A.

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

1.

Fire restrictive requirements for structures in high fire hazard areas.

a.

All new residential construction or any replacement landscape installations shall not have any combustible mulch within a five (5) foot zone measured from the furthest attached exterior point of the home. Landscape planting shall be irrigated lawn or low-growing properly spaced fire-resistant shrubs or herbaceous (non-woody) plants. Vegetation shall not come in contact with the structure and specimen spacing shall be such as not to allow the transfer of fire from plant to plant, or from plant to the structure.

2.

Plant Material.

a.

Any plant may be selected for the landscape, providing the Estimated Total Water Use (ETWU) in the landscape area does not exceed the Maximum Applied Water Allowance (MAWA). Methods to achieve water efficiency shall include one or more of the following:

1.

Protection and preservation of native species and natural vegetation;

2.

Selection of water-conserving plant, tree and turf species, especially local native plants;

3.

Selection of plants based on local climate suitability, disease, and pest resistance;

4.

Selection of trees based on applicable local tree ordinance or tree shading guidelines, and size at maturity as appropriate for the planting area. Refer to the Recommended Shade Tree List on the City of Chino Hills website; and

5.

Selection of plants from local and regional landscape program plant lists.

6.

Selection of plants from local Fuel Modification Plan Guidelines.

b.

Each hydrozone shall have plant materials with similar water use, with the exception of hydrozones with plants of mixed water use if:

1.

plant factor calculation is based on the proportions of the respective plant water uses and their plant factor; or

2.

the plant factor of the higher water using plant is used for calculations.

c.

Plants shall be selected and planted appropriately based upon their adaptability to the climatic, geologic, and topographical conditions of the project site. Methods to achieve water efficiency shall include one or more of the following:

1.

Use the Sunset Western Climate Zone System ^[2] which takes into account temperature, humidity, elevation, terrain, latitude, and varying degrees of continental and marine influence on local climate;

2.

Recognize the horticultural attributes of plants (i.e., mature plant size, invasive surface roots) to minimize damage to property or infrastructure [e.g., buildings, sidewalks, power lines]; allow for adequate soil volume for healthy root growth; and

3.

Consider the solar orientation for plant placement to maximize summer shade and winter solar gain.

d.

Turf areas shall be minimized and used wisely in response to functional needs and shall not cause the ETWU to exceed the MAWA. Where turf is installed the use of warm season turf is strongly encouraged.

e.

Turf is not allowed on slopes greater than twenty-five (25) percent where the toe of the slope is adjacent to an impermeable hardscape, and where twenty-five (25) percent means one (1) foot of vertical elevation change for every four (4) feet of horizontal length (rise divided by run × 100 = slope percent).

f.

High water use plants, characterized by a plant factor of 0.7 to 1.0, are prohibited in street medians.

g.

A landscape design plan for projects in fire-prone areas shall address fire safety and prevention consistent with the regulations from the Chino Valley Independent Fire Department. Refer to City's Municipal Code Chapter 16.22 - Fire Hazard Overlay District for additional information.

h.

The use of invasive plant species, such as those listed by the California Invasive Plant Council ^[3], is prohibited near parks, buffers, greenbelts, water bodies, and open spaces because of their potential to cause harm in sensitive areas.

i.

The architectural guidelines of a common interest development, which includes 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.

3.

Water Features.

a.

Recirculating water systems shall be used for water features.

b.

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

c.

Surface area of water features shall be included as a high water use hydrozone in the water budget calculation.

d.

Pool and spa covers are highly recommended.

4.

Soil Management Report, Amendments and Mulch.

a.

Prior to the planting of any materials, compacted soils shall be transformed to a friable condition. On engineered slopes, only amended planting holes need meet this requirement.

b.

Soil amendments shall be incorporated according to recommendations of the soil report and what is appropriate for the plants selected.

c.

For landscape installations, compost at a rate of a minimum of four (4) cubic yards per one thousand (1,000) square feet of permeable area shall be incorporated to a depth of six (6) inches into the soil. Soils with greater than six (6) percent organic matter in the top six (6) inches of soil are exempt from adding compost and tilling.

d.

Soil samples shall be collected and submitted to a laboratory to obtain a soil management report. Soil sampling shall be conducted in accordance with laboratory protocol, including protocols regarding adequate sampling depth for the intended plants.

1.

The project applicant, or his/her designee, shall comply with one of the following:

a.

If significant mass grading is not planned, the soil management report shall be submitted to the Community Development Director or designee as part of the Landscape Documentation Package; or

b.

If significant mass grading is planned, the soil management report shall be submitted to the Community Development Director or designee as part of the Certificate of Completion as defined in Section 16.07.100.

2.

In projects with multiple landscape installations (i.e. production home developments) a soil sampling rate of one (1) in seven (7) lots or approximately fifteen (15) percent will satisfy this requirement. These landscape projects shall sample at a rate equivalent to one (1) in seven (7) lots.

3.

Soil management report shall include a written analysis of soil texture, infiltration rate, pH, total soluble salts, sodium, percent organic matter and soil amendment recommendations.

4.

The soil management report shall be made available, in a timely manner, to the professionals preparing the landscape design plans and irrigation design plans to make any necessary adjustments to the design plans.

5.

The project applicant, or his/her designee, shall submit documentation verifying implementation of soil management report recommendations to the Community Development Director or designee with Certificate of Completion.

e.

Soil preparation and amendments shall comply with the recommendations of the soil management report and what is appropriate for the plants selected.

f.

Documentation (e.g., soil amendment delivery tickets) shall be submitted verifying implementation of soil management report recommendations with the certificate of completion.

g.

A minimum three-inch layer of mulch shall be applied on all exposed soil surfaces of planting areas except in turf areas, creeping or rooting groundcovers, or direct seeding applications where mulch is contraindicated. To provide habitat for beneficial insects and other wildlife, up to five (5) percent of the landscape area may be left without mulch. Designated insect habitat must be included in the landscape design plan as such.

h.

Stabilizing mulching products shall be used on slopes that meet current engineering standards.

i.

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

j.

Organic mulch made from recycled or post-consumer material shall take precedence over inorganic materials or virgin forest products unless the recycled post-consumer organic products are not locally available. Organic mulches are not required where prohibited by local Fuel Modification Plan Guidelines or other applicable local ordinances.

B.

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. Temporarily irrigated areas of the landscape 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, installation details, and 24-hour retention or infiltration capacity of any applicable stormwater best management practices that encourage on-site retention and infiltration of stormwater. Project applicants shall refer to the City or Regional Water Quality Control Board for information on any applicable stormwater technical requirements;

11.

Identify any applicable rain harvesting or catchment technologies and their 24-hour retention or infiltration capacity;

12.

Identify any applicable graywater discharge piping, system components and area(s) of distribution;

13.

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

14.

Bear the signature of a licensed landscape architect, licensed landscape contractor, or other person authorized to design a landscape pursuant to the California Business and Professions Code or Title 14, California Code of Regulations, section 832.27.

(Ord. No. 386, § 7(Exh. C), 7-12-2022)