(A) Purpose. Landscaping is to be used to provide attractive planted areas which complement buildings on site, reduce heat and glare, control soil erosion, and screen storage and parking areas.
(B) Landscaping requirements.
(1) Landscaping must cover a minimum of 20% of the building site. Such landscaping must be provided inclusive of any landscaping required in off-street parking areas (see § 16.46.140).
(2) All required front yards and street facing side yards must be landscaped.
(3) Landscaping of required off-street parking areas must be provided as set forth in § 16.46.100 (Landscaping Requirements) of Chapter 16.46 (Off-Street Parking and Loading) of this Title 16.
(4) No more than 20% of any required landscaped area may consist of hardscape or other non-plant materials such as fountains, rocks, masonry or brick work, paving, or similar feature.
(C) Irrigation required. All required landscape areas must be provided with permanent automatic irrigation systems suitable for the type of landscaping provided.
(D) Maintenance required. All landscaping must be permanently maintained in a neat and healthy condition and in a manner that prevents adverse public health, safety, and welfare effects. Maintenance of approved landscaped installations must consist of regular watering, pruning, fertilizing, clearing of debris and weeds, removal and replacement of dead plants, and repair and replacement of irrigation systems.
(E) Landscape and irrigation plans required.
(1) Landscape and irrigation plans are required for all development proposals. Such plans must indicate the square footage of each landscaped area, report the total square footage devoted to landscaping, identify each landscaping area and the types of plants to be provided therein, list the container size of each plant, and clearly portray the entire landscaping layout and irrigation system.
(2) No building permit will be issued until landscaping and irrigation plans have been reviewed and approved by the Planning Director.
(F) Water-conserving features. Landscape and irrigation plans must take full advantage of available drought-tolerant landscape materials and low-water-flow irrigation systems, except where such action conflicts with adopted fire prevention plans, or the Fire Chief determines that such would create a fire hazard.
(Ord. 1100, passed 7-6-04)