A. 
All open areas of a lot not used for buildings, parking, circulations, patios or storage must be landscaped with a combination of canopy trees, ornamental trees, evergreen trees, shrubs, flowers, sod, ground cover, and other site design features to ensure soil stabilization. This requirement shall not apply to undisturbed areas retained in a natural state.
B. 
Landscape plans shall be submitted for all site and subdivision related applications where exterior construction and development activity will occur, except for the construction of an individual single-family or two-family dwelling.
C. 
Landscape plans shall be prepared by a registered landscaping firm for planned unit developments or development with greater than one acre of site disturbance.
D. 
The following minimum number of plant materials shall be provided:
1. 
All residential one- and two-family developments shall require two canopy trees per dwelling unit installed in the City right-of-way.
2. 
All multifamily, mixed-use, and nonresidential uses shall provide:
a. 
One canopy or evergreen tree per 25 linear feet of street frontage.
b. 
All structures must have foundation plantings consisting of shrubs, perennials, and native grasses.
c. 
All additions, expansions, or additional structures shall require an additional two shrubs per 1,000 square feet of new construction.
E. 
Off-street parking area landscaping. (See Figure 13.03.31-1.)
1. 
All off-street parking areas containing more than 50 stalls or two or more drive aisles must include landscaped, interior parking lot islands as follows:
a. 
Islands are required at the end of each row of cars, at vehicle circulation aisles or driveways, or every 15 stalls, whichever is less.
b. 
Islands shall be provided to separate pedestrian and vehicular traffic.
c. 
Islands shall contain trees, shrubs, perennials, and native grasses.
d. 
Islands shall be bounded by a raised concrete curb or approved equivalent and shall contain mulch to retain soil moisture, unless otherwise approved by the Planning Department.
e. 
Turf grass is permitted within landscaped areas located around the periphery of a parking lot.
2. 
All open, off-street parking areas shall have a minimum of one square foot of landscaping per 10 square feet of parking using trees, shrubs, or ground cover plants. The preservation of existing trees, shrubs and other natural vegetation in the parking area may be included in the calculation of the required minimum landscape area.
Figure 13.03.31-1 Off-Street Parking Area Landscaping
013 Off-Street Parking Area Landscaping.tif
F. 
All plant materials must:
1. 
Meet the minimum standards set by the American National Standards Institute in ANSI Z60.1 American Standard for Nursery Stock.
2. 
Landscape species shall be indigenous or proven adaptable to the climate but shall not be invasive species.
3. 
Landscape materials shall be tolerant of specific site conditions, including but not limited to heat, drought, and salt.
4. 
Existing healthy plant material may be utilized to satisfy landscaping requirements, provided it meets the minimum plant size specified in this division.
G. 
Not more than 30% of the required number of trees shall be of the same species.
H. 
Trees and shrubs can be clustered and do not need to be evenly spaced. It is preferable that trees be located between the sidewalk and the curb, within the landscaped area of a boulevard or in tree wells installed in pavement or concrete. If placement of street trees within the right-of-way will interfere with utility lines or if the boulevard is less than five feet, trees may be planted within the front yard setback adjacent to the sidewalk.
I. 
The minimum size of plantings shall be as follows:
1. 
Canopy trees: two-and-one-half-inch caliper;
2. 
Ornamental trees: one-and-one-half-inch caliper;
3. 
Evergreen trees: six-foot height; and
4. 
Deciduous or evergreen shrubs: five-gallon pot.
J. 
Mulch shall consist of shredded bark, chipped wood, or stone installed at a minimum depth of two inches. If stone is used, it shall be spread over a permeable weed barrier fabric. All required plant materials shall be planted prior to issuing a certificate of occupancy. In the event that the project is completed during a time of year when planting is impractical, a security meeting the requirements of and in the amount of the remaining improvements will be required. In such case that a performance guarantee is required, all landscaping shall be completed within one year after the certificate of occupancy has been issued.
K. 
The continued maintenance of all required landscaping materials in a live and healthy state is a required responsibility of the owner and tenant of the property. Plantings which have died shall be promptly replaced in accordance with the landscape plan approved for the site. This requirement shall run with the land and be binding upon all future property owners. Failure to comply with this maintenance requirement shall be a violation of this section.
L. 
If an approved landscaping plan as part of a planned unit development or a development with greater than one acre of site disturbance has not been installed at the time of a request for a final occupancy permit, the developer, contractor, or property owner shall deposit a security with the City to guarantee compliance with and to indemnify the City for any expenses incurred in enforcing the requirements of this section. The landscaping security for all uses, which does not include one- or two-family dwellings, shall be in a form approved by the Planning Department and shall be equal to 100% of the estimated cost necessary to furnish and plant the required landscaping and any ancillary screening improvements such as fencing. The estimated cost shall be subject to approval by the Planning Department. Upon installation of required landscaping, the developer, contractor, or property owner shall notify the City to request inspection and return of said security.