[Added 8-3-1987 by Ord. No. 18G; amended 1-25-1988 by Ord. No. 18J; 1-9-1989 by Ord. No. 18K; 5-14-1990 by Ord. No. 18Q; 6-22-1992 by Ord. No. 92-1; 9-25-1995 by Ord. No. 95-48; 10-21-1996 by Ord. No. 96-63; 6-10-2002 by Ord. No. 02-158ZS; 10-28-2002 by Ord. No. 02-160S; 6-28-2010 by Ord. No. 10-241S; 9-26-2016 by Ord. No. 16-298S; 12-13-2021 by Ord. No. 21-325ZS]
The intent of these regulations is to promote practical community
development by reducing erosion and sedimentation and stimulating
groundwater recharge, to reduce glare and heat pollution, to stimulate
air purification and oxygen regeneration, to provide for noise abatement,
to assist in vehicular and pedestrian control, to maintain the Township's
natural amenities, and to provide for the harmonious development of
contiguous properties in different zoning districts by providing certain
minimum landscaping requirements for all future subdivisions and land
developments.
A.
The standards of design of this article should be used to evaluate
the adequacy of subdivision or land development proposals. Where,
in the opinion of the Township Landscape Architect, the literal application
of these standards in certain cases would cause undue hardship or
be plainly unreasonable, the Township Landscape Architect, Township
Shade Tree Commission, or Township Engineer may recommend to the Board
of Supervisors such reasonable exceptions as will not be contrary
to the public interest. The Board of Supervisors may modify or adjust
the standards to permit reasonable utilization of property while securing
substantial conformance with the objectives of the regulations.
B.
The standards included in these regulations are minimum design requirements.
The Board of Supervisors reserve the right, in any case, to request
that the requirements listed herein exceed these standards if conditions
so warrant.
C.
It is required that all landscape plans be prepared by a landscape
architect registered by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and familiar
with this Landscape Article in order to promote the proper use and
arrangement of plant materials. These plans shall be reviewed by appropriate
Township staff members and consultants and approved by the Township
Board of Supervisors.
D.
A minimum of 80% of all required trees, shrubs, and groundcover plants
shall consist of plants native to eastern North America. For the purposes
of this article, native plants are those that occur naturally in an
area without human intervention and that were grown in the area prior
to the time of European settlement. Such plants are adapted to the
local climate and tend to be more drought, disease, and insect resistant
than introduced varieties and they help preserve the balance and beauty
of natural ecosystems.
E.
All plant material shall conform to the latest version of the American Standard for Nursery Stock (ANSI Z60.1), and the height, spread and/or caliper requirements for trees and shrubs listed in § 205-56, Recommended Plant List. A note shall be added to the landscape plan stating this.
G.
Guaranty. All plant material shall be guaranteed for 18 months from
the day of final approval of the landscape installation by the Board
of Supervisors. Any plant material 25% or more of which is dead shall
be considered dead. A tree shall be considered dead when the main
leader has died or 25% of the crown is dead. Any dead plant material
shall be replaced and installed according to the approved planting
practices.
H.
The developer shall contact the Township in writing to request a
final inspection for acceptance at the end of the guaranty period.
These inspections will be performed when plant materials are in full
leaf only (May 1 through November 15). All guaranty escrow funds will
be released upon acceptance at the end of the guaranty period. The
guaranty will be extended until 30 days after receipt of the request
letter following May 1. Should the end of the guaranty period occur
after November 15, the guaranty period shall be extended to May 15.
I.
Nonconforming uses. Whenever there is a nonconforming use, the nonconforming
use must comply with the most restrictive landscape requirements for
either the land use or the zoning district in which it is located
or the zoning district which would normally permit the nonconforming
use.
A.
The landscape plan will show the following information:
(1)
Plan scale, date, North arrow and location map with zoning district
designations for the site and adjacent properties.
(2)
Property lines, setback lines, easements and the adjacent zoning
district(s).
(3)
Location of all existing and proposed buildings.
