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b. Required Ground Cover. In all zoning districts except R-1, all portions of a site <br />not covered by structures, concrete, or asphalt, but excluding natural areas that <br />are left undisturbed, shall be finished with sod and plantings, up to the edge of <br />improved streets and other impervious surfaces. Any alternative to the sod <br />requirement shall require City Council approval. <br />1. In the R-1 Residential District, sod is required in all boulevards, excluding <br />those areas devoted to sidewalks, trails and driveways. <br />2. The remainder of a yard may be established with sod, seed, natural ground <br />cover and/or native grasses and wildflowers. Noxious weeds do not <br />constitute allowable ground cover. <br />3. A landscape escrow, in an amount to be determined by the Building <br />Official, shall be deposited for all required landscaping, including topsoil, <br />sod and trees, which is not established at the time of issuance of a Certificate <br />of Occupancy. Installation of required landscaping, including topsoil, sod <br />(or seeding where permitted by this Code) and trees, shall be completed <br />within six months of the issuance of the Certificate of Occupancy, weather <br />permitting. The city may draw upon the escrow to install the required <br />landscaping if said work is not completed within six months of the date of <br />issuance of the Certificate of Occupancy. <br />(2) Irrigation. If a landscape irrigation system is provided, the system shall be equipped <br />with the following: <br />a. Technology that inhibits or interrupts operation of the irrigation system during <br />periods of sufficient moisture (rain sensor). <br />b. One or more water efficient technologies. This could include, but is not limited <br />to, WaterSense labeled weather -based irrigation controllers, soil moisture <br />sensors, and/or evapotranspiration (ET) sensors. <br />(3) <br />Existing Trees. A reasonable attempt shall be made to preserve as many existing <br />trees as is practicable and incorporate them into a development (see Division 5. — <br />Tree Preservation for inventory and preservation requirements) . For each healthy <br />significant tree retained on site and not identified on the City's list of prohibited <br />trees, one overstory tree, or the equivalent canopy square footage, can be deducted <br />from the minimum planting requirements. <br />(4) Planting types. Acceptable planting types shall be determined by the Ramsey Tree <br />Book. The complement of trees fulfilling the landscaping requirements shall not <br />be less than 25 percent deciduous and not less than 25 percent coniferous. Not <br />more than 25 percent of the required plantings shall consist of ornamental or <br />understory trees. Projects should attempt to limit the planting of any one genus to <br />no more than 20 percent of the total plantings. <br />(5) <br />Planting Requirements for the R-1 Residential District. <br />Zoning District <br />Planting Type <br />Minimum Number Required <br />Size <br />R-1 Residential (MUSA) <br />- Villas <br />Overstory Deciduous <br />and/or Coniferous trees <br />1 tree per 50 feet of frontage, <br />planted in the boulevard. <br />1 inch caliper — deciduous <br />5 foot height — conifer <br />