CITY OF GILROY CONSOLIDATED LANDSCAPING POLICY

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Karen Stafford
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1 CITY OF GILROY CONSOLIDATED LANDSCAPING POLICY Adopted by the City Council January 19, 1988 And amended September 17, 1990, October 18, 1999 THE PURPOSE OF THIS LANDSCAPING POLICY IS TO PROVIDE A COMPREHENSIVE SET OF POLICIES AND MINIMUM STANDARDS FOR LANDSCAPING THROUGHOUT THE CITY OF GILROY. THIS POLICY IS INTENDED TO BE USED AS A GUIDE IN BOTH THE PREPARATION AND THE REVIEW OF LANDSCAPE PLANS. SECTION 1.0 LANDSCAPING PLANS REQUIRED 1.1 All development proposals within the City of Gilroy which are subject to review through the Architectural & Site Review process, as required under Section of the City s Zoning Ordinance, shall submit landscaping plans to be reviewed for conformance with this Landscaping Policy prior to issuance of a building permit. 1.2 Two sets of landscaping plans shall be submitted to the Building, Life and Environmental Safety Division which shall delineate the following information: A. Fully dimensioned property lines, all existing and proposed structures, and all existing and proposed landscaping; B. All adjacent streets, alleys, curbs, parkway strips, sidewalks, easements, sewer & water lines, street lights, fire hydrants, and directional street signs. C. Existing landscaping features to be retained, such as mature shrubs, hedges, trees, ground cover, and other plant material; D. Locations for all new plant materials and soil mounds (berming); E. The quantity, size (gallonage), and species (both common & botanical name) of all new plant materials including required city street trees; F. An irrigation system which shall adequately supply water to all plant materials in all planter areas, and to all plant materials and trees within a city parkway and/or easement; G. All water meters, existing and proposed, including size designation shall be delineated; and

2 H. Any additional features of the development which relate to the proposed landscaping scheme, such as soil mounds, drainage swales, slopes, depressions, water elements, etc. SECTION 2.0 GENERAL DESIGN 2.1 RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT A. Multi-family residential developments shall landscape all yard areas which are not specifically used for driveways, walkways, patios or similar purposes. At least thirty-five percent (35%) of the required landscaped area shall be designated to be usable as open recreational area. B. All residential development in the RH Zoning District shall provide landscaping plans consistent with the following criteria: 1) Native vegetation shall be thinned of all dead limbs to reduce foliage mass, and all dead plans and plant litter shall be removed within a distance of thirty (30) feet from all proposed structures and fifteen (15) feet from the main access drive to a dwelling; 2) New landscaping introduced to the site, which is within thirty (30) feet from any structure, shall be fire-resistant and shall be augmented within an irrigation system; 3) New landscaping within fifteen (15) feet from any structure shall consist of selected vegetation with low-grounding characteristics; 4) New trees shall be kept a minimum distance of twenty (20) feet from all proposed chimneys; and 5) New landscaping within twenty (20) feet from a publicly dedicated street shall consist of selected vegetation with low-growing and fire-resistant characteristics. 2.2 COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT shall provide landscaping plans consistent with the following criteria: A. All commercial development shall provide landscaping within the areas of the development most visible from adjacent streets; B. A minimum ten (10) foot wide planter area, in addition to the public right-of-way, shall be provided along each street frontage; 2

3 C. At least eight percent (8%) of the gross land area in addition to the public right-of-way shall be landscaped, except in the C2 (Central District Commercial) zoning district where front and side yard setbacks are not utilized; D. All portions of a site with over forty (40) square feet in area not specifically used for parking, driveways, walkways or similar access shall be landscaped; E. Landscaped islands shall be located in parking lots at the rate of fifty (50) square feet for every twelve (12) stalls, and shall be evenly distributed throughout the parking area; F. All planter areas shall be at least five (5) feet wide, except as approved by the Planning Division Manager due to a specific site situation where the minimum width is impractical; G. Fences/walls should complement the building architecture and landscaping. Long building expanses shall be architecturally designed or landscaped to prevent monotony; and H. Parking areas shall be screened from adjacent residential areas and streets, except at driveways and street corners where visibility is needed. 2.3 INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT A. All industrial developments are required by City Zoning Ordinance to landscape the front and side yard areas adjacent to streets which are not specifically used for parking, driveways, or walkways. Additional landscaping may be required to screen parking lots, exposed storage yards, fences, and loading areas. Planter areas shall be at least five (5) feet wide, except as approved by the Director of Planning Division Manager due to a specific site situation where the minimum width is impractical. B. Landscaping shall be designated to enhance the aesthetic quality of the development by using the following design guidelines: 1) The fronts of all industrial sites as well as exposed side and rear yards shall be landscaped; site fronts shall receive landscaping emphasis; 2) Heavy buffering shall be required where any new industrial development abuts commercial or residential uses. An eight (8) foot wide minimum landscaped buffer shall be required; 3) Loading facilities shall be located in the rear rather than in the front of a building, unless well screened from the adjacent street by landscaping and building design; 3