(4)
Location of all existing and proposed roads, parking, service areas
and other paved areas.
(5)
Location of all outside storage and trash receptacle areas.
(6)
Location of sidewalks, berms, fences, walls, freestanding signs and
the site lighting.
(7)
Stormwater management facilities. The design of discharge structures, headwalls and wingwalls shall be shown and slopes shall be detailed enough so that it is clear that no slopes are greater than the four-to-one ratio permitted by § 205-18D(3)(d).
(8)
Location of existing and proposed underground, surface and above-grade
utilities such as utility lines, utility easements, transformers,
hydrants, manholes and mechanical equipment.
(9)
Location, DBH, and common name of existing naturalized individual trees with trunks eight inches in diameter or more, measured at 4 1/2 feet (diameter at breast height, DBH) above the ground. Naturalized trees are those that are naturally occurring on a site or that were not planted as part of any previous land development requirements. Naturalized trees in groves and woodlands with trunk diameters of eight inches in diameter or more may be shown by indicating the outer canopy or dripline of the tree grouping. Existing naturalized trees shown as masses must be labeled with an approximate quantity and DBH (refer to § 205-53) as calculated. This information may be shown on the existing features plan.
(10)
Location, DBH and common name of all trees that were planted
as part of a previous land development plan. This information may
be shown on the existing features plan.
(11)
Replacement tree plant schedules using the trees proposed for
replacement of existing naturalized trees and/or trees planted for
previous land development requirements that were destroyed by development.
The schedules shall indicate the botanical and common name, height,
spread, caliper, quantity and special remarks for all proposed replacement
trees. These schedules may be made a part of the general plant schedule.
(12)
A plant schedule listing all new plant materials (trees, shrubs,
and ground cover) proposed for planting. This schedule shall indicate
the botanical and common name, height, spread, caliper, quantity and
special remarks for all proposed plant materials. All plant material
proposed as a part of the subject subdivision and/or land development
project to meet the minimum article requirements as noted herein shall
be included in this schedule. Supplemental plantings proposed in addition
to the required plantings are not required to be included. Any plantings
not included in the plant schedule shall not be used to meet article
requirements for street trees, softening buffers, screen buffers,
parking area landscaping, stormwater management facility landscaping,
steep slope landscaping, and/or replacement trees.
(13)
Plans will be drawn to a scale of not less than one inch equals
50 feet and show all existing and proposed contours at a minimum of
two-foot intervals.
(14)
Details for the planting, mulching, saucering and staking of
trees, the planting of shrubs and any other details which depict other
related installations shall be in accordance with the requirements
of this article, including those outlined in Appendix C.
(15)
Existing natural features such as water bodies, floodplain,
wetlands, rock outcroppings, and slopes in excess of 15%.
(16)
Location of all proposed plant species to include trees, shrubs,
ground cover, perennials and lawn. All plant material proposed as
a part of the subject subdivision and/or land development project
to meet the minimum article requirements as noted herein shall be
included in this plan. Supplemental plantings that are proposed in
addition to the required plantings are not required to be included.
Any plantings not included as a part of the landscape plan shall not
be used to meet article requirements for street trees, softening buffers,
screen buffers, parking area landscaping, stormwater management facility
landscaping, steep slope landscaping, and/or replacement trees.
(17)
Information, in the form of notes or specifications, concerning
planting and lawn areas. Such information shall specify the quality
requirements and material for planting, seeding, sodding, ground cover,
mulching and the like.
(18)
A detailed cost estimate shall be attached to the final landscape
plan submission for the preparation of the land development agreement.
This estimate shall show the value of all proposed landscaping. Unit
costs for plant material shall include costs for materials, labor
and guaranty and shall be so stated on the estimate provided.
(19)
Limits and details of temporary fencing to be used for protection
of existing trees and shrubs during construction.
Street trees, softening buffers, screen buffers, parking area landscaping, stormwater management facility landscaping, and other landscaping shall be provided according to the standards listed under § 205-49, General requirements, and the following specific planting requirements:
A.
