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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1256 410 410 RESOLUTION NO. 1256 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF THE TOWN OF LOS ALTOS HILLS ADOPTING A POLICY CONCERNING LANDSCAPING REQUIREMENTS FOR SITE DEVELOPMENT AND SUBDIVISION WHEREAS, the Planning Commission has recommended the approval of a policy regarding landscaping requirements in connection with site development or subdivision of property together with proced- ures for its implementation; and, WHEREAS , the City Council, having considered the proposed landscaping policy and its implementation, desires to approve the same as being required to protect the public health, safety and welfare, NOW, THEREFORE, IT IS HEREBY RESOLVED as follows : 1 . The functions of landscaping requirements in development of a site within the City of the Town of Los Altos Hills , herein called the "TOWN" must be viewed in connection with the provision of the General Plan calling for landscaping to create maximum com- patibility of development with the natural environment. To this end, landscaping may be required to soften the impact of new buildings, swimmingpools, tennis courts , or driveways, and g Y , arti- ficial cuts and fills as seen from off the site. Because of the hilly, difficult terrain, the impact of graded roads, new buildings, tennis courts, and swimming pools may be felt miles away as well as by the immediate neighbors and the travelling public along the roadway. 411 2 . Although it is recognized that one function of land- scaping is to please the people on whose property the landscaping exists, concerning this function, which is a matter of individual taste, the Town should not assume responsibility. 3 . Another major function of landscaping is to protect the environment, visual as well as natural. In regard to this function, the Town has the responsibility, according to the General Plan, to require planting and/or replanting, where necessary, to maintain soil stability, to prevent erosion, to abate unnatural noise, to protect wildlife habitat, and to retain aesthetic quality. 4 . The retention of aesthetic quality for the public at large is a function of landscaping in which the Town should play an active role. For the benefit of its citizens, the Town should protect the scenic views and seek to mitigate the effects of large, unnatural, or unsightly structures and graded banks . 5. The following guidelines are approved to provide guidance to persons presenting plans for new structures or grading plans to the Site Development Committee, or persons submitting proposed sub- division maps to the Subdivision Committee, respectively, namely: (a) The Town should require only the minimum number of plants necessary to achieve the functions mentioned above. A bond shall be posted to ensure that minimum screening and landscaping requirements are installed and maintained. (b) The Town 's primary interest in landscaping concerns the impact on the views from off the site. The applicants ' on-site views are not the concern of the Town; the effect -2- of the applicants' structures on the view of others are the concern of the Town. The off-site views should be considered from both near and far, from the point of view of existing and possible residences , from road- ways and pathways. (c) The unnecessary obstructionof open vistas across newly-developed property should be avoided. (d) Plants and shrubbery shall be planted so as not to encroach on roads and pathways. (e) The larger the structure, the larger the plants should be to soften the effect of the structure. (f) Plants placed close to a structure are much more effective as screening than plants along the perimeter of the property. (g) The judicious placement of a few shrubs and trees near the new structure (especially in meadow or orchard areas) insures the natural or rural quality of the Town. (h) The protection of the environment is best served by the use of native and fire-resistant plants. (i) View corridors and open spaces should be considered. (j) Landscaping placements should accommodate require- ments for both passive and active solar systems without sacrificing the aesthetic objectives set forth in this Resolution. (k) The Town should -address each,individual -case- at the time .of Site Development only. At this time, specific -3- recommendations for landscaping should be made to the applicant and should address those areas identified in the Guidelines (i.e. , solar access, erosion control, neighbors views, among others) . (1) In connection with a subdivision, the Subdivision Committee should address itself to those aspects of landscaping that are broadly stated in the General Plan, including but not limited to the following statement in the Regional Content, to wit: ' • . .because the planning area is located in hillsides visible from a significant part of the region, the natural characteristics of the slopes provide visual relief from the conges- tion of the more urban areas for a large number of Bay Area residents . " The Subdivision Committee also should be concerned with the off-site view of the hillside, recommending mitigating landscaping procedures if needed (e.g. terracing cut hill- sides and planting with natural vegetation in addition to hydromulching) , and those areas which the Town has desig- nated as fire risk areas. 6 . The foregoing policy and guidelines shall be implemented as follows : (a) A checklist shall be developed for use by the Site Development Committee or Subdivision Committee, as the case may be, in consultation with the Environmental Design Committee, and which shall be included in the file for each application. The checklist shall itemize -4- areas of concern and provide specific suggestions for mitigation, for example, native vegetation for minimally developed areas , blending schemes for more highly de- veloped areas, appropriate cover and screening for cut and fill areas, fire resistant plants for high fire hazard areas, among others. (b) Concerning a subdivision, specific conditions re- lated to landscaping would be included among the condi- tions adopted when a tentative map for the subdivision is approved. (c) Concerning Site Development, if the required land- scaping is not completed at the time of Final Inspec- tion, a cash deposit of $1,000 .00 will be required with a six (6) month time limit for compliance. If the landscaping is not installed prior to the expiration of the six (6) month period, the Town will use the cash deposit to complete the landscaping work through a con- tract with an independent contractor qualified to do the required work. REGULARLY passed and adopted this 2nd day of January, 1980. APPROVED: ATTEST: CITY CO NCIL < City -Clerk= Mayo -5-