4 2.4 ALL DEVELOPMENT 4) Fences shall complement the building architecture. Long building expanses shall be architecturally designed or landscaped to prevent monotony; 5) Outdoor storage areas shall be screened by landscaping and/or materials integral with the building design; and 6) Industrial development visible from the South Valley Freeway shall be screened from view with dense landscaping. A. Landscaping shall be a positive element of the site plan and not merely a treatment for leftover space. The landscaping shall be designed to enhance the aesthetic quality of the development by using the following design guidelines. 1) Extensive landscaping shall be provided and properly maintained to enhance building design and siting; 2) Trees and shrubs should be clustered together for accent in order to form aesthetically pleasing groupings and patterns; 3) In certain locations (such as around trash enclosures, carports, pool equipment, electric transformers, cable boxes, etc.) landscaping shall be designed to provide a visual screen from less pleasing features of a development; however, landscaping shall not be placed so as to interfere with the accessibility to and maintenance of such structures and/or equipment; 4) Mounding and dense landscaping shall be encouraged to screen parking and trash areas from adjacent streets; 5) The density and placement of plants are to be determined by the plant size at maturity. When initially installed, ground cover shall give enough coverage for a pleasing appearance in all landscaped areas; 6) Gravel, redwood bark chips and similar material shall not be used as a major landscaping design feature except in children s play areas. These materials may be used only to cover bare soil between plant materials until the plants fill in at maturity; 7) Sturdy raised curbs shall separate all planter areas from driveways and parking areas where feasible. Wheel stops need not be provided in parking areas where the front two (2) feet of the planter area is planted with low ground cover to accommodate car overhang; 4

5 8) Trees shall be provided to shade walkways and parking areas for climate modification, and to screen long building frontages; 9) All trees shall be a minimum size of fifteen (15) gallons; 10) All existing on-site trees shall be shown on preliminary plans, and significant trees shall be preserved and enhanced by building and site design, in accordance with Landscape Policy Section 6; 11) Deep Root Planters (Deep Root Corporation or equivalent) shall be provided where trees are planted within three (3) feet of city pavement or sidewalk planting situation. When required, deep root planters shall be installed per City of Gilroy Standard Detail plans; 12) City street trees shall be provided as required under Sections 3.0 and 4.0 from this Policy; 13) Drought tolerant planting which requires little irrigation is strongly encouraged; and 14) Irrigation systems which result in minimum runoff and evaporation are strongly encouraged. B. Existing trees and shrubs in good condition shall be saved whenever possible. New plant materials shall be carefully selected in accord with the following criteria; 1) The overall compatibility of the ultimate form, size, density and color of trees, shrubs and ground cover at maturity shall be considered; 2) The tolerance of the plant materials to existing physical conditions, and resistance to insect pests and disease shall be considered; 3) The intended use (such as shade, screening, windbreak, erosion control, etc.) as well as the ease of maintenance shall be considered; and 4) The mutual compatibility of the water needs for the various plant materials. C. All landscaping shall be installed and maintained: 1) In accordance with the approved landscape plan; 2) With the use of only healthy, well formed and vigorous plant materials; 3) With the use of adequate soil amendments where poor soil conditions exist; 5

