17.30.050 Landscaping.
A. General Requirements.
1. Applicable Area. Landscaping is not required on the air side of the airport security fence.
2. Required Plans. Landscape plans are required for all projects and shall provide sufficient detail to enable the city to determine whether the plans comply with this section.
3. Existing Vegetation. Existing oak groves shall be retained and integrated into development sites. Individual trees may be removed or relocated upon granting of a tree removal permit as per Chapter 17.62 to facilitate site development. Use of low retaining walls or walls of adjoining structures to retain vegetated slopes and minimal removal of native vegetation is encouraged. Adjoining newly landscaped areas should be planted with compatible native materials to achieve an integrated and unified landscape appearance.
4. Landscaping of Unpaved Areas. All areas which are not paved or on which buildings are not located shall be retained in natural vegetation or landscaped.
5. Erosion Control. During and after construction, areas where grading or vegetation removal has occurred, which are not paved or on which buildings are not located, shall be stabilized to prevent erosion. Stabilization may be achieved by planting ground cover or shrubs or by other means demonstrated by the applicant to be effective means of erosion control.
6. Irrigation. Automatic irrigation shall be provided in all landscaped areas. For those areas landscaped with drought tolerant materials, temporary installations may be used until such time that the plant materials are firmly established.
7. Landscape materials shall be limited to native species or other species well adaptable to local climate and soils. Drought-tolerant plant materials not requiring irrigation after being firmly established shall be used for the majority of the landscaped areas.
8. Use of invasive plant species is prohibited and use of exotic species in required front setbacks or other areas highly visible from the public rights-of-way should be avoided.
9. Except where other direction is provided in the airport guidelines, landscaping shall comply with all other provisions of the city landscape guidelines, including provision for installation of reclaimed water irrigation systems.
10. Soil amendments and possibly other means should be used in all landscaping to make most efficient use of irrigation water and improve the success of initial plantings.
11. Landscaping shall be designed by landscape professionals with experience in local plants, soils, and climatic conditions.
B. Public Safety. All provisions of this section shall meet the public safety requirements set forth below:
1. The height, spread, and growth habits of all plants shall not interfere with or obstruct ease of movement or impede a public right-of-way.
2. Trees located adjacent to a public street shall be pruned such that no branches extend lower than fourteen feet above the curb line.
3. Trees located adjacent to a public sidewalk or path shall be pruned such that no branches extend lower than seven feet above the walk or path.
4. All landscaping and screening, excluding trees, located at the intersection of two public streets shall comply with Chapter 10.70, Visibility at Intersections.
5. All landscaping located within fifteen feet of the intersection of a driveway and public street shall not exceed a height of three feet.
C. Street Landscaping. Street landscaping provisions encompass the landscaping of areas within the street right-of-way, medians and parkways, and front setbacks of adjoining parcels. Landscaping shall be provided within all street rights-of-way and front setbacks in accordance with the guidelines listed in Table 3 and provisions set forth below. The employment of planting provisions and species listed in this table should be coordinated with the UC MBEST Center for those street segments adjoining the UC MBEST Center.
1. Street Tree Size. At time of installation, street trees shall have a minimum height of eight feet and a minimum caliper of two inches measured six inches above the ground level.
2. Groundcover/Shrub Coverage. Landscape materials used for street medians, parkways and adjoining street front setbacks should maintain a unified, integrated appearance along the entire street frontage. Variations from the prevailing landscape materials should be limited to applications which highlight important site access features such as major entrances to buildings or building complexes and major parking areas. Groundcovers and shrubs should be designed, installed and maintained to achieve one hundred percent coverage within three years of planting.
3. Street Tree Species. Table 3 shows the proposed planting provisions and suggested species of street trees. Plant materials not included in Table 3 may be used if they are similar in shape, rate of growth, and adaptability to local climatic and soil conditions. Species that might attract large flocks of birds during any time of the year are to be avoided.
D. Parking Area Landscaping. Landscaping should be provided along the perimeter of parking areas to spatially distinguish and partially screen parking areas from adjoining streets, buildings, and landscaped areas. The interior of multi-bay parking areas should be landscaped to minimize the visibility of paved surfaces and provide shade and rain protection.
1. Landscape Standard. Parking areas shall be landscaped consistent with the following standards or by other means demonstrated by the applicant that achieve the same visual and functional objectives:
a. Use suggested species shown in Table 3 or species with similar characteristics.
b. Plant trees at a regular spacing of thirty feet or less on center along the perimeter of parking area.
c. Provide a minimum of one tree for each ten nonperimeter parking spaces and plant in a regular pattern as shown in the adjoining diagram. Provide the necessary dimension to accommodate the proposed landscaping, with a minimum four-foot dimension, on all sides of planting boxes.
d. Separate parking spaces at the end of parking bays from adjoining access aisle by landscaped areas with appropriate widths to accommodate the proposed landscaping and a minimum width of four feet, and length equal to the length of adjoining parking spaces. Plant a minimum of two trees per planting area.
