A. 
The intent of this chapter is to provide landscape development, site buffering, and maintenance requirements for all proposed and existing developments in order to:
1. 
Maintain and protect property values;
2. 
Enhance the appearance of the development;
3. 
Improve the character of the City;
4. 
Reduce erosion;
5. 
Provide pervious surfacing areas to recharge subsurface aquifer, reduce quantity of stormwater runoff, and provide for cleansing of on-site surface water prior to re-entering the City's watercourses;
6. 
Maintain or replace existing vegetation;
7. 
Provide screening between incompatible land uses;
8. 
Moderate the microclimate;
9. 
Minimize noise, glare, and other negative impacts;
10. 
Protect and enhance watercourses, riparian habitat, and associated wildlife;
B. 
It is also the intent of this chapter to provide landscaping regulations in conformance with the policies of the Comprehensive Plan, including:
1. 
Establish design standards and site improvement criteria for commercial and industrial developments (Policy UD 1.3.0.);
2. 
Expand the use of green belts and natural buffer zones to protect residential areas from commercial and industrial areas which are environmentally detrimental to nearby residential neighborhoods (Policy UD 1.5.0.);
C. 
The landscape standards in this chapter are minimum requirements. When it is determined by the City that additional landscaping is needed to mitigate, screen, buffer a development from its surroundings, or comply with the spirit of this chapter, additional landscaping may be required.
(Amended by City request, 1/11; Ord. 2074 § 8.1(A); 1995)
All development or redevelopment proposals, except single-household residences, shall submit landscape development plans, irrigation plans, and tree preservation/retention/replacement plans for review and approval.
(Ord. 2074 § 8.1(B), 1995)
The Planning Department, or its designated representative, shall review the proposed landscaping, irrigation and/or tree plans for compliance with the standards prescribed by this chapter and any other applicable portions of the Code and conditions of project approval.
Each applicable project shall have on file landscape, irrigation, and tree plans, as necessary, reviewed and approved by the Planning Department or their designated representative prior to issuance of any building permits.
(Ord. 2074 § 8.1(C), 1995)
A. 
All landscape and irrigation plans shall be prepared in conformance with the submittal requirements of this section and shall be clearly legible, to scale, reproducible and must demonstrate knowledge of local plant material.
B. 
Plans shall be at a scale of one inch equals 20 feet or one inch equals 30 feet unless otherwise approved. All landscape and irrigation plans submitted shall be prepared at the same scale to match the site development plan scale and fit on a maximum sheet size of 24 inches by 36 inches.
C. 
Landscape development plans shall identify the botanical and common name of each plant material, caliper, height, or container size of all plant material, and the quantity and location and/or spacing of any plant material proposed. In addition, landscape plans shall identify areas where the use of nonliving landscape material is proposed.
D. 
All vegetation retained per Article IV of this chapter (Existing Site Vegetation) shall be accurately mapped with each significant tree identified by botanical name and caliper size.
E. 
Irrigation plans submitted for review shall comply with MTMC § 19.130.120(B).
F. 
Three sets of landscape and irrigation plans shall be submitted for review and approval, and each time revisions are necessary. Plans shall be on blueline or other acceptable copy medium. The approved landscape and irrigation plans shall be submitted on permanent reproducible file (mylar) prior to issuance of a permit for landscape and/or irrigation.
G. 
As built plans are required whenever the installed improvements differ sufficiently from the approved plans, as determined by the Planning Department or their designated representative. As built landscape and irrigation plans shall be submitted on a permanent reproducible film (mylar) prior to final acceptance of the installed improvements.
(Ord. 2074 § 8.1(D), 1995)
It shall be unlawful for any person, firm, or corporation to install any landscaping or irrigation system, as required by ordinance, or cause the same to be done without first having obtained the appropriate permit from the Planning Department.
A. 
An engineering construction permit is required for landscape and irrigation system work. A separate electrical permit is required for irrigation system wiring.
The fee for such permit(s) shall be in accordance with the ordinance governing engineering and electrical permits in effect at the time application is made.
B. 
Exempted Work.
1. 
Maintenance of required landscape areas.
2. 
Replacement of plants or plant material which are dead or damaged.
Note: Living trees that were retained or living plant material indicated on the approved plans shall not be removed without first obtaining permission from the Planning Department or their designated representative.
3. 
Repair or replacement of faulty or damaged irrigation system if extent of replacement does not exceed 20 percent of existing system.
(Ord. 2074 § 8.1(E), 1995)
The applicant can submit for consideration a landscaping plan that differs from the specific criteria set forth in this chapter if the proposed landscaping complies with the stated purpose and intent of this chapter and represents a landscape development which, at the option of the Planning Department or their designated representative, is considered equal to or exceeds that which could have been achieved by strictly following the requirements of this chapter.
(Ord. 2074 § 8.1(F), 1995)