Whenever landscaping or a landscape plan is required by this code or a condition of any action authorized by this code, the following standards of planting and irrigation system design and landscape and irrigation specifications shall apply.

Additional requirements of the WMC relating to landscaping requirements are set forth in:

Landscape planning areas shall include all setback, yard and open areas that are not "hardscaped" or managed in a manner so as to prevent erosion, dust and creation of fire hazards in and around buildings on all development plans.

Plan Preparation. It is required that a licensed landscape architect, landscape contractor, architect, engineer, certified designer, or other landscaper be employed in preparing the landscape and irrigation plans in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 15.46. In addition to plants, the use of structural elements like pools, fountains, raised planters, benches, and sun-shades are encouraged in the landscape plan.

Plant Materials. The selection of plant materials should include both evergreen and deciduous trees, shrubs, and attractive erosion-preventing groundcover. It is required that at least ninety percent of the plants selected for use in non-turf areas be well-suited to the climate of the region and require minimal water once established in the landscape. Up to ten percent of the plants may be of a non-drought tolerant variety as long as they are grouped together and can be irrigated separately. Attention shall be given to appearance, height, spread, growth rate, moisture requirements, potential root damage, disease and pest susceptibility, climatic adaptability, soil type, slope, function, and degree of maintenance required.

Plant Coverage. Plants shall be so spaced and sized that, when mature, they will fill the planter area. Although a reasonable number of growing seasons will be allowed for full plant coverage to develop, interim ground cover shall be provided during this period. Interim cover of surfacing materials shall consist of wool mulch or chips, or any other approved material. Mulches must be a minimum of three inches thick when used as an interim measure.

Plant Maintenance. Underground automated irrigation systems shall be provided to assure efficient water use with a minimum of labor and water waste. Irrigation controllers must have multiple cycle capabilities. Plant material must be maintained in a healthy condition. Unhealthy plants shall be replaced. Planters shall be kept free of all weeds, debris, and trash.

Planter Construction. All planter areas should have a permanent border to prevent cars and pedestrians from damaging plant materials. All planters constructed adjacent to buildings or structures shall be so designed to avoid irrigation water intrusion into or on that adjacent building structure. The minimum width of a planter bed shall be forty inches measured from the inside of curbing or acceptable permanent border.

Compacted Soils. Prior to the planting of any materials the compacted soils within the planting area shall be returned to a friable condition. Friable condition shall mean returning the soil to an easily crumbled or loosely compacted condition down to a minimum depth per planting material requirements, whereby the root structure or newly planted material will be allowed to spread unimpeded.

Landscaping and open spaces shall be designed as an integral part of the overall site plan design. Landscaping and open spaces shall enhance the building design, enhance public views and spaces, provide buffers and transitions, provide for a balance of solar uses, and provide screening.

Landscape design shall accent the overall design theme through the use of structures such as arbors and trellises which are appropriate to the particular architectural style of adjacent structures.

Landscape areas shall utilize xeriscaping concepts which: minimize the amount of turf area, uses plant material that has a low water demand and uses a segmented irrigation system calibrated to the specific water demands of various turf, plant and tree groups as prescribed in Chapter 15.46.

The following are common planting design concepts that shall be used whenever possible:

Landscaping around the entire base of structures is recommended to soften the edge between the parking lot and the structure. This should be accented at entrances to provide focus.

Berms, plantings, and low walls to screen parking areas from view of public rights-of-way while allowing filtered views of larger buildings beyond.

Landscaping for commercial uses shall define entrances to buildings and parking lots, define the edges of various land uses, provide transition between neighboring properties (buffering), and provide screening for loading and equipment areas.

Planting areas between walls and streets shall be landscaped with a hierarchy of plants in natural formations and groupings. Solid walls over three feet high shall receive vines when adjacent to public streets.

All required building setbacks shall be incorporated into the landscape design, unless such areas are utilized in driveways and the like.

Three copies of the planting plan shall be submitted for a review and approval by the director of planning in accordance with the standards of landscape design set forth in this chapter.

One copy of all building elevations and site grading plans or one copy of all building plans shall be submitted together with the landscape plan. The building elevation and site grading plans shall be in sufficient detail to permit determination of the location, width, and height of all doors and windows and roof overhangs on all proposed buildings within or adjacent to proposed landscape areas.

The landscape plans shall be legible and drawn to a scale no smaller than one inch equals twenty feet. Maximum sheet size on all drawings shall be twenty-four inches by thirty-six inches (D size).

The landscape plans shall indicate property lines, important dimension lines, setback lines, walls and fences, driveways, adjacent streets, outline of all structures and adjacent land uses.

The landscape plans shall indicate planting details pre-emergent soil treatment rates and materials, and soil preparation. The result of soil tests for horticultural suitability, if any, shall be submitted with the landscape plan. Soils shall be prepared and/or amended as appropriate. At a minimum the acid/alkaline levels (pH) need to be indicated. A minimum of three inches of mulch shall be added in non-turf areas to the soil surface after planting. Plant types that are intolerant of mulch shall be excluded from this requirement. Sheet plastic and other nonporous material shall not be placed under mulch.

The use of turf as a plant material will not be permitted in narrow planter areas (less than ten feet in width), in traffic median strips, parking strips, between curbs and sidewalks, on slopes that are in excess of three to one, or in non-activity areas. On slopes exceeding fifteen percent, a level buffer zone of eighteen inches is required between beamed turf areas and hardscape (i.e. streets, walkways, etc.).

The landscape plans shall include a plant list giving the common and botanical names of plants to be used. This plant list shall be arranged in legend form with a key number assigned to each plant. On the plan, each plant shall be identified by a key number or other reference. The size of the plant, its spacing and the quantity to be used shall follow in the legend, as the following example illustrates.

Signs. Each development with "water saving" model homes may provide information to potential buyers regarding the water saving design by means of a front yard sign up to four square feet in area. The sign should indicate that the model features a water saving planting and irrigation design and may list the designer and supplier of the plants.

If the optional sign is not used or it does not provide details on the design, an interior display including a drawing, or combination of drawings, shall be displayed inside each "water saving" model which provides a schematic of the landscape. These drawings shall include a key identifying the common name of the plants used in the "water saving" model yards. A brochure with the same information may be distributed with the sales information to potential buyers to satisfy this requirement.