6 4) Continuously maintained so as not to restrict the required access to any public utility and/or easement; and 5) Maintained in a live and healthy condition free of weeds. The developer and/or owner shall be required to remove all weeds and replace all sick or dead plant materials for a six (6) month period after final installation. SECTION 3.0 CITY STREET TREES 3.1 The City will install street trees in the public right-of-way in the R1 zoning district (A planting/replacement fee shall apply). Developers may choose to plant street trees in the R1 zoning district by obtaining a Street Tree Permit from the Community Services Department prior to obtaining a building permit (an inspection/replacement fee shall apply). 3.2 The Developer shall install city street trees in all commercial, industrial, and multi-family residential developments per approved landscape plans (an inspection/replacement fee shall apply). A properly licensed landscape contractor shall install the street tree. A Street Tree Permit shall be obtained by the developer prior to issuance of the building permit. 3.3 Residential developments in the Residential Hillside (RH) zoning district are not required to plant city street trees. 3.4 City street trees shall be selected and installed in accordance with the following criteria: A. City street trees shall be planted in the public right-of-way as per City of Gilroy Standard Detail Plan; B. Street trees shall be a minimum size of fifteen (15) gallons. Where an existing street tree must be removed to accommodate development, a replacement tree of as near the same size as removed shall be planted; C. All City street trees shall be irrigated with an automatic irrigation system, except in the R1 zoning district; D. A fee shall be assessed for the planting of a city street tree by the Building Division at the time a building permit is issued (as authorized under City Code Section and 26.16); E. The developer shall use the tree species as designated by the Master Street Tree Planting Plan (as authorized under City Code Section 26.51). Applicants may request a substitution of the designated tree species, by formal request in writing, subject to approval from the Community Services Department; 6

7 F. Spacing of city trees shall be thirty (30) feet on center, unless other restrictions prohibit this spacing; G. Street trees shall be spaced at least ten (10) feet from sewer laterals and street lights, and at least five (5) feet from water laterals, gas laterals, fire hydrants, driveway aprons, and telephone/cable/electrical junction boxes. H. All work in the public right-of-way (including street tree planting) shall be done in such a manner as to avoid creating hazards to the public. Traffic control devices (signs, barricades, flagmen, etc.) shall be provided as required in the State Manual of Traffic Controls ; I. All trees shall be inspected by a Community Services Department representative prior to installation and acceptance as a city street tree. Trees planted without prior inspection shall be deemed defective and shall be removed by the installer. Request for inspection shall be made forty-eight (48) hours prior to planting, by calling the Community Services Department; J. City street trees planted by the developer shall be guaranteed for growth and health for ninety (90) days, and workmanship for one (1) year after final acceptance by the City Community Services Department; K. When required, the developer shall install city street trees adjacent to sound walls and in medians as per Section 4.0 of this policy. The Inspection/Replacement fee shall apply; L. Deep root planters (or an equivalent as approved by the Community Services Department) shall be provided for city street trees in sidewalk cutouts. Deep root planters may also be required in other situations depending on the type of tree and the specific planting situation. When required, deep root planters and a tree well covering shall be installed per City of Gilroy Standard Detail plans; and M. No person shall construct or put in place any concrete, brick, asphalt, wood product, plastic sheeting, or other material impervious to air and water around the base of any street tree within a distance of three (3) feet. In addition, no excess soil, mulch, or other organic/inorganic material shall be placed above a tree s root crown within a distance of three (3) feet. N. No person shall cut, trim, prune, spray, brace, move, remove, or replace any street tree in the public right-of-way without a written permit from the Community Services Department. 7

8 SECTION 4.0 SOUND WALLS & MEDIAN LANDSCAPING 4.1 For residential development, sound walls shall be installed by the developer in the following situations: A. When a rear yard abuts a designated Collector, Thoroughfare, Expressway, and/or Freeway, as delineated on the City of Gilroy s General Plan Land Use Map. B. Under special circumstances, as may be required by a condition of approval through the City s development review process. 4.2 Sound walls shall be constructed by the developer within the outer edge of the public right-of-way, and shall meet the minimum standards as required by the Community Development Department. Approval for the design of sound walls shall be based on the following criteria: A. Noise attenuation characteristics; B. Durability of the sound wall materials; C. Maintainability of the sound wall and supporting structure, and the availability of all building elements (i.e. replacement panels in a specific color); and D. Ease of maintenance of the sound wall surface (i.e. graffiti removal); Sound walls should create visual interest and should be designed with attractive wall textures and materials, varying wall depths and dimensions, decorative structural components and/or creative wall design. Examples of these diverse architectural elements are discussed as follows: A. Texture: Natural, irregular, or rough surface textures are preferred. To the extent feasible, the cultivation of climbing vines to cover the soundwall is encouraged. B. Depth or Dimensional Structures: Structural architectural features shall be used, where possible, to promote depth or a three dimensional design. C. Major Structural Components: The major structural components of a sound wall (i.e. columns, inter-column walls and capstones) shall be varied, where possible, for greater visual interest. If this is done, it is important that these elements from a harmonious and integrated whole. 8

