This chapter provides general standards intended to establish
landscaping requirements that are intended to:
A.
Protect
and enhance the desert setting of the city which distinguishes it
as a prestigious quality resort community;
B.
Enhance
the aesthetic appearance of all development throughout the city by
providing standards related to the quality, quantity, and functional
aspects of landscaping;
C.
Increase
compatibility between adjoining land uses and public rights-of-way
by providing landscape screening and buffering;
D.
Decrease
the use of water for landscaping purposes by requiring the efficient
use of irrigation, appropriate plant materials, and regular maintenance
of landscaped areas;
E.
Protect
public health, safety, and welfare by minimizing the effect of physical
and visual pollution, controlling soil erosion, screening incompatible
land uses, preserving the integrity of neighborhoods, and enhancing
pedestrian and vehicular traffic and safety;
F.
Establish
effective water efficient landscape requirements for newly installed
and rehabilitated landscapes and to implement the requirements of
the state of California Water Conservation in Landscaping Act, Statutes
of 1990, Chapter 1145 (AB 325), and the Water Conservation in Landscaping
Act of 2006 (AB 1881); and
G.
Promote
water conservation through climate appropriate plant material and
efficient irrigation as well as to create a city landscape theme through
enhancing and improving the physical and natural environment.
(Ord. 777 § 1 (Exh. A),
2002; Ord. 990 § 2, 2010)
A.
All
projects that require the installation of landscaping in compliance
with the development standards of this title shall provide and maintain
landscaping in compliance with the provisions of this chapter.
B.
All
new construction and rehabilitated landscapes for public agency projects,
private development projects, and developer-installed single-family
and multifamily projects requiring a building or landscape permit,
plan check or design shall be reviewed and approved by the city planning
division.
C.
All
homeowner-provided (including homeowner-hired) landscaping at single-family
residences with a landscaped area greater than two thousand five hundred
square feet shall be approved by the city.
D.
All
projects that meet the threshold review criteria shall be reviewed
and approved by the planning division for compliance with this chapter
prior to removal of any existing landscaping, prior to grading the
landscaped area and prior to installation of any landscaping and irrigation.
E.
All
projects that rehabilitate or eliminate existing "lush" landscaping
(including elimination of turf, overhead spray irrigation and/or non-native
vegetation) and convert or rehabilitate the landscaping to a water
efficient landscape with drip and bubbler systems may be reviewed
and approved by city staff and are not subject to review or approval
by the Coachella Valley Water District ("CVWD").
F.
The
following projects shall be exempt from review and approval by the
planning division under the provisions of this section.
1.
Homeowner
provided and individually maintained landscaping within private and
enclosed gardens, courtyards, and patio areas in multifamily projects
(such as condominiums).
(Ord. 777 § 1 (Exh. A),
2002; Ord. 990 § 2, 2010; Ord. 1101 § 3, 2016)
Consistent with the Water Conservation in Landscaping Act of
2006 (AB 1881) and Executive Order B-2915 issued by Governor Brown
on April 1, 2015, the city adopts by reference the ordinance adopted
by the Coachella Valley Water District ("CVWD") known as "CVWD Ordinance
No. 1302.2," titled "An Ordinance of the Coachella Valley Water District
Establishing Landscape and Irrigation System Design Criteria," as
adopted by the CVWD Board on November 24, 2015 and made effective
December 1, 2015, a copy of which is on file for the public's inspection
at the city clerk's office. If CVWD Ordinance No. 1302.2 is modified,
the city will amend the ordinance codified in this chapter accordingly
by complying with the procedures for ordinance adoption.
(Ord. 990 § 2, 2010; Ord. 1101 § 2, 2016)
A.
A fully dimensioned comprehensive landscape and irrigation design plan shall be submitted to the community development department, in compliance with Section 17.24.025 including any additional information required by the director.
B.
For
all development projects, except for individually approved single-family
dwellings, landscape design plans shall be prepared by a landscape
architect licensed in the state of California.
C.
Landscaping
design plans shall be in harmony with the surrounding desert environment
and emphasize the use of drought tolerant plant materials, including
desert plants, and as an accent feature varying textures of inorganic
groundcover.
(Ord. 777 § 1 (Exh. A),
2002; Ord. 990 § 2, 2010; Ord. 1064 § 2, 2013)
The following standards shall apply to all landscaping in the
city of Rancho Mirage:
A.
All
setbacks, parkways and storage areas that are visible from a public
street or from a parking lot available to the public shall be landscaped;
B.
Trees
shall be planted throughout the project in areas of public view, predominantly
adjacent to and along structures and street frontages at a rate of
at least one tree for each thirty linear feet of street frontage;
C.
