Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Development Standards topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Part 3 would standardize height/setback measurement; landscaping aligned to California AMLO
Summary
Staff proposed countywide development standards clarifying how height and setbacks are measured, a new landscaping section to meet California's model landscape ordinance (AMLO) for water efficiency, and noted CAL FIRE defensible-space rules still apply.
Staff walked the commission through Part 3, which consolidates general site and building standards that would apply countywide and clarifies measurement methods to match building code practice.
"The state requires, the state of California requires, that jurisdictions either adopt their own landscaping provisions or they default to the state's model ordinance," the presenter said, summarizing why the draft links to the state's model landscape rules (AMLO) rather than adding new water-efficiency standards beyond state requirements.
Staff also explained measurement clarifications (height from average finished grade to highest point), practical exceptions for chimneys and similar items, and that CAL FIRE defensible-space requirements remain applicable to properties in high-risk zones. Commissioners asked that the draft remain sensitive to rural conditions and avoid layering additional landscaping burdens on top of defensible-space requirements.
