1298.09 LANDSCAPING.

   (a)   Generally. Landscape planting screens or landscape plantings required or permitted by this Zoning Code as an alternative to a screen wall or earth berm, and such trees as are required by Chapter 1028 of the Streets, Utilities and Public Services Code to be planted in the lawn extension or public way, shall be planted in accordance with an approved planting plan and planted to completion prior to the issuance of a certificate of occupancy by the City if the use is ready for occupancy between April 15 and October 21. If a use is ready for occupancy between November 1 and April 14, a temporary certificate of occupancy may be issued, but all required plantings shall be placed to completion within sixty days after April 14.

   Failure to have such required plantings placed to completion within sixty days after April 14 shall be grounds for termination or revocation of the temporary certificate of occupancy. No additional certificate of occupancy, either temporary or final, shall be issued thereafter until all required landscape plantings are placed to completion.

   All plantings shall be properly planted so as to be in a healthy, growing condition at the commencement of the establishment period. During the specified period of establishment, the contractor shall be responsible for maintaining the plants in a healthy, growing condition, which responsibility shall include watering, cultivation and weed control.

(Ord. 483. Passed 8-29-90.)

   (b)   Required Planting Screens.

      (1)   Wherever in this Zoning Code a landscape planting screen or landscape plantings are required, such landscape planting shall be subject to the following conditions:

         A.   All plant materials shall meet current American Association of Nurserymen standards.

         B.   All plantings shall consist of permanent, living plant materials and, when planted to completion, shall thereafter be maintained in an attractive and presentable condition, free of weeds, refuse and debris, and shall be continuously maintained in a sound, healthy and vigorous growing condition, free of plant diseases and insect pests.

      (2)   Whenever a landscape planting screen is required under this Zoning Code, a detailed planting plan of such screen shall be submitted to and approved by the Planning Commission prior to the issuance of a building permit. The planting plan shall indicate, to scale, the location, spacing, starting size and description for each unit of plant material proposed for use within the required screening area. Detailed plans shall be submitted in accordance with the following:

         A.   The minimum scale shall be one inch equals forty feet when submitted with no other drawings. When submitted with a site plan drawn to another scale, the planting plan may be made a part of the site plan or, if submitted separately with a site plan, it shall be drawn at the same scale as the site plan.

         B.   The planting plan shall indicate the location, size, spacing and root type (bare root or balled and burlap) of all plant materials.

         C.   The planting plan shall depict typical straight cross-sections, including slope, height and width of berms, and the type of ground cover, any masonry walls and the height and type of construction of all, including footings, where applicable.

         D.   The planting plan shall depict significant construction details, where applicable, to resolve specific site conditions (e.g. tree wells to preserve existing trees, culverts to maintain natural drainage patterns, etc.).

         E.   The planting plan shall indicate existing tree cover that is to be used in conjunction with or in place of the screen planting requirements of this Zoning Code, including types of trees and overall tree height.

      (3)   Cost estimates covering all new plantings contained on the planting plan, together with a surety acceptable to the City, other than a bond, in an amount sufficient to ensure completion within the time specified and in accordance with the planting plan, shall be submitted with the detailed planting plan.

      (4)   The planting plan shall be reviewed relative to:

         A.   The proper type, spacing, height, placement and location of plant materials relative to the length and width of the screen so as to ensure that the required horizontal and vertical obscuring effect of proposed land uses will be achieved;

         B.   The choice and selection of plant materials so as to ensure that root systems will not interfere with public utilities and so that fruit and other debris, except leaves, will not constitute a nuisance within public rights of way or to abutting property owners;

         C.   The choice and selection of plant materials so as to ensure that the type of plantings selected will be of a type that will survive and thrive in the area in which they are to be located;

         D.   The proper relationship between any existing and proposed deciduous and evergreen plant materials so as to ensure that the desired obscuring effect will be accomplished; and

         E.   The size of plant material (both starting and ultimate) to ensure adequate maturity and optimum screening effects of the proposed plant materials.

      (5)   Landscape planting screens, as required in this Zoning Code, when permitted as an alternative to a masonry screening wall or earth berm or in conjunction with either, shall be laid out in conformity with the following:

         A.   Plant materials shall not be located within four feet of the property line.

         B.   Where plant materials are placed in two or more rows, plantings shall be staggered in rows.

         C.   Evergreen trees shall be not less than five feet in height when planted in informal groupings. They shall be spaced not less than fifteen feet apart on centers. When spaced farther apart, additional screen plantings shall be used to achieve the desired screening effect intended by this section. When planted in rows, they shall be planted not more than ten feet on centers.

         D.   Narrow evergreen trees shall be not less than five feet in height. When planted in informal groupings, they shall be spaced not more than ten feet on centers. When planted in rows, they shall be planted not more than five feet on centers.

         E.   Large shrubs shall be not less than thirty inches in height. When planted in informal groupings, they shall be spaced not more than six feet on centers. When planted in single rows, they shall not be more than four feet on centers.

