9-12-11 CUTS, FILLS AND RETAINING WALLS

A. Purpose: Because of the dramatic visual impact of cuts, fills and retaining walls in the Town, and the public safety factors that may arise with significant cuts and fills in unsuitable soils, cuts, fills and retaining walls shall be designed to mitigate visual impact and ensure safe soil retention. B. Cuts And Retaining Walls: Cuts, fills and retaining walls shall conform to the following criteria: 1. Un-retained cuts shall not exceed one (1) slope unit vertically for each two (2) units horizontal (fifty percent (50%) slope) (unless a steeper slope is designed by a statelicensed engineer) and must be re-vegetated to prevent erosion. 2. Any single retaining wall or retaining mechanism, within the same plane, exceeding twelve feet (12') in height or one hundred feet (100') in length of exposed wall shall be reviewed by the Land Use Authority. 3. Up to three (3) terraced cuts may be created under a terraced cut retaining system, so long as each wall is separated by a minimum four-foot (4') setback (measured from the top of the lower face to the toe of the upper face) for visual relief and re-vegetation. Total maximum height of a terraced retaining system exceeding twelve feet (12') in height shall be reviewed by the Land Use Authority as part of the approval process. In cases where re-vegetation will be detrimental to the structural integrity of the wall, the applicant shall propose and implement design strategies to create visual relief or contrast to enhance the appearance and mitigate the mass of the wall. (amd. ord. 15018, 12-8-2015, amd. ord. 24-014, 10-8-24) 4. No single retaining wall face shall exceed seven feet (7’) in height and no retaining wall system shall exceed twenty feet (20’) in height. Retaining wall height shall be measured as the exposed face of a single wall or combined faces of a terraced retaining system. (amd. ord. 24-014, 10-8-24) C. Measuring Cut/Fill Heights: Cuts and/or fills shall be measured vertically at natural grade from the lowest to the highest point of disturbance. D. Retaining Wall Appearance: Retaining walls and/or retaining systems shall be constructed of decorative, natural, or rustic materials, such as stone. Concrete or masonry materials (including split face block) may be used when structural design requirements exceed natural material capabilities. Walls shall be colored or tinted and have a surface texture to blend with the surrounding soil or rock colors and must be approved by the Planning and Zoning Administrator before excavation permits shall be granted. (amd. ord. 24-014, 10-8-24) E. Retaining Wall Design: All retaining walls greater than four feet (4') in height shall be designed by a professional engineer or architect licensed in the state for the loads imposed on it. Plans shall be submitted which demonstrate that the hillside above any proposed cut will remain stable after the proposed cut/fill and retaining system, if any, has been completed. (amd. ord. 24-014, 10-8-24) F. Re-vegetation/Erosion Control: 1. All cut and fill slopes must be naturalized and re-vegetated within one (1) growing season after the cut or fill is made. 2. Cuts and fills should be naturalized by rounding edges, placing boulders in natural fashion, and planting native plants, including trees, brush, and ground cover, to match surrounding areas. A landscape/re-vegetation plan in compliance with the Town’s Design Standards shall be submitted to Town Staff for review with the cut/fill design plans. 3. All re-vegetated areas must be maintained and replanted as necessary to control erosion and maintain the aesthetic value of the site. 4. Foot bridges and private vehicle bridges shall be reviewed and approved by the Planning and Building department in conjunction with the single-family dwelling approval per chapter 8 of this title. (Ord. 08-016, 8-12-2008, amd. ord. 24-014, 10-8-24) G. Standards for Review: All retaining walls approved under this section shall comply with the following standards: 1. The height and length of the retaining wall is the minimum necessary for the needed functionality. The mass of the wall shall be broken up using terracing, vegetation, and/or other visual relief strategies. 2. The wall does not create an attractive nuisance or hazard to the general public. 3. The wall shall preserve the natural scenic beauty of the area by rounding off sharp angles and otherwise blending with the natural contours of the land, and by preserving trees and other native vegetation. 4. If the retaining wall is being done in preparation for development, a building permit has been obtained, and work has been approved to proceed. If an applicant is in the process of obtaining a building permit, approval may be made contingent on the finalization of the building permit, but work may not begin on grading or the retaining wall until the building permit is issued. (Ord. 17-004, 7-11-2017, amd. ord. 24-014, 10-8-24)