The city council declares as follows:

                (a)           Views, sunlight, and vegetation that forms hedges contribute to the aesthetic value, quality of life, ambiance and economic value of properties within the city. Similarly, access to sunlight across property lines contributes to the health and well being of community members, enhances property values and provides an opportunity to utilize solar energy. Utilization of passive solar energy reduces air pollution, visual blight and promotes health.

                (b)           Views, whether of the Pacific Ocean, islands, the surrounding hillsides and canyons, or other natural and manmade landmarks produce a variety of significant and tangible benefits for both residents and visitors. Views contribute to the aesthetic visual environment of the community by providing scenic vistas and inspiring distinctive architectural design. Views contribute to property values.

                (c)           Vegetation that forms hedges that are located in a front, side and/or rear yard may be subject to the maximum allowable fence heights as specified in Section 25.50.012. Hedges can produce a wide variety of significant psychological and tangible benefits for both residents and visitors to the community. Vegetation that forms hedges can provide privacy, modify temperatures, screen winds, replenish oxygen to the atmosphere, maintain soil moisture, mitigate soil erosion and provide wildlife habitat. Vegetation that forms hedges can contribute to the visual environment and aesthetics by blending, buffering and reducing the scale and mass of architecture. Vegetation that forms hedges can create shade and visual screens and provide a buffer between different land uses. Vegetation that forms hedges can contribute to property values.

                (d)           The benefits derived from views, sunlight, and vegetation that forms hedges that are located in front, side and/or rear yards may come into conflict. The planting of vegetation that forms hedges that are located in front, side and/or rear yards, and their subsequent growth, particularly when such vegetation is not properly maintained, can produce unintended harmful effects both on the property on which they are planted and/or on neighboring properties. (Ord. 1547 § 1, 2011).