18.40.100 Landscaping – General standards for all landscape areas.
All new landscape areas proposed for a development shall be subject to the following provisions:
(1) Berms shall not exceed a slope of two horizontal feet to one vertical foot.
(2) All new turf areas, except all-weather, sand-based athletic fields shall:
(a) Be augmented with a three-inch layer of organic material cultivated a minimum of six inches deep; or
(b) Have an organic content of five percent or more to a depth of six inches as shown in a soil sample analysis. The soil analysis shall include:
(i) Determination of soil texture, indicating percentage of organic matter;
(ii) An approximated soil infiltration rate (either measured or derived from soil/texture /infiltration rate tables). A range of infiltration rates shall be noted where appropriate; and
(iii) Measure Ph value.
(3) Except as specifically outlined for turf areas in subsection (2) of this section, the organic content of soils in any landscape area shall be as necessary to provide adequate nutrient and moisture-retention levels for the establishment of plantings.
(4) Landscape areas, except turf or areas of established ground cover, shall be covered with at least two inches of mulch to minimize evaporation.
(5) Plants having similar water use characteristics shall be grouped together in distinct hydrozones.
(6) Plant selection shall consider adaptability to climatic, geologic, and topographical conditions of the site. Preservation of existing vegetation is encouraged. (Ord. 42-02 § 2 (21A.16.085))