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Council introduces ordinance setting commercial landscape maintenance standards, amid public concern over private-property mandates
Summary
Ridgecrest trustees voted to introduce an ordinance that would set minimum landscape coverage standards for commercial properties, require drought‑tolerant plantings and allow exceptions; residents raised concerns about costs and unfunded mandates during public comment.
The Ridgecrest City Council on Aug. 6 voted 5-0 to introduce by title an ordinance amending the Ridgecrest Municipal Code to set standards for commercial landscape maintenance.
Planning staff explained the ordinance applies to commercial properties only and is intended to replace subjective enforcement with measurable standards for landscape coverage, plant types and maintenance. The ordinance adds a definition of “hardscape” (decomposed granite, rock and similar materials), sets minimum landscape coverage in commercial parking and establishes planting targets, including tree, shrub and ground-cover coverage at maturity. Staff said the…
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