Street trees.
(1)
When required. Street trees shall be required for any subdivision
or land development where suitable street trees do not exist as part
of the design and construction of:
(2)
Street tree types and spacing.
(a)
Street tree types shall be selected and coordinated to provide
adequate separation from overhead and underground utilities, to provide
a cohesive street tree frontage that does not interfere with proposed
or existing features, to provide adequate visibility to the site,
and to fit well spatially.
(b)
Shade street trees.
(c)
Small street trees.
[1]
Small street trees shall be used where overhead utility lines are present and where site layout, site density or good design practice necessitates the use of small street trees, in accordance with the requirements of SLDO § 205-56B.
[2]
Small street trees shall be located at a distance where the
mature size of the proposed tree species will not interfere with the
overhead utility lines.
[3]
Small street trees shall be provided at a ratio of two small
street trees for each required shade street tree, at a minimum spacing
of 24 feet on center.
(d)
Existing trees. Where existing trees over 2 1/2 inches
DBH are located within 10 feet of the legal or ultimate right-of-way,
whichever is greater, they may be counted toward the street tree requirement.
(e)
Informal street tree arrangements. Where appropriate, street
trees may be planted in informal groupings. If this method of street
tree arrangement is selected, the distance between tree groupings
or other street trees may not exceed 80 feet and shall be provided
in the required quantities for shade and small street trees as specified
above.
(3)
Location.
(a)
Street trees shall be planted no closer than one foot outside
the legal or ultimate street right-of-way, whichever is greater.
(b)
Shade street trees shall be planted no closer than six feet to any public sidewalk or roadway, or 10 to 12 feet from any public sidewalk or roadway, as specified by species in SLDO § 205-56A(1) and (2). Where small street trees are to be planted in accordance with this section, they shall be planted no closer than five feet to any public sidewalk or roadway.
(c)
At intersections, trees shall be located no closer than 50 feet
to the intersection of the curb.
(5)
Where the location of required street trees overlaps with the locations
for required softening buffer, parking lot or stormwater management
facility landscaping, the required street trees may be used to count
toward those landscape requirements.
B.
Softening buffers.
(1)
Definition. A "softening buffer" is a mixed perimeter landscape planting
intended to provide an informal separation between neighboring developments.
It is not intended to be an impenetrable screen.
(2)
Intent. Softening buffers shall be landscaped to "soften" and aesthetically
enhance the boundary between dissimilar land uses. They shall be designed
to provide light visual screening as well as light and noise abatement
between dissimilar land uses. A softening buffer should work in tandem
with any street trees, parking area landscaping, and stormwater management
facility landscaping that may be required adjacent to the buffer.
A softening buffer and any adjacent planting requirements should be
designed together to maximize plant health, aesthetic appeal, and
functional requirements without reducing visibility to the site or
overplanting the site.
(a)
The buffer area shall be used for no purpose other than the
planting of trees, shrubs and lawn to meet planting requirements and
shall be maintained and kept clean of debris, rubbish, noxious weeds
and invasive species.
(3)
Location. Softening buffers shall be aligned adjacent and parallel
to the property perimeter adjacent to dissimilar land uses as indicated
in Table 1, including rights-of-way, but may be sited on any position
of the property if permitted by the Board of Supervisors. Plant material
used in the softening buffer shall be located within 20 feet of the
property line or within 20 feet of the legal or ultimate right-of-way
lines, whichever is farther from the street center line, and may be
grouped informally.
(a)
A softening buffer is not required where a screen buffer is
provided.
(c)
Where softening buffer landscaping is located adjacent to parking
area plantings or stormwater facility perimeter plantings, trees and
shrubs for one requirement may be used, where appropriate, to count
towards multiple requirements so long as the design and functionality
of the plantings meet the intent of all landscape requirements.
(d)
Where softening buffers are required along an existing or proposed
street right-of-way where street trees exist or are proposed, only
softening buffer shrubs shall be required.
