30.25.023 Stormwater flow control or treatment facility landscaping.
(1) Vegetation and landscaping requirements for the functional components and areas of stormwater flow control or treatment facilities are regulated by chapter 30.63A SCC. These functional components and areas include, but are not limited to, earthen berms, infiltration and detention pond bottoms, filter beds, bioretention facilities, vegetated slopes and swales used for stormwater treatment or flow control, access roads for these facilities, and any other components or areas used for or required for proper function, inspection, maintenance, or repair of these facilities, as described in chapter 30.63A SCC, the EDDS, or the Drainage Manual.
(2) Landscaping in tracts or easements containing stormwater flow control or treatment facilities, excluding those areas described in subsection (1) of this section, shall meet or exceed the standards set forth in this section except:
(a) In the LI and HI zones, landscaping shall only be required around flow control or treatment facilities located between a public road and building; and
(b) When critical areas or their buffers are used for stormwater flow control or treatment as allowed pursuant to chapters 30.62A and 30.63A SCC, the landscaping provisions of chapters 30.62A and 30.63A SCC shall apply instead of this section.
(3) The department shall review proposed landscaping plans and may require revisions and upgrades to the proposed landscaping to ensure that landscaping provides an effective visual screen for fenced facilities without compromising safety, security and maintenance access, is able to endure expected inundation, and enhances the overall appearance of a stormwater flow control or treatment facility.
(4) Where perimeter fencing of a stormwater flow control or treatment facility is required pursuant to the EDDS, Type A landscaping at least six feet in height and six feet in width shall be installed. The landscaping shall be placed at least five feet from the fence in order to create a maintenance access pathway unless the director makes a determination based on documentation provided by the applicant that site characteristics render this setback infeasible and the proposal documents that maintenance may be otherwise provided. This decision shall be processed as a landscape modification pursuant to SCC 30.25.040. To maintain sight triangles, fenced facilities that abut public rights-of-way shall comply with setbacks and height restrictions pursuant to SCC 30.23.100.
(5) Where fencing is not required for landscaping within a stormwater flow control or treatment facility, the applicable landscaping guidelines contained in volumes III and V of the Drainage Manual shall be considered during the design of the facility.
(6) Where fencing is not required and the unfenced stormwater flow control or treatment facility is not completely screened pursuant to subsection (3) of this section, the facility shall be landscaped to improve its appearance as follows:
(a) If the stormwater flow control or treatment facility is located in, adjacent to or near a lake, wetland, or fish and wildlife habitat conservation area, or their buffers, the areas between the facilities and these critical areas shall be left in natural or near-natural conditions; and
(b) If the stormwater flow control or treatment facility features terraces or steps landscaping in accordance with the applicable standards set forth in volumes III and V of the Drainage Manual shall be used to complement the terraced edge condition. (Added by Amended Ord. 02-064, Dec. 9, 2002, Eff date Feb. 1, 2003; Amended by Amended Ord. 08-101, Jan. 21, 2009, Eff date Apr. 21, 2009; Amended by Amended Ord. 10-026, June 9, 2010, Eff date Sept. 30, 2010; Amended by Amended Ord. 12-018, May 2, 2012, Eff date May 21, 2012; Amended by Ord. 15-103, Jan. 11, 2016, Eff date Jan. 22, 2016).