Open Space and Landscaping Requirements for Regional Commercial (RC) Districts in Concord

In the Regional Commercial (RC) district of Concord, developments must provide a minimum of 20 percent of the site area as landscaping. While specific on-site open space requirements are set by the planning commission for this district, developments must also comply with general landscaping standards designed to enhance the city's appearance and minimize water demand.

Landscaping Requirements in the RC District

The Regional Commercial (RC) district is subject to specific minimum landscaping requirements as defined in the Concord Development Code.

Minimum Landscaped Area

Per [Section 18.165.050], the minimum area of a site within the Regional Commercial (RC) district that must be landscaped is 20 percent of the total site.

Landscape Standards and Design

All landscaping in the Regional Commercial (RC) district must adhere to the following standards:

Landscape Plan: A preliminary landscape plan must be submitted with any application for a planning permit in the RC district [Section 18.165.030].
Water Efficiency: Landscaping must be designed to meet the requirements of Chapter 18.170, which adopts the State Model Water Efficient Landscaping Ordinance [Section 18.165.070].
Design Principles: Landscaping must be in scale with on-site and adjacent buildings, selected to avoid conflicts with infrastructure, and designed to provide a safe and attractive pedestrian environment [Section 18.165.070].
Plant Materials: A mix of plant materials is required, and calculations for this mix must be provided on the landscape plan. Trees must be a minimum size of 24-inch box, and shrubs must be a minimum of five-gallon containers [Section 18.165.070].
Maintenance: All landscaped areas must be permanently maintained in a healthy and thriving condition, including regular irrigation adjustments, weed control, and replacement of dead or diseased plants [Section 18.165.080].

Parking Lot Landscaping

Parking areas within the Regional Commercial (RC) district are subject to additional landscaping requirements, which are separate from the general 20 percent site landscaping requirement [Section 18.165.060]:

Parking Lot Landscaping Requirement	Specification
Minimum Interior Landscaping	10 percent of the gross area of the parking lot [Section 18.165.060].
Tree Shading Goal	50 percent shading of parking lot pavement within 10 years [Section 18.165.060].
Tree Ratio	Minimum of one 24-inch box shade tree for every five parking spaces [Section 18.165.060].
Perimeter Screening (Adjacent to Streets)	Minimum and maximum height of 30 to 36 inches [Section 18.165.060].
Street Tree Provision	Minimum of one tree for every 30 linear feet of landscaped area [Section 18.165.060].

Open Space Requirements

The Concord Development Code specifies that open space requirements for the Regional Commercial (RC) district are determined at the discretion of the review authority [Section 18.165.050]. If a project includes residential components (such as a mixed-use development), the project must comply with the open space standards for residential developments as outlined in [Section 18.150.100].

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