat on the site.
g. To encourage the preservation of specimens in excess of the specimens required to meet the minimum requirements of this chapter.
h. To encourage the harvesting of salvageable native plants in excess of the specimens required by this chapter, an approved preservation plan, other applicable regulations, and specimens not otherwise used by the property owner, for projects and programs which benefit the public, such as parks, schools, public streetscapes, community native plant banks, public works projects, and the surrounding neighborhood consistent with the requirements of Section 18.72.130.
2. The native plant location/preliminary site plan shall comply with the following requirements for riparian habitat areas, washes and floodplains:
a. Riparian habitat established as set-aside areas shall not be removed, altered, enhanced, or disturbed;
b. Riparian habitat outside set-aside areas and natural open space that is disturbed shall be mitigated in conformance with riparian regulations;
c. Native plants that occur on plant lists in riparian regulations may be salvaged and transplanted to disturbed riparian habitat in compliance with riparian mitigation requirements;
d. Disturbed washes and disturbed floodplain areas (areas outside set-aside and riparian habitat areas) may be enhanced by the salvage and transplanting, or mitigation of native plants. Those portions of washes and floodplain areas so disturbed and/or enhanced are categorized as functional open space;
e. Those portions of washes and floodplains which are either disturbed or enhanced or both by drainage improvements or those portions of washes and floodplains with a significant increase or decrease in historic hydrological characteristics of velocity or volume as a result of development, disturbance, or enhancement either inside or outside of a wash or floodplain, may be categorized as functional open space. Development, disturbance, enhancement, or a significant increase in the historical hydrological characteristics of a wash or floodplain shall prevent that portion of a wash so affected from being categorized as natural open space or set-aside area.
I. Plant appraisal. For the plant appraisal method only, a plant appraisal will be prepared in conformance with the following requirements:
1. Each specimen plant identified in the native plant preservation plan to be removed from the site or destroyed must be appraised for its market value by a certified plant arborist and replaced with native plants of the same species and variety with a total market value equal to or greater than the market value of the plant removed or destroyed. The appraisal shall be prepared using market values and techniques published by the Council of Tree and Landscape Appraisers. The appraisal shall be current within six (6) months prior to submittal of a preservation plan and will be valid for a period of two years from the date of preservation plan approval. The subsequent submittal of a new or revised preservation plan may require the submittal of an updated plant appraisal as determined by the planning official.
2. A revised appraisal value is required after the two- (2) year time limit has expired, and each two- (2) year period thereafter until such time as the approved preservation plan is implemented. Compliance with the plant appraisal method requires the establishment of monetary assurances such as a bond or letter of credit. The assurances shall have a monetary value equal to the market values of all specimen plants to be removed from the site or destroyed.
J. Resource value report. For the set-aside method only, a resource value report shall be submitted together with the native plant location/preliminary site plan. The boundaries of natural open space area(s) set-aside in the resource value report shall be delineated as natural open spaces area(s) on all site plans, development plans, tentative plats, subdivision plats and grading plans for the subject site and will be described as undisturbed natural open space area(s) in all covenants, conditions, and restrictions (CC & As) for the development. The resource value report shall include all of the following:
1. An analysis prepared for the entire site to determine the general viability of native plants and plant communities on the site. The analysis shall include an assessment and prioritization, on a graduated scale from most significant to least significant, of the undisturbed natural desert areas based on the resource value of the existing native plants. The resource value shall be determined by factors such as health, size, density, and variety of native plant species, the visual resource value of the undisturbed natural desert areas, and the potential to maximize the preservation of contiguous areas of undisturbed natural desert with native plants both on and off site. The highest resource value shall be given to riparian habitat areas.
2. A minimum of thirty percent (30%) of the site or that portion of the site for which the set-aside method is utilized, shall be shown on the attached native plant location/preliminary site plan as an area set-aside as undisturbed natural open space. The set-aside areas shall consist of the site areas with the highest resource value as determined by the report.
3. An inventory and analysis of the viability and transplantability of all plants protected as safeguarded plants, all saguaros, and all inventoried ironwoods which are outside of the boundaries of the set-aside areas. Calculations for preservation requirements and credits shall conform to the requirements of this chapter.
4. Boundaries of all set-aside areas clearly delineated on an aerial photograph of the site.
K. Supplementary information. The planning official may require additional information to reasonably insure that the purpose of this chapter is fulfilled.
(Ord. 1998-39 § 1 (part), 1998)