Chapter 11.33
WATER CONSERVATION AND LANDSCAPING
Sections:
11.33.010 Purpose.
11.33.020 Applicability.
11.33.030 Landscape plan--Required.
11.33.040 Landscape plan--Approval.
11.33.050 Landscape plan--Content.
11.33.060 Landscaping--General provisions.
11.33.070 Landscape maintenance.
11.33.080 Relative water requirement of commonly used plants.
11.33.010 Purpose.
The purpose of this chapter is to establish minimum requirements, standards and procedures for the design, installation and management of water conserving landscapes in order to utilize available plant, water and land resources to avoid excessive landscape water demands while ensuring high quality landscape design.
(Ord. 1960 § 1 (part), 10-12-93)
11.33.020 Applicability.
A. These requirements shall be applicable to new, existing, and rehabilitated landscaping for industrial, commercial, office, institutional, single-family, two-family, and multiple-family residential developments.
B. These requirements shall not be applicable to:
1. Cemeteries;
2. Registered historical sites;
3. Ecological restoration projects that do not require a permanent irrigation system;
4. Mined-land reclamation projects that do not require a permanent irrigation system;
5. Any project on a parcel of land less than fifteen thousand square feet in area.
C. Exemptions. The director of community development may authorize modifications and/or exemptions to any of the design and improvement standards in this chapter. Where it appears that water conserving landscapes may be lost or where it would appear to work an unreasonable hardship to require full compliance with these provisions, the director of community development may waive or modify a portion of the required provisions contained in this chapter.
D. Appeals. Any decision from the director of community development, which the applicant wishes to appeal to the planning commission, may do so, provided that the applicant obtains and submits an application to the community development department accompanied with the appropriate fee, as outlined in the latest adopted city of South Gate Fee Resolution, (Miscellaneous Reviews, Approvals and Services) No. 1 (a) or equivalent.
(Ord. 2067 § 2, 11-28-00; Ord. 1960 § 1 (part), 10-12-93)
11.33.030 Landscape plan--Required.
Landscape plans shall be prepared in accordance with the standards set forth herein and with the city water conservation and landscaping guidelines developed to help implement the provisions of this chapter. Such plan shall be submitted and approved prior to the issuance of building permits to comply with the requirements of this chapter. Tentative landscape plans shall be submitted in accordance with all discretionary application submittals, i.e., (site plan review, conditional use permit, unclassified use permit, zone variance and subdivisions) pursuant to the criteria provided in this chapter or the other appropriate chapters of this code, including the guidelines for water conservation and landscaping.
(Ord. 1960 § 1 (part), 10-12-93)
11.33.040 Landscape plan--Approval.
No landscape plan submittal shall be approved unless the director of community development finds that the plan compliments the design of the project, is consistent with the provisions of this chapter and applicable landscape guidelines; compatible with adjacent existing or future public landscaped areas where appropriate, and with the elevations and appearances with existing structures located upon lots within the immediate vicinity of the lots or properties within the immediate vicinity of the lot or property which is the subject of such application.
(Ord. 1960 § 1 (part), 10-12-93)
11.33.050 Landscape plan--Content.
Each landscape plan shall consist at minimum of the following elements including, but not limited to the following as set forth herein and as outlined in the guidelines for water conservation and landscaping:
A. Planting Plan. The planting plan shall identify location, spacing, numbers, container sizes of all plant materials including common and botanical names, drawn on project base sheets in a clear and legible fashion in accordance with the guidelines established to implement the provisions of this chapter.
B. Irrigation Plan. The irrigation plan shall identify all components of the irrigation system drawn on project base paper sheets in a clear and legible fashion in accordance with the guidelines established to implement the provisions of this chapter.
(Ord. 1960 § 1 (part), 10-12-93)
11.33.060 Landscaping--General provisions.
A planting and irrigation plan shall be required for site plan review, conditional use permit, unclassified use permit, subdivisions and any other permits when the director of community development deems it necessary. All plans shall be submitted and acted upon concurrently with the permit application.
No less than three copies of the landscaping and irrigation plans shall be submitted for approval by the director of community development.
A. All plans shall show the information as noted in the city’s water conservation and landscaping guidelines.
B. Landscaping shall be incorporated into the design of all off-street parking areas as follows:
1. A minimum of four percent of the interior of a parking lot or area shall be landscaped as herein provided and continually maintained;
2. All plant materials shall be maintained free from physical damage or injury arising from lack of water, chemical damage, insects and diseases. Plant materials showing such damage shall be replaced by the same or similar species where practically possible. Planting areas shall be kept free from weeds, debris and undesirable materials which may be detrimental to safety, drainage or appearance;
3. Drought-tolerant species and native species shall be preferred over nondrought tolerant and nonnative species. A sample list is provided in the city water conservation and landscaping guidelines. The quantity and extent of drought tolerant species shall be dependent on the climatic zone of the project. Plant materials shall be grouped together in regards to water and soil requirements. In order to conserve water, alternative types of low volume irrigation concepts may be used, including, but not limited to drip/trickle, rotary spray, minispray, bubbler, deep root watering and perforated soaker tubing;
4. Shall meet all criteria as specified in the city’s water conservation and landscaping guidelines.
(Ord. 1960 § 1 (part), 10-12-93)
11.33.070 Landscape maintenance.
The property owner shall be responsible that all landscaping be irrigated permanently and continuously maintained in a neat, clean and healthy condition, including removal of litter, weeds, proper pruning, mowing of lawns, fertilizing and watering; and replacement of diseased and/or dead plants and malfunctioning or missing irrigation system components.
(Ord. 1960 § 1 (part), 10-12-93)
11.33.080 Relative water requirement of commonly used plants.
The director of community development shall develop a list of plants that are commonly used in landscape designs with water requirement classifications of low, medium and high to assist landscape designers to choose species of appropriate water demands to comply with this chapter and to group species of similar water demands to facilitate efficient irrigation. This list shall be included in the water conservation and landscaping guidelines developed to implement the provisions of this chapter. The plant list described above is not meant to be an all inclusive list. Alternative drought tolerant plants may be permitted, subject to the approval of the director of community development.
(Ord. 1960 § 1 (part), 10-12-93)