Open Space and Landscaping Requirements for Service Commercial (SC) Districts in Concord

The Service Commercial (SC) district in Concord requires a minimum of 20 percent of a project site to be landscaped and does not have a specific quantitative requirement for private open space. All development in the Service Commercial (SC) district must also comply with general landscaping standards, including parking lot landscaping, perimeter screening, and water-efficient irrigation practices.

Landscaping Requirements

In the Service Commercial (SC) district, the minimum area of a site that must be landscaped is 20 percent [Section 18.165.050]. This requirement is in addition to any specific landscaping mandated for parking lots [Section 18.165.050].

Landscape Standards

All landscaping in the Service Commercial (SC) district must comply with the following principles and requirements:

• Design Principles: Landscaping must be in scale with on-site and adjacent buildings, avoiding conflicts with views, lighting, and infrastructure [Section 18.165.070].
• Energy and Sustainability: Landscaping should be designed to provide energy conservation benefits, such as using large trees for shading, and must consider natural drainage features and pervious surfaces to minimize runoff [Section 18.165.070].
• Plant Materials: A mix of plant materials is required, and trees must be a minimum size of 24-inch box, while shrubs must be a minimum of five-gallon containers [Section 18.165.070]. Turf is limited to 25 percent of the total landscaped area [Section 18.165.070].
• Irrigation: All landscaped areas must include an automatic irrigation system designed and installed in compliance with the city's water-efficient landscaping regulations [Section 18.165.030, Section 18.165.070].

Parking Lot Landscaping

Parking lots in the Service Commercial (SC) district must incorporate landscaping that is evenly distributed using a combination of trees, shrubs, and ground cover [Section 18.165.060]. Specific requirements for interior and perimeter parking lot landscaping include:

• Interior Landscaping: A minimum of 10 percent of the gross area of the parking lot must be landscaped, with shade trees provided such that 50 percent shading of the pavement is achieved within 10 years [Section 18.165.060].
• Perimeter Screening: Surface parking areas must be screened from streets and adjoining properties. For parking lots adjacent to streets, landscaping must screen cars from view to a height of 30 to 36 inches, and shade trees must be provided at a rate of one tree for every 30 linear feet of landscaped area [Section 18.165.060].
• Edge Treatments: A perimeter landscaped strip at least five feet wide is required where the parking area adjoins a side or rear property line [Section 18.165.060].

Open Space

While the Service Commercial (SC) district does not have a specific quantitative requirement for "private open space" similar to residential districts, development in the district must incorporate landscaped areas that serve the aesthetic and functional purposes of the development code [Section 18.165.010]. If a mixed-use project is proposed within the Service Commercial (SC) district, it must adhere to the open space and recreational facilities requirements for residential development as detailed in Chapter 18.150 [Section 18.150.100].

Sections Cited

• Section 18.150.100 (Open space and recreational facilities for residential development)
• Section 18.165.010 (Purpose)
• Section 18.165.030 (Landscape plan and irrigation plans)
• Section 18.165.050 (Landscape requirements)
• Section 18.165.060 (Parking lot landscaping)
• Section 18.165.070 (Landscape standards)