§ 8175-5.17. Grading and brush removal.

The following standards shall apply to all developments involving more than 50 cubic yards of grading or more than one-half acre of brush removal. Public Works Agency and Resource Management Agency staff shall review all proposals in the coastal zone for conformance with these standards.

(Repealed as 8175-5.4 and Re-enacted as 8175-5.17 by Ord. 3882—12/20/88)

8175-5.17.1  Grading plans shall minimize cut and fill operations. If it is determined that a project is feasible with less alteration of the natural terrain than is proposed, that project shall be denied.

8175-5.17.2  All development shall be designed to minimize impacts and alterations of physical features and processes of the site (i.e., geological, soils, hydrological, water percolation and runoff) to the maximum extent feasible. The clearing of land (grading and brush removal) is prohibited during the winter rainy season (November 15—April 15).

8175-5.17.3  For permitted grading operations on hillsides, the smallest practical area of land shall be exposed at any one time during development, and the length of exposure shall be kept to the shortest practicable amount of time. All measures for removing sediments and stabilizing slopes shall be in place prior to or concurrent with any on-site grading activities.

8175-5.17.4  Where appropriate, sediment basins (e.g., debris basins, desilting basins, or silt traps) shall be installed on the project site prior to or concurrent with the initial grading operations and maintained by the applicant through the development process to remove sediment from runoff waters. All sediment shall be retained on-site unless removed to an appropriate approved dumping location.

8175-5.17.5  Where construction will extend into the rainy season, temporary vegetation, seeding, mulching, or other suitable stabilization methods shall be used to protect soils subject to erosion. The appropriate methods shall be prepared by a licensed landscape architect, and approved by the County.

8175-5.17.6  Cut and fill slopes shall be stabilized at the completion of final grading. To the greatest extent feasible, planting shall be of native grasses and shrubs or appropriate nonnative plants, using accepted planting procedures. Such planting shall be adequate to provide 90 percent coverage within 90 days, and shall be repeated if necessary to provide such coverage. This requirement shall apply to all disturbed soils.

8175-5.17.7  Provisions shall be made to conduct surface water to storm drains or suitable watercourses to prevent erosion. Drainage devices shall be designed to accommodate increased runoff resulting from modified soil and surface conditions as a result of development. Where feasible and appropriate, water runoff shall be retained on-site to facilitate groundwater recharge, unless to do so would require significant grading or brush removal not otherwise necessary, and the cumulative impacts of such on-site retention would be greater than the cumulative impacts of not facilitating recharge, within the same drainage area.

8175-5.17.8  In addition to any other requirement of this Article, hillside (defined as land with slopes over 20 percent) grading and brush clearance shall be regulated to maintain the biological productivity of coastal waters, protect environmentally sensitive areas and park and recreation areas, and minimize the alteration of natural landforms.

8175-5.17.9  A discretionary permit is required for all substantial hillside grading (over 50 cu. yds. of cut or fill) or brush clearance (greater than one-half acre), including that related to agricultural activities. The application for the permit shall contain an erosion control plan. Such plan shall be prepared by a licensed engineer qualified in soil mechanics and hydrology, and approved by appropriate County agencies, to ensure compliance with the Coastal Plan and all other County ordinances.

8175-5.17.10  Degradation of the water quality of groundwater basins, nearby streams, or wetlands shall not result from development of the site. Pollutants such as chemicals, fuels, lubricants, raw sewage, and other harmful waste shall not be discharged into or alongside coastal streams or wetlands either during or after construction.

8175-5.17.11  The County Resource Conservation District and the State Department of Fish and Game shall be consulted for grading of hillsides and brush clearance in excess of one-half (½) acre. In all cases, best accepted management practices shall be used.

(Repealed as 8175-5.4 and Re-enacted as 8175-5.17 by Ord. 3882—12/20/88; Ord. No. 4451, § 9, 12-11-2012)