A landscape and irrigation plan shall be submitted with the permit application for all new buildings.
(A) Information required. Landscape plans shall be drawn to scale and shall at a minimum include the following:
(1) Proposed plant locations, species, sizes, and water use needs (i.e., ample, moderate, or minimal as identified in the latest edition of the Sunset Western Garden Book or low, medium, or high as identified on the California Department of Water Resources study, Water Use Classification of Landscape Species (WUCOLS). All water features shall be identified as high water use.
(2) Location and species type of any existing trees over six inches in diameter, and whether each such tree is proposed to be kept or to be removed.
(3) Location of any existing and/or proposed native or protected tree including methods for protection.
(4) Location of any existing and/or proposed garden areas.
(5) Irrigation plan that at a minimum indicates the location, type and size of all components of the irrigation system and demonstrates compliance with the requirements of this section.
(6) Any additional proposed landscape elements and any other measures to facilitate plant growth or control erosion.
(7) Location and type of any existing and/or proposed paving or hardscape material.
(B) Minor deviations. The landscape requirements in §§ 153.534 through 153.537 may be modified or waived through the approval of a minor deviation. The landscape plan shall clearly detail the modifications being requested from the provisions of these sections and how they reflect the purpose of the landscape requirements as stated in § 153.531. If an applicant can demonstrate that the purpose of the landscape requirements as stated in § 153.531 can be still be achieved, the Community Development Director, without public hearing, may grant minor deviations from ordinance requirements limited to the following:
(1) Minor modifications to approved landscaping, irrigation or grading plans which comply with the spirit and intent of this subchapter, including, but not limited to, revising or substituting plant varieties, container sizes, plant locations, irrigation specifications, hardscape components, berm heights, berm locations, slope features, and the like; and
(2) Modifications of planting, installation and/or soil preparation details.
(C) Appeals. The Community Development Director’s decision may be appealed to the Planning Commission in writing within ten days after the decision of the Director. Appeals shall be heard in the same manner as provided for in §§ 30.10 through 30.16, except that a public hearing shall not be required in granting a minor deviation. The Director shall not approve more than one minor deviation per project.
(D) Preparation by qualified person. Landscaping plans for residential projects consisting of five or more units and plans for all commercial, industrial, and institutional projects shall be prepared by a California registered landscape architect. Landscape plans for single-family residential projects in the R-1 Zone, shall be prepared by a licensed landscape architect, a licensed landscape contractor, or a licensed irrigation specialist.
(Ord. 601-C.S., passed 3-4-14; Am. Ord. 639-C.S., passed 10-3-17; Am. Ord. 638-C.S., passed 10-17-17)