(4)
Performance standards.
(a)
Existing vegetation should be maintained in buffer and yard
areas and may be used to meet, or partially meet, softening buffer
requirements. However, any existing vegetation proposed to be used
to meet or partially meet buffer requirements shall be free of noxious
weeds and invasive species. If the existing vegetation contains noxious
weeds and/or invasive species, these plants shall be removed and eradicated
prior to the acceptance of such areas for the start of maintenance.
(b)
Within the buffer area, no slopes shall be steeper than one
foot in height for each four feet in width (slope of 25%).
(c)
Softening buffers may include a wall or fence that meets the standards outlined in § 230-148, Fences and walls, of the Montgomery Township Zoning Code. Any wall or fence shall be constructed in such a manner that it will not conflict with sight lines or conflict with the character of the abutting land use.
(d)
Softening buffers should be planted with a mix of shade trees,
ornamental trees and shrubs with evergreen trees added into planting
arrangements as deemed necessary or desired. Softening buffers shall
be landscaped to provide visual screening, light and noise abatement,
and safety barriers between dissimilar land uses and zoning districts.
(e)
All softening buffer landscaping shall be planted in such a
way to create a 50% visual screen within five years of planting.
(f)
Plant materials used in softening buffers shall meet the minimum size requirements for plant material as provided in SLDO § 205-56, Recommended Plant List.
(g)
Not more than 20% of plants shall be evergreen.
(h)
(Reserved)
C.
Screen buffers.
(1)
Definition. A "screen buffer" is a predominantly evergreen perimeter
landscape planting intended to provide a formal visual separation
between neighboring developments.
(2)
Intent. A screen buffer is intended to be an impenetrable visual
screen. However, it is not intended to be a monocultural planting.
A variety of evergreen tree species in conjunction with deciduous
and/or evergreen shrubs should be utilized to provide complete screening
and aesthetic variety and appeal. Screen buffer landscaping should
work in tandem with any street trees, parking area landscaping, and
stormwater management facility perimeter landscaping that may be required
adjacent to the buffer. Screen buffers and any adjacent planting requirements
should be designed together to maximize screening, shade, plant health,
aesthetic appeal, and functional requirements without overplanting.
(3)
When required.
(b)
Screening buffers may be required in locations and along land
uses that are not listed at Table 1 at the discretion of the Board
of Supervisors.
(c)
In addition, all truck loading, outside storage areas, mechanical equipment and trash receptacles shall be screened from view from streets and abutting residential areas in accordance with the standards for screen buffer size and type [§ 205-52C(4)(a) and (b) below].
(4)
Location.
(a)
The screen buffer is to provide a visual barrier between adjacent
land uses. The screen buffer shall be aligned adjacent and parallel
to side and rear property lines and/or may be sited in any position
on the property if permitted by the Board of Supervisors.
(b)
Screen buffers shall be located within 20 feet of the property
lines or within 20 feet of the legal or ultimate right-of-way lines,
whichever is farther from the street center line.
(c)
The screen buffer shall be arranged to provide clear-sight triangles
at street intersections and shall not obstruct sight distance requirements
of the Township. The screen planting shall be continuous and shall
be broken only at points of vehicular or pedestrian access.
(5)
Performance standards.
(a)
Trees used for screen buffers shall be composed of 100% evergreen
varieties. Shrubs may be a combination of evergreen and deciduous
varieties. Where a screen buffer is required between a residential
use and a nonresidential use, the required plant material shall be
arranged so as to provide a 100% visual screen within four years of
planting. In all other instances where a screen buffer is required,
the plant material shall be arranged so as to provide a 100% visual
screen within eight years of planting.
(b)
Where the screen buffer planting requires more than 50 trees,
no more than 1/3 of these trees will be of a single variety.
(c)
Where space is limited or there are other site constraints, walls, fences and/or earth berms may be used in combination with plant material subject to the approval of the Board of Supervisors and in conformance with § 230-148, Fences and walls, of the Zoning Ordinance.
