20.12.100 Landscape construction plan.
The landscape construction plan shall include all elements of hard landscape, paving, storm water management and drainage not shown on civil engineering plans. It shall include physical layout, specifications and details. The landscape construction plan shall include plans, details and specifications of any water features that comprise the overall landscape improvements. Implementing storm water best management practices into the landscape and grading design plans to minimize runoff and to increase on-site rainwater retention and infiltration are encouraged.
A. Project applicants shall refer to the local agency or Regional Water Quality Control Board for information on any applicable storm water technical requirements.
B. All planted landscape areas are required to have friable soil to maximize water retention and infiltration.
C. It is strongly recommended that landscape areas be designed for capture and infiltration capacity that is sufficient to prevent runoff from impervious surfaces as required by any applicable local, regional, state or federal regulation.
D. It is recommended that storm water projects incorporate any of the following elements to improve on-site storm water and dry weather runoff capture and use:
1. Grade impervious surfaces, such as driveways, during construction to drain to vegetated areas.
2. Minimize the area of impervious surfaces such as paved areas, roof and concrete driveways.
3. Incorporate pervious or porous surfaces (e.g., gravel, permeable pavers or blocks, pervious or porous concrete) that minimize runoff.
4. Direct runoff from paved surfaces and roof areas into planting beds or landscaped areas to maximize site water capture and reuse.
5. Incorporate rain gardens, cisterns, and other rain harvesting or catchment systems.
6. Incorporate infiltration beds, swales, basins and drywells to capture storm water and dry weather runoff and increase percolation into the soil.
7. Consider constructed wetlands and ponds that retain water, equalize excess flow, and filter pollutants. (Ord. 3357 § 1, 2015; Ord. 3146 § 1 (Exh. A), 2009).