17.61.032 Additional requirements.
In addition to the minimum standards contained in Section 17.61.030, the following shall apply to those specific geographic areas as identified below:
A. Central City Area. For the purposes of this subsection, Central City Area is identified as including all lands bounded by 23rd Street to the north, Truxtun Avenue to the south, M Street to the east, and G Street to the west.
1. Street tree species shall be consistent with the Central City Master Street Tree Plan as adopted by city council Resolution No. 195-92.
B. Northeast Bakersfield. For the purposes of this subsection, Northeast Bakersfield is identified as including all lands east of Fairfax Road (and any northern extension thereof) and north of the Union Pacific Railroad that parallels Edison Highway.
1. New landscape areas shall consist predominately of native California trees (e.g., oaks and sycamores), shrubs and groundcovers mixed with ornamental species. Planting shall occur in nonlinear clusters to resemble a natural appearance. Firescape species approved by the planning director shall be used along the perimeter of the project site adjacent to native or slope areas if outside the HD zone district.
2. Use of boulder clusters and other native rock combinations shall be installed with vegetation to resemble a natural distribution blending into the surrounding native areas and/or street parkways that may contain similar design elements.
3. Along slopes, plantings shall be done with more dense and larger species of trees and shrubs closer to streets with a gradual reduction of plantings that are less dense with smaller species as you move further away from the streets to provide a natural transition between the streetscape and native areas.
4. Design content shall retain the natural flora and site character as much as possible with a subtle landscape transition between maintained and native areas.
5. Xeriscape and/or regional native plant selections shall be used to revegetate any disturbed areas outside the project area, unless city ordinances, resolutions, or conditions of approval state otherwise.
6. New landscape areas along slopes and slope easements may be required to be privately maintained as undeveloped areas of native landscaping, greenbelts, or open space, without fencing or other structures, as determined by the planning director, or as may be conditioned by the planning commission or city council.
7. These standards do not apply to residential projects that contain four units or less and that are not part of a larger multiple-family subdivision with more than four lots. (Ord. 4943 § 1, 2018; Ord. 4641 § 2, 2011; Ord. 4624 § 2, 2010; Ord. 4617 § 5, 2010)