14.44.240 Telecommunications facilities — Vegetation protection and facility screening.
All telecommunications facilities shall be installed in such a manner so as to maintain and enhance existing native vegetation and to install suitable landscaping to screen the facility, where necessary. To this end all of the following measures shall be implemented for all telecommunication facilities, except exempt facilities as defined in Section 14.44.020(S)(1):
A. A landscape plan shall be submitted with project application submittal indicating all existing vegetation, identifying landscaping that is to be retained on the site and any additional vegetation that is needed to satisfactorily screen the facility from adjacent land uses and public view areas. The landscape plan shall be subject to review and approval of the site plan and architectural review process. All trees, larger than four inches in diameter shall be identified in the landscape plan with indication of species type, diameter at four and one-half feet high, and whether it is to be retained or removed with project development;
B. Existing trees and other screening vegetation in the vicinity of the facility and along the access roads and power/telecommunication line routes involved shall be protected from damage, both during the construction period and thereafter. To this end, the following measures shall be implemented:
1. A tree protection plan shall be submitted with building permit or improvement plan. This plan shall be prepared by a certified arborist and give specific measures to protect trees during project construction;
2. Grading, cutting/filling, and the storage/parking of equipment/vehicles shall be prohibited in landscaped areas to be protected and the drip line of any trees required to be preserved. Such areas shall be fenced to the satisfaction of the planning director or site plan and architectural review committee, as appropriate. Trash, debris, or spoils shall not be placed within these fences nor shall the fences henceforth be opened or moved until the project is complete and written approval to take the fences down has been received from the planning director; and
3. All underground lines shall be routed such that a minimum amount of damage is done to tree root systems.
C. All areas disturbed during project construction other than the access road and parking areas required under Section 14.44.230 shall be replanted with vegetation compatible with the vegetation in the surrounding area (e.g., ornamental shrubs or natural brush, depending upon the circumstances) to the satisfaction of the planning director;
D. Any existing trees or significant vegetation, on the facilities site or along the affected access area that die shall be replaced with native trees and vegetation of a size and species acceptable to the planning director; and
E. No actions shall be taken subsequent to project completion with respect to the vegetation present that would increase the visibility of the facility itself or the access road and power/telecommunication lines serving it.
(Ord. 2029 NCS (part), 1996.)