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111-10. Existing General Plan policies related to devleopment on sloped lots.pdf Existing General Plan Policies related to Development on Sloped Lots Policy 2-48: Hillside Development Standards Establish building and development standards for the hillsides that ensure hillside protection. Strategies: 1. Ordinance Regulations and Development Approvals. Apply ordinance regulations and development approvals that limit development on ridgelines, hazardous geological areas and steep slopes. Control colors and materials, and minimize the illumination of outdoor lighting. Reduce visible building mass through such means as stepping structures down the hillside, following the natural contours, and limiting the height and mass of the wall plane facing the valley floor. Policy 2-52: Rural Improvement Standards in Hillside Areas Require rural improvement standards in hillside areas to preserve the rural character of the hillsides. Strategies: 1. Mass Grading in New Construction. Follow natural land contour and avoid mass grading in new construction, especially in flood hazard or hillside areas. Grading large, flat areas shall be avoided. 2. Retaining Significant Trees. Retain significant specimen trees, especially when they grow in groves or clusters, and integrate them into the developed site. The Montebello foothills at the south and west boundaries of the valley floor are a scenic backdrop to the City, adding to its sense of scale and variety of color. It’s impossible to guarantee an unobstructed view of the hills from any vantage point, but people should be able to see the foothills from public gathering places. Policy 5-10: Landscaping Near Natural Vegetation Emphasize drought tolerant and pest resistant native and non-invasive, nonnative, drought tolerant plants and ground covers when landscaping properties near natural vegetation, particularly for control of erosion from disturbance to the natural terrain. Policy 5-11: Natural Area Protection Preserve and enhance the existing natural vegetation, landscape features and open space when new development is proposed. Strategy Native Plants. Encourage drought tolerant native and drought tolerant, noninvasive, non-native plants and trees, and minimize lawn area in the hillsides. Policy 5-12: Hillside Property Fencing Confine fencing on hillside property to the area around a building, rather than around an entire site, to allow for migration of wild animals. Policy 5-19: Natural Water Bodies and Drainage Systems Require that site design respect the natural topography and drainages to the extent practicable to reduce the amount of grading necessary and limit disturbance to natural water bodies and natural drainage systems caused by development including roads, highways, and bridges. Policy 5-20: Reduction of Impervious Surfaces Minimize storm water flow and erosion impacts resulting from development. Strategies 1. Change City codes to include a formula regulating how much paved surface is allowable on each lot. This would include driveways and patios installed at the time of building or remodeling. 2. Encourage the use of non-impervious materials for walkways and driveways. If used in a City or quasi-public area, mobility and access for handicapped should always take precedent. 3. Minimize impervious surface areas, minimizing directly-connected impervious surfaces, maximizing onsite infiltration and using on-site retaining facilities. 4. Encourage volunteer organizations to help restore and clean the creek beds. Policy 5-21: Pollution and Flow Impacts Prior to making land use decisions, estimate increases in pollutant loads and flows resulting from projected future development to avoid surface and groundwater quality impacts. Strategy Best Management Practices. Require incorporation of structural and nonstructural Best Management Practices (BMPs) to mitigate the projected increases in pollutant loads and flows. Policy 5-22: Compact Development Away from Sensitive Areas Where such measures do not conflict with other municipal purposes or goals, encourage, via zoning ordinances, compact development located away from creeks, wetlands, and other sensitive areas. Policy 5-23: Conformance with Watershed-Based Planning and Zoning Encourage development projects to follow watershed-based planning and zoning by examining the project in the context of the entire watershed area.