E. Usable Landscaped Areas. Where usable outdoor space is required for use and enjoyment of employees, at least one-third of the required area shall have an attractive and durable surface (such as paving, or crushed rock) to permit daily use of the area. Additional provision shall be made for seating within this area.
Application | Tree Type | Planting Provisions | Suggested Species |
|---|---|---|---|
Imjin Road Entrance (See Sections A and B) | 
Round-headed, wide spreading, 30'—60'. | Curbside planting strips from 8 to 16 feet width with 20-foot median in southern portion. Plant in informal pattern, mass to form well-defined approach to airport. | Quercus agrifolia (California Live Oak), Aesculus california (California Buckeye), Platanus racemosa (Western Sycamore), Arbutus marina. |
Neeson Road (See Sections C and D) | 
Tall, columnar + Round Headed, 35'—70'. | Curbside planting strip of 6 to 9 feet. Combine tall Columnar and Round-Headed species to provide strong definition of southern edge of zones 1 and 2. | Platanus racemosa (Western Sycamore), Fraxinus oregona (Oregon Ash), Lyonothamus floribundus (Catalina Ironwood). |
North Airport Road (See Section L) | 
Tall, Spreading, 35'—70'. | Curbside planting strips of 7 feet with 14-foot median. Plant in informal, closely spaced pattern to produce windbreak appearance. Augment with similar plantings along adjoining golf course and business park frontage. Tree types should be substituted if needed to ensure root growth will not damage pavement and/or root guards should be installed. | Cupressus macrocarpa (Monterey Cypress). |
Zone 1—Interior Roads (See Section K) | 
Round-headed or pyramidal, 25'—35'. | 4-foot curbside planting. Plant in formal, evenly spaced pattern, 25 to 35 feet on center. | Celtis (Hackberry), Prunus ilicifolia (Hollyleaf Cherry), Pyrus calleryana (Bradford Pear), Arbutus marina. |
Central Quads fronting streets and related street frontage (See Section E) | 
Round-headed or pyramidal, 25'—35'. | 4-foot curbside planting strip. Formal placement 25 to 35 feet on center. Train to branch 10'—12' from ground. | Pyrus calleryana (Bradford Pear), Arbutus marina. |
Interior roads—Zones 3 (See Section H) | 
Round-headed, fan-shaped deciduous trees. | 4-foot curbside planting strip; plant 25'—35' on center. Trim to branch 12' to 14' from ground. | Celtis occidentalis (Common Hackberry), Carpenus belulus (European Hornbeam). |
North and Central Entrance Roads from Blanco Road (See Sections I and J) | 
Round-headed pyramidal, 35'—50'. | 6-foot curbside planting strip each side plus 20-foot median. | Quercus agrifolia (coastal Live Oak), Platanus racemosa (Western Sycamore). |
South Entrance Road from Blanco (along common boundary with MBEST Center (See Section G) | 
Tall, Columnar + Medium, Round-headed, 35'—60'. | 11-foot curbside planting strip each side plus 22-foot median. Use tall, columnar trees to define this major entrance. Complement with medium height and flowering trees. (To be coordinated with MBEST). | Prevailing species B Lyonothamus floribundus (Catalina Ironwood), Platanus racemosa (Western Sycamore), Fraxinus oregona, (Oregon Ash). |
Off-Street Parking Areas | 
Round-headed, broad-leafed evergreen and deciduous trees 25'—50'. | Plant at a maximum distance of 40' on center. Train to form canopy and branch at 12'. | Pyrus calleryana (Bradford Pear), Umbellularia california (California Laurel), Arbutus marina. |
15-foot or greater front setback | 
Grasses and low ground cover plus evergreen and deciduous trees, 15'—50'. | Plant trees consistent with adjoining parkway, i.e., formal or informal placement. | Use same species as adjoining parkway. Complement with ornamental, flowering species, e.g., Malus floribunda (Crabapple), Arbutus marina. |
10-foot front setback | 
Lawn or low ground cover, 4"—18". | Maintain ground cover consistent with adjoining parkway. Maintain consistent ground cover along entire block frontage. | Drought-tolerant, dense ground covers. |
(Ord. 2020-07 § 2, 2020; amended during 2/07 supplement; Ord. 2003-06 § 1, 2003; Ord. 2000-10 § 1, 2000)