Chapter 17.44
LANDSCAPING
Sections:
17.44.020 General landscaping requirements.
17.44.030 Landscaping requirements for specific districts.
17.44.040 Landscaping maintenance requirements.
17.44.010 Purpose.
The purpose of this chapter is to create and maintain a pleasant and inviting community character by providing landscaping that breaks up the built environment; screens unappealing land uses and building features, creates a barrier from moving vehicles and loud noises, and creates a more pedestrian friendly environment. Preliminary landscaping plans shall be required of all development applications submitted to the city for approval. (Ord. 495 § 1, 2005)
17.44.020 General landscaping requirements.
A. Generally.
1. All front yards and yards abutting streets must be landscaped. Landscaping must be continuous except for driveways and pedestrian access. No vehicle overhang shall project into any required front or side yard abutting a street.
2. All trash enclosures, utility meters, electrical transformer and storage areas shall be screened by plantings and/or acceptable alternatives, as approved by the city planner.
3. All planter areas adjacent to driveways or parking areas shall be protected by six-inch concrete curbs or other acceptable barriers, as approved by the city planner.
4. In all nonresidential districts, a minimum five-foot wide planter is required along all side and rear property lines. Trees shall be the preferred planting within this planter to provide shade and screening.
5. All landscaped areas shall be provided with permanent automatic sprinklers, or other acceptable irrigation systems as approved by the city planner.
6. Landscaping shall be consistent with Escalon’s and the State of California’s water-efficient landscape and landscaping guidelines.
7. Shade trees and the shading of parking and pedestrian areas should be a major element of any landscape program.
8. Frontage landscaping shall consist of turf, ground cover, shrubs, trees, and boulders in combination to provide attractive screening.
9. Street trees must be on the approved city street tree list. (Ord. 547 § 4, 2015; Ord. 495 § 1, 2005)
17.44.030 Landscaping requirements for specific districts.
The landscaping requirements for the following districts shall be as follows:
A. Multifamily dwelling projects in any zoning district shall be provided with landscaping and open space over not less than 40 percent of the net area of the property.
1. Any driveway or uncovered parking area shall be separated from property lines by a landscaped strip not less than five feet in width.
2. The perimeter of the development along any street or right-of-way shall have a minimum 15-foot wide landscaped planter.
B. Mobile Home Park Development. Mobile home park projects in any zoning district shall be provided with landscaping and open space as follows:
1. All open areas, excluding mobile home sites, driveways and parking areas, shall be landscaped with live plant materials and maintained.
2. Landscaping shall include planting of trees along perimeter boundaries adjacent to adjoining properties of a five-gallon size, with a minimum of one tree per mobile home site.
C. C-1 Neighborhood Commercial Districts.
1. A minimum of 12 percent of the net lot area shall be landscaped.
2. All areas not required for structures or appurtenant uses, parking or circulation shall be landscaped.
D. C-2 Community Commercial Districts.
1. A minimum of 10 percent of the net lot area not covered by structures shall be landscaped.
2. All areas not required for structures or appurtenant uses, parking or circulation shall be landscaped.
E. C-M Commercial-Industrial Districts.
1. A minimum of 12 percent of the net lot area shall be landscaped.
2. All areas not required for structures or appurtenant uses, parking or circulation shall be landscaped.
3. Where the frontage and perimeter landscaping requirement does not provide the minimum coverage of 12 percent of the net site area, additional landscaping areas in an amount which makes up the difference shall be provided.
F. Industrial Districts.
1. A minimum of eight percent of the net lot area shall be landscaped.
2. Where the frontage and perimeter landscaping requirement does not provide the minimum coverage of eight percent of the net site area, additional landscaping areas in an amount which makes up the difference shall be provided. (Ord. 495 § 1, 2005)
17.44.040 Landscaping maintenance requirements.
All landscaped areas shall be continuously maintained. Landscaped areas shall be watered on a regular basis so as to maintain healthy plants. Landscaped areas shall be kept free of weeds and trash and litter. Any plants which die shall be replaced with healthy plants of the same or similar type. (Ord. 495 § 1, 2005)