9 D. Architectural Façade: A variety in the smaller details of the façade shall be encouraged for their contribution to the sound wall s overall visual interest and attractiveness (e.g. tile decorations, finials, climbing vines, wall framing, and harmoniously integrated color varieties). E. Sound walls should be integrated harmoniously with existing sound walls in the general environment. 4.3 Sound walls and medians shall be enhanced with landscaping having an irrigation system, and shall meet the following design criteria: A. All plant materials within the City right-of-way shall be pre-approved by the Community Development Department for minimum size and species type; B. All plant materials shall be installed in accordance with the approved landscape plan; C. Only healthy, well formed and vigorous plant materials shall be used; D. An attractive overall appearance shall be achieved through a harmonious balance between varieties of plant textures, colors, geometries, and leaf densities. Year round visual interest shall be introduced through an appropriate evergreen/deciduous balance and flowering perennials. Architectural depth and character shall be incorporated through a variety of plant sizes, shapes and heights. E. Soil amendments shall be used where poor soil conditions exist and shall meet the minimum standards required by the Community Services Department; F. All plant materials shall be maintained in a live and healthy condition free of weeds. The developer and/or owner shall be required to remove weeds and replace all sick or dead plant materials for a one (1) year period after final approval by the Community Services Department; G. In residential districts, the top of a berm shall not encroach within six (6) feet of the top of a sound wall and shall be landscaped. H. An automatic irrigation system which shall meet the minimum standards required by the Community Services Department; I. The developer shall submit to the Community Services Department one complete set of approved irrigation plans (24 x 36 ) in a plate mylar format which shall be delineated in a scale not less than 1 =40 (alternate layout size, format, and/or scale shall be subject to the approval from the Community Services Department); and 9

10 J. The developer and/or owner shall be responsible for the operation and maintenance of the irrigation system (including energy and water) for a one (1) year period after final approval by the Community Services Department. SECTION 5.0 WATER CONSERVATION REQUIREMENTS 5.1 The following design elements shall be incorporated into all commercial and industrial projects utilizing fresh water: A. A minimum of seventy-five percent (75%) of the plants selected shall be drought tolerant, as listed in either of the following two sources: 1) Water-Conserving Plants & Landscapes for the Bay Area, published by East Bay Municipal Utility District; and/or 2) New Western Garden Book, list of Drought Tolerant Plants, published by Sunset Magazine. B. Proposed turf and/or non-drought tolerant planting areas shall be limited to a maximum of twenty-five percent (25%) of the total landscaped area. C. Turf shall not be allowed within a city parkway strip or right-of-way, in landscaped areas less than eight feet (8 ) in width, and on berms. D. Turf and/or non-drought tolerant plant material shall be grouped together. E. The irrigation system shall incorporate multiple water lines in order to separate drought tolerant plants from non-drought tolerant plant material. Minimum water consumption shall be the primary objective in the design of the irrigation system, which should include (but not limited to) drip emitters, bubbler heads, micro spray units, etc. F. An electronic control box shall operate the irrigation system, and shall have the capability to accept ground moisture sensors and/or automatic rain shut-off devices. G. Ground moisture sensors and/or automatic rain shut-off devices are strongly recommended accessories for the irrigation system. H. A minimum of two inches (2 ) of mulch shall be added to the entire landscaped ground surface in all non-turf areas. I. Open water bodies (including but not limited to ponds, decorative fountains, basins, reflective pools, and spray/mist fountains, etc.) are not recommended as a landscaping feature. 10

11 SECTION 6.0 SIGNIFICANT TREES 6.1 During project preliminary review, staff shall determine if existing trees shall be designated significant. This determination shall be based upon the following guidelines: A. Existing native trees (naturally occurring in species in Gilroy) six inches (6 ) or more in diameter, at a point four and one half feet (4 ½ ) above the ground, or B. Important to the historical or visual aspect of Gilroy (the hillside tree stands). 6.2 If a significant tree is present, the applicant may be required to hire a certified consulting arborist for the entire span of the project. All arborist recommendations shall be listed on the final landscape plans. 6.3 The consulting arborist shall sign the Final Landscape Plans certifying that the plan is consistent with the recommendations made in the arborist s report. 6.4 All significant trees shall be maintained by the property owner until deemed insignificant by a public hearing or deemed a threat to the public health, safety, and welfare, by the Planning Division Manager. 11

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