§ 18.108.100. Erosion hazard areas—Vegetation preservation and replacement.

Whenever a project within an erosion hazard area requires issuance of a discretionary permit such as a use permit or an administrative permit including, but not limited to, building permits, grading permits, erosion control plans, permits in compliance with the NPDES program and sewage disposal system permits, the permit shall be subject to the following conditions:

A.

Existing vegetation shall be preserved to the maximum extent consistent with the project. Vegetation shall not be removed if it is identified as being necessary for erosion control in the approved erosion control plan or if necessary for the preservation of threatened or endangered plant or animal habitats as designated by state or federal agencies with jurisdiction and identified on the county's environmental sensitivity maps.

B.

Existing trees six inches in diameter or larger, measured at diameter breast height, (DBH), or tree stands of trees six inches in diameter (DBH) or larger located on a site for which either an administrative or discretionary permit is required shall not be removed until the required permits have been approved by the decision-making body and tree removal has been specifically authorized.

C.

Trees to be retained or designated for retention shall be protected through the use of barricades or other appropriate methods to be placed and maintained at their outboard drip line during the construction phase. Where appropriate, the director may require an applicant to install and maintain construction fencing around the trees to ensure their protection during earthmoving activities.

D.

Wherever removal of vegetation is necessitated or authorized, the director or designee may require the planting of replacement vegetation of an equivalent kind, quality and quantity.

E.

Vegetation required to be preserved but removed either advertently or inadvertently, or before any required permit has been issued, shall be replaced with fifteen-gallon trees at a ratio of 2:1 at locations approved by the director or designee, or replaced with smaller trees at a higher ratio to be determined by the director or designee.

F.

All graded areas for nonagricultural activities shall be replanted with permanent vegetation. A revegetation plan shall be submitted for approval by the director or designee concurrently with the erosion control plan or as part of the NPDES program. All approved plant materials shall be installed prior to occupancy. Plant materials shall be drought-tolerant and compatible with the existing habitat area in which the project is located.

G.

To the extent relevant to the agriculture activity proposed, the project shall substantially conform to the guidelines contained in the Information Manual: Riparian Vegetation Management for Pierce's Disease in North Coast California Vineyard (Soil Conservation Service/Napa County Resource Conservation District, 2000 or as later amended), which are incorporated herein by reference.

H.

To prevent importation of plant insects or diseases, plant materials shall be purchased locally when practical. The county agricultural commissioner's office shall be notified of all impending deliveries of live plants with points of origin outside of the county.

(Ord. 1300 § 6, 2007: Ord. 1259 § 10, 2005: Ord. 991 § 1 (part), 1991: prior code § 12457)