Landscape
areas shall be a minimum of four feet wide (excluding curbs). Narrower
landscape areas may be allowed, but shall not be counted toward meeting
minimum coverage requirements;
D.
Trees
and shrubs shall be planted so that at maturity they do not interfere
with utility service lines, street lighting, street sweeping, traffic
safety sight areas, on-site signs, and basic property rights of adjoining
property owners;
E.
Prior
to final inspection for any given residential dwelling unit within
any approved subdivision or development plan permit, a landscape design
plan for the rear yard shall be submitted to the development services
department if the subject dwelling unit's rear lot line abuts a lot
that contains an existing residential dwelling unit. Starting six
inches above the rear yard wall, and extending in a "plane" to the
ridge of the residential dwelling unit therein (or if no ridge, then
the parapet), all plant material in the required rear yard setback
shall not exceed the height of said "plane" at the time of planting
through maturity.
1.
Notwithstanding
the foregoing, palm trees may be permitted in the required rear yard
setback upon the written consent of the abutting property owners being
provided to the city concurrent with the submittal of the landscape
design plan.
2.
Abutting
property shall mean the property or properties adjacent to the required
rear yard setback of the subject residential dwelling unit and property
or properties adjacent to a side property line along the required
rear yard setback of the subject residential dwelling unit.
3.
In
cases where rear yards exceed minimum setback requirements, plant
material exceeding the established plane may be permitted within the
enhanced rear yard portion of the property as a part of a Landscaping
Plan associated with a Single Family Permit (SFP) or Preliminary Development
Plan (PDP) subject to approval by the applicable reviewing body;
F.
Trees
planted near public curbs, sidewalks, or bicycle trails shall have
a limited root structure and shall be installed so as to prevent physical
damage to public improvements. A root barrier system shall be used
and shall comply with the following provisions:
1.
Landscape
and irrigation plans shall be required for all public street parkways
and median islands and shall conform to city standards and be submitted
for review and approval to the city engineer and planning division.
Boulders shall not exceed fifteen inches in height within three feet
of a public street curb. Canopy trees shall be placed a minimum of
ten feet from public street curb and a minimum of three feet from
sidewalks. Palm trees shall be placed a minimum of three feet from
public street curb with a minimum trunk height of ten feet. Right-of-way
lines shall be shown on the final landscape plan;
G.
Landscape
areas shall have plant material selected and plant methods used that
are suitable for the soil and climatic conditions of the site, in
compliance with this chapter. The use of water-efficient, drought-tolerant
plants shall be required in compliance with this chapter;
H.
Sizes
of the plant materials shall conform to the following minimum mix:
|
TABLE 3-4
| |||
|---|---|---|---|
|
MINIMUM SIZES AND MIX FOR LANDSCAPING
| |||
|
MINIMUM PERCENTAGES REQUIRED
| |||
|
Single-Family Residences
|
Project Area of 1 Acre or Less
|
Project Area Over 1 Acre
| |
|
Trees
|
One 36-inch box
|
25%, 36-inch box; and
|
30%, 36-inch box; and
|
|
Two 24-inch boxes
|
50%, 24-inch box
|
50%, 24-inch box; and
| |
|
20%, 15-gallon
| |||
|
Shrubs
|
60%, 5-gallon; and 40%, 1-gallon
| ||
|
Groundcover
|
10% coverage within 1 year
| ||
I.
Trees
in thirty-six inch boxes, or larger, shall be provided in sufficient
quantity, subject to the approval of the director, to provide variety
and emphasis at entrances and focal areas within the project;
J.
When
inorganic groundcover is used, it shall be in combination with live
plants. Artificial plant material is prohibited with the exception
of artificial turf as approved by the community development director;
K.
All
landscaping areas shall have a city approved automatic irrigation
system, with lawns and trees/shrubs requiring separate systems; and
L.
Project
applicants shall consult the Invasive Plant Inventory prepared by
the California Invasive Plant Council (Cal-IPC) prior to selection
of any plant species for landscaping. A link to the inventory can
be found at: www.calipc.org/ip/inventory/pdf/Inventory2006.pdf or as updated from time to time. Applicants shall also reference
the plant selection standards of the Riverside County Agricultural
Commissioner prior to submittal of any landscaping plan for review
and approval by the city.
(Ord. 777 § 1 (Exh. A),
2002; Ord. 990 § 2, 2010; Ord. 1098 § 2, 2015)
Landscape design plans for parkway areas shall include the following:
A.