         F.   Small shrubs shall be not less than thirty inches in spread. They shall be planted not more than four feet on centers.

         G.   Large deciduous trees shall be not less than two and one-half inches in trunk caliper. For the purpose of this section, the caliper of the trunk shall be taken six inches above the ground level for trees up to and including four-inch caliper size and twelve inches above the ground level for larger trees. When placed in informal groupings, they shall be planted not more than thirty feet on centers.

         H.   Small deciduous trees shall be not less than two inches in trunk caliper. When planted in informal groupings, they shall be spaced not more than fifteen feet on centers.

   (c)   Landscape Plantings. Landscape plantings used for cosmetic purposes and not as required screen plantings may be planted as desired throughout the site, but shall at least be planted within those minimum required landscape planting areas set forth in this Zoning Code.

   Whenever any cosmetic planting areas are required, or whenever planting screens approach a street or driveway intersection, the clear corner requirements of Section 1298.12 shall be observed. However, in all cases, care shall be taken relative to plant material, height and location so as not to create a traffic hazard.

   Plantings used for cosmetic purposes shall consist of the suggested plant materials outlined in this section, except that Red Maple trees may be used within interior lawn or planting areas when they are located safely away from any building, driveway, street frontage or off-street parking area.

   Development which occurs in a nonresidential district shall provide, in addition to any existing or proposed street right of way, at least ten percent of the net site area (exclusive of buildings, off-street parking areas, etc.) as landscaped open space. Pedestrian walkways, plazas, planters and other decorative elements may be included in such landscaped areas.

   (d)   Exterior Equipment Screens. All exterior climate control and other mechanical equipment and utility outlets (i.e. electrical, gas regulators, etc.) shall be effectively screened from view. Rooftop equipment shall be screened by materials which shall extend at least as high as the highest part of the object being screened. Trash receptacles shall be screened by placing them in opaque architectural masonry enclosures.

   (e)   Distance Between Plant Materials (ft.).

 

Plant Material Types	Evergreen Trees	Narrow Evergreen Trees	Large Deciduous Trees	Small Deciduous Trees	Large Shrubs	Small Shrubs
Evergreen trees Narrow evergreen trees Large deciduous trees Small deciduous trees Large shrubs Small shrubs	Min. 10 Max. 20 Min. 12 Min. 20 Min. 12 Min. 6 Min. 5	Min. 12 Min. 5 Min. 15 Min. 10 Min. 5 Min. 4	Min. 20 Min. 15 Min. 20 Max. 30 Min. 15 Min. 5 Min. 3	Min. 12 Min. 10 Min. 15 Min. 8 Max. 15 Min. 6 Min. 3	Min. 6 Min. 5 Min. 5 Min. 6 Min. 4 Max. 6 Min. 5	Min. 5 Min. 4 Min. 3 Min. 3 Min. 5 Min. 3 Max. 4

 

   (f)   Plant Materials. The following list contains recommended planting materials. Soft Maple trees (Red-Silver Maples) are not recommended plantings except where specifically permitted under the particular conditions set forth in this section.

Suggested Plant Materials

   (1)   Evergreen trees.   Fir   Pine   Douglas Fir
            Spruce   Hemlock

   (2)   Narrow evergreen trees.   Red Cedar   Junipers
            Arborvitae

   (3)   Large deciduous trees.   Oaks   Ash
            Hard Maples   Ginkgo (male only)
            Beech   Honeylocust (seed-
            Lindens   less and thorn-
               less varieties)
               Birch

   (4)   Small deciduous trees.   Flowering Dogwood   Mountain Ash
            Hawthorn   Hornbeam
            Redbud   Russian Olive
            Magnolia   Flowering
               Crabapple (disease resistant varieties)

   (5)   Large shrubs.
      Deciduous:   Honeysuckle      Flowering
            Lilac      Quince
            Border Privet      Barberry
            Sumac      Forsythia
            Buckthorn      Cotoneaster
            Pyracantha      (Pekin,
                  Spreading)
                  Sargent
                  Crabapple
                  Dogwood (Red    Osier, Grey)

      Evergreen:   Irish Yew      Pfitzer Juniper
            Hicks Yew      Savin Juniper
            Mugo Pine

      (6)   Small shrubs.

         Deciduous:   Compact Burning Bush      Japanese
            Regal Privet      Quince
            Fragrant Sumac      Cotoneaster
                  (Cranberry,
                  Rockspray)
                  Potentilla

         Evergreen:   Spreading Yews      Dwarf Mugo
            (Dense, Brown's, Ward, etc.)   Pine
            Low Spreading Junipers   Big Leaf
            (Andora, Hughes, Tamarack,
            etc.)      Wintercreeper

      (7)   Trees not suggested.

            Box Elder      Poplars
            Catalpa      Soft Maples
            Elms      (Red, Silver)
            Horse Chestnut (nut bearing)   Tree of Heaven
                  Willows

(Ord. 458. Passed 1-4-89.)