HomeMy WebLinkAboutAGENDA REPORT 2015 0902 CCSA REG ITEM 09C •
ITEM 9.C.
CITY OF MOORPARK,CALIFORNIA
City Council Meeting
MOORPARK CITY COUNCIL of q—A -20/6
AGENDA REPORT ACTION:
TO: The Honorable City Council BY:
FROM: Jeremy Laurentowski, Parks and Recreation D' cto p
BY: Jessica Sandifer, Senior Management Analy
DATE: August 25, 2015 (CC Meeting of 9/2/2015)
SUBJECT: Consider Variance of Resolution No. 2012-3096, Landscape Design
Standards and Guidelines, for Landscape Renovation Project at Villa
Del Arroyo Mobile Home Park
BACKGROUND & DISCUSSION
Augusta Communities is a non-profit housing organization providing affordable housing
at mobile home parks across the State. Villa Del Arroyo (VDA) is one of Augusta
Communities' affordable housing mobile home parks located in Moorpark. There are 48
spaces at VDA restricted to very-low income individuals and families. Due to the current
drought conditions, and the fact several landscape areas are in need of renovation,
VDA management has initiated a project to renovate the landscape area at the front of
the park, directly adjacent to Arroyo Drive.
The City's Landscape Design Standards and Guidelines ("Guidelines"), Resolution No.
2012-3096, was created to provide minimum landscape standards for projects within the
City. In addition, as required by the State of California, the Guidelines adopt the water
use requirements of the State of California's Model Water Efficient Landscape
Ordinance (MWELO). The Guidelines apply to landscape renovation projects that
consist of 2,500 square feet (s.f.) or more in size. Due to the fact that VDA's renovation
area is within the City's right-of-way, a City standard encroachment permit is required
for this work. In addition, the work area exceeds 2,500 s.f. and will need to meet the
requirements of the Guidelines.
VDA's owners were not aware that the renovation of the landscape area would require
an encroachment permit or would need to meet the requirements of the Guidelines. By
the time they became aware of this fact, they had already removed all of the turf and
trees along Arroyo Drive. Many of the trees had declined over time and the remaining
trees were removed due to the poor health condition of the trees. The turf was removed
in an effort to conserve water. VDA's original approved landscape plan for the area
adjacent to Arroyo Drive included turf and street trees placed every 50 feet on-center.
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City Council Meeting
September 2, 2015
Page 2
VDA is asking for a variance to the Guidelines and is requesting approval to space the
trees along Arroyo Drive every 50 feet on-center as originally approved for the project,
instead of every 30 feet on-center as required by the Guidelines. The total street
frontage is approximately 3,200 linear feet. This would require 106 street trees to be
installed at the minimum spacing requirement identified in the Guidelines, or 64 street
trees at the requested variance. VDA has stated that placing trees every 30 feet would
be a financial hardship for the park. Staff estimates that the cost difference between the
spacing requirements of the Guidelines and the requested variance is approximately
$11,500. It should be noted that the street tree spacing is a requirement of the City and
is not part of the MWELO. VDA has agreed to comply with all the other requirements of
the Guidelines. This includes the installation of drip irrigation and drought tolerant plant
material to meet the State's water use requirements. Per the Guidelines, VDA will be
required to install one shrub for every 100 s.f. of landscape area. VDA will install bark
mulch to deter weeds and assist with water retention, and will work with the City to
adjust the irrigation system in anticipation of a future sidewalk project that is planned
along Arroyo Drive.
In the interest of supporting landscape renovation projects that reduce water
consumption, staff recommends approval of the variance to the Guidelines and allowing
VDA to plant the street trees every 50 feet on center.
FISCAL IMPACT
No fiscal impact.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION
Approve variance of the City of Moorpark Landscape Design Standards and Guidelines
and authorize staff to approve Villa Del Arroyo's Landscape Plans with street trees
placed every 50 feet on center.
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