Compliance
with the required minimum parkway buffer area requirements identified
in Table 3-5:
|
Table 3-5
| |
|---|---|
|
Minimum Parkway Buffer Area Requirements
| |
|
General Plan Road Classification (per Circulation Element)
|
Minimum Width of Parkway Landscaped Area Between Curb and Wall
|
|
Highway 111
|
25 feet
|
|
All Arterial Streets
|
32 feet
|
|
Collector
|
17 feet
|
|
Local
|
17 feet
|
|
Section 30 Parkways
|
19 feet
|
B.
Provide
a design to ensure compatibility with established parkways, including
a sensitive transition between diverse landscape types and patterns;
C.
Incorporate
mounding within the overall design, with landscaped slopes not exceeding
twenty percent slope, or three feet in height; and
D.
Incorporate
walls and fences into the landscape design, including the special
treatment of meandering walls, and wall breaks or openings where the
design shall complement the interior landscaping of the adjacent development.
(Ord. 777 § 1 (Exh. A),
2002; Ord. 832 § 3, 2003; Ord. 990 § 2, 2010; Ord. 1024 § 2, 2011)
Landscape design plans for all development projects involving
corner parcels shall include the following additional special design
requirements:
A.
A minimum
landscape area of three thousand six hundred square feet for corner
areas adjacent to the intersection of two arterial streets, two thousand
four hundred square feet where adjacent to arterial/collector intersections,
and one thousand six hundred square feet for corner areas adjacent
to a collector street;
B.
Incorporate
significant landscape and water features, including specimen trees,
coordination with wall breaks or openings, and special city entry
image treatment where deemed appropriate by the director; and
(Ord. 777 § 1 (Exh. A),
2002; Ord. 990 § 2, 2010)
A.
Landscape
design plans shall include water efficient, drought tolerant, and
native plant material, in compliance with this chapter. Invasive plants
or escaped exotics shall be avoided.
B.
Plants
with similar water requirements shall be grouped together into hydrozones.
Plant locations shall consider slope and sun exposure.
C.
To
the extent feasible turf shall be combined into a single area to prevent
waste and inefficient watering practices.
D.
Turf
shall not be used in parking islands, roadway medians, or along foundations
of structures.
E.
Only
drought tolerant turfs shall be utilized, except in specialized applications,
as approved by the director.
F.
Plants
in non-turf areas shall be water efficient and drought resistant.
A list of appropriate plants is available from the department.
G.
A maximum
of ten percent of the total landscaped area (in addition to turfed
area) is allowed to be non-drought tolerant species with a plant factor
of 0.5 or more (use plant value as guide) but shall be grouped together
according to water needs and appropriately located with respect to
slope and sun exposure.
H.
All
decorative water features shall have a city approved recirculating
water system.
(Ord. 777 § 1 (Exh. A),
2002; Ord. 990 § 2, 2010)
All landscaped areas shall be watered by a city approved automatic
irrigation system. Only efficient, water conserving, state of the
art irrigation systems shall be used, in compliance with this chapter.
(Ord. 777 § 1 (Exh. A),
2002; Ord. 990 § 2, 2010)
All required landscaping and irrigation systems shall be properly
installed and approved by the city before use inauguration or occupancy
and shall be permanently maintained.
(Ord. 777 § 1 (Exh. A),
2002; Ord. 990 § 2, 2010)
All installed landscaping and irrigation systems shall be continually
maintained in compliance with the following requirements:
A.
Landscape
maintenance shall consist of regular watering, mowing, pruning, fertilizing,
clearing of debris and weeds, the removal and replacement of dead
plants, and the repair and replacement of irrigation systems, in compliance
with this chapter.
B.
Before
approval of the final development plan permit, or recording of a subdivision
map, a covenant to ensure continued maintenance of all required landscaping
and irrigation systems by the property owners, homeowners association,
or other liable entity shall be approved by the director, with the
recommendation of the city attorney, and recorded in the county recorder's
office.
(Ord. 777 § 1 (Exh. A),
2002; Ord. 990 § 2, 2010)
All uses shall be subject to the applicable provisions of this
title, including the procedures identified in the following:
17.48 Conditional Use Permits
17.42 Development Plan Permits
17.24 Landscaping Standards
17.50 Minor Variances
17.26 Parking and Loading Standards
17.28 Signs
17.46 Temporary Use Permits
17.52 Variances
(Ord. 777 § 1 (Exh. A),
2002; Ord. 990 § 2, 2010)
A violation of this chapter is a violation of the city's Zoning Ordinance which is subject to the city's enforcement and penalty provisions set forth at Chapter 17.80 of this code.
(Ord. 990 § 2, 2010)
