16.14.100 Landscape design plan.

For the efficient use of water, landscaping shall be carefully designed and planned for the intended function of the project. A landscape design plan meeting the following design criteria shall be submitted as part of the landscape documentation package.

(A) Plant Material.

(1) The estimated total water use of the plant material selected must not exceed the maximum applied water allowance.

(2) Each hydrozone shall have plant materials with similar water use, with the exception of hydrozones with plants of mixed water use, as specified in Section 16.14.110(B)(4).

(3) At least seventy-five percent of the total number of plants in non-turf areas shall require occasional, little or no summer water. All species should be adapted to the climate in which they will be planted, as documented by a published plant reference. If plants are given a range of water needs from "occasional to moderate" for example, the landscape designer must determine if the plant will require either occasional or moderate watering based on site, soil, and climate conditions and categorize the plant appropriately. Sources used to determine climate adaptation and watering requirements may include:

(a) Bornstein, Carol, David Fross and Bart O'Brien, California Native Plants for the Garden.

Qualifying irrigation designation: "occasional," "infrequent," or "drought tolerant."

(b) East Bay Municipal Utility District's publication Plants and Landscapes for Summer Dry Climates.

Qualifying irrigation designation: "occasional," "infrequent" or "no summer water"

Qualifying irrigation designation: "little or no water"

(d) University of California Cooperative Extension's Guide to Estimating Irrigation Water Needs of Landscape Plantings in CA.

Qualifying irrigation designation: "Low" or "Very Low"

(4) Turf is not allowed on slopes greater than twenty-five percent where the toe of the slope is adjacent to an impermeable hardscape and where twenty-five percent means one foot of vertical elevation change for every four feet of horizontal length (rise divided by run x 100 = slope percent).

(5) Total irrigated areas specified as turf shall be limited to a maximum of twenty-five percent with recreational areas exempted.

(6) A landscape design plan for projects in fire-prone areas shall address fire safety and prevention. A defensible space or zone around a building or structure is required per California Public Resources Code Section 4291(a) and (b). Avoid fire-prone plant materials and highly flammable mulches.

(7) Those species identified by the California Invasive Plant Council (CAL-IPC) as invasive in the San Francisco Bay Area shall not be specified.

(8) The architectural guidelines of a common interest development, which include community apartment projects, condominiums, planned developments, and stock cooperatives, shall not prohibit or include conditions that have the effect of prohibiting the use of low-water use plants as a group.

(9) Plant species shall be selected and spaced to allow them to grow to their natural size and shape. Pruning for structural integrity and health of plant is permitted. In addition, plants located in a row or adjacent to buildings, sidewalks, or roads will be spaced between their minimum and maximum mature plant spread according to a published reference plant book and still fit into their planting area without significant overhang. Trees must meet the spacing requirements only when adjacent to buildings, in a row or adjacent to other vertical obstructions. Vines are not subject to spacing requirements.

(10) Plants shall be selected and planted appropriately based upon their adaptability to the climatic, geologic, and topographical conditions of the project site.

(B) Water Features.

(1) Recirculating water systems shall be used for water features.

(2) Where available, recycled water shall be used as a source for decorative water features.

(3) Surface area of a water feature shall be included in the high water use hydrozone area of the water budget calculation.

(1) A minimum three-inch layer of mulch shall be applied on all exposed soil surfaces of planting areas except in turf areas, or direct seeding applications where mulch should not be used because it may be harmful. The use of plastic sheeting as a weed barrier is prohibited.

(2) Stabilizing mulching products shall be used on slopes.

(3) The mulching portion of the seed/mulch slurry in hydro-seeded applications shall meet the mulching requirement.

(4) Compost and soil amendments shall be incorporated according to recommendations of the soil report and what is appropriate for the plants selected (see Section 16.14.090).

(5) Ongoing maintenance shall include regular reapplication of mulch to a minimum of three inches.

(D) The landscape design plan, at a minimum, shall:

(1) Delineate and label each hydrozone by number, letter, or other method;

(2) Identify each hydrozone as low, moderate, high water, or mixed water use. Areas of the landscape temporarily irrigated to establish drought tolerant plants shall be included in the low water use hydrozone for the water budget calculation;

(3) Identify recreational areas;

(4) Identify areas permanently and solely dedicated to edible plants;

(5) Identify areas irrigated with recycled water;

(6) Identify type of mulch and application depth;

(7) Identify soil amendments, type, and quantity;

(8) Identify type and surface area of water features;

(9) Identify hardscapes (pervious and non-pervious);

(10) Identify location and installation details of any applicable stormwater best management practices that encourage on-site retention and infiltration of stormwater;

(11) Identify any applicable rain harvesting or catchment technologies (e.g., rain gardens, cisterns, etc.);

(12) Contain the following statement: "I have complied with the criteria of the ordinance and applied them for the efficient use of water in the landscape design plan"; and

(13) Bear the signature of a licensed landscape architect, licensed landscape contractor, or any other person authorized to design a landscape. (See Sections 5500.1, 5615, 5641, 5641.1, 5641.2, 5641.3, 5641.4, 5641.5, 5641.6, 6701, 7027.5 of the California Business and Professions Code, Section 832.27 of Title 16 of the California Code of Regulations, and Section 6721 of the Food and Agriculture Code.)