(d)
Where screen buffers are required adjacent to parking areas
or stormwater management facility landscaping, plantings from the
other requirements may be used to count towards the screen buffer
requirements as long they meet the intent of both requirements.
D.
Parking area landscaping.
(1)
Definition: Parking area landscaping includes shade and ornamental
trees and shrubs installed around and within off-street parking areas
including planting islands, divider islands, and around the parking
lot perimeter.
(2)
Intent: The primary goal of parking area landscaping is to provide
shade and mitigate heat within parking areas through the planting
of shade and ornamental trees. The secondary goal of parking area
landscaping is to provide shrub groupings to soften, beautify, and
visually break up parking area paving, while providing screening and
protection from headlight glare, where needed. Parking area landscaping
should work in tandem with any street trees, softening buffers, parking
area landscaping, and stormwater management facility perimeter landscaping
that may be required adjacent to the parking area. Parking area landscaping
and any adjacent planting requirements should be designed together
to maximize shade, plant health, aesthetic appeal, and functional
requirements without reducing visibility, or overplanting.
(3)
Location and plantings:
(a)
A maximum of 10 parking spaces shall be permitted in a row without
a landscape island of 15 feet in width. If required, this island shall
contain not less than 290 square feet of planting area.
(b)
Planter islands shall be placed at the end of each row of parking
spaces beginning and/or terminating at an internal circulation drive.
(c)
For any land use where the total number of parking spaces exceeds
100, the parking area shall be divided by continuous islands perpendicular
to the parking spaces every 124 feet. This is four rows of parking
at a total width of 80 feet and two aisles at a total width of 44
feet. These divider islands shall be a minimum of 20 feet wide. Entrance
driveways shall be 20 feet wide. Snow storage areas shall be provided
and planting design shall consider pedestrian circulation.
(d)
(Reserved)
(e)
All aforementioned islands and the perimeter areas surrounding
parking lots shall be landscaped with a mix of shade trees, ornamental
trees, and shrubs.
(f)
Shade trees should be the primary planting type within parking
areas with a goal of providing some degree of shade to every space
in the parking area within five years of planting.
(g)
Ornamental trees may be used to supplement shade trees in locations
where space is limited or where desired for aesthetic affect, so long
as they do not account for more than 30% of the total trees provided
in the parking area. Ornamental tree shade may be used to count towards
the requirement of providing some degree of shade to every space within
the parking area within five years of planting.
(h)
Shrubs or shrub groupings should be provided within islands
and along parking perimeter areas with the intent of softening, beautifying,
and visually breaking up the parking areas.
(i)
When parking areas are located within 100 feet of a public street
or anytime a parking area for a nonresidential use is located adjacent
to a residential use, the perimeter of the parking area that is adjacent
to the public street or residential use shall be softened by a continuous
low hedge around the outside perimeter. The shrubs that create this
low hedge shall fully screen the glare from vehicle headlights within
two years of planting. Required softening or screening buffer shrubs
may be used to meet this requirement if the species are selected and
planted in such a manner as to provide full screening from headlight
glare, within two years of planting.
(j)
Where parking areas are located adjacent to required street
trees, softening or screening buffers, or stormwater management perimeter
plantings, the trees used to meet the other requirements may be used
to count towards parking area tree requirements as long as the shade
requirement is still met.
(k)
Where parking areas are located adjacent to required softening
buffers or stormwater management perimeter plantings, the shrubs used
to meet either of the other requirements may be used to count towards
the parking area shrub requirements.
E.
Stormwater management facility landscaping.
(1)
Whenever a stormwater management facility is provided, such facility shall conform to the requirements set forth in § 205-18D, Stormwater management, the standard specifications on file with the Township, and the landscaping requirements of this section.
(2)
For the purposes of this section, "stormwater management facilities"
shall refer to aboveground man-made structures including, but not
limited to, detention and retention basins, rain gardens, vegetated
swales and drainageways that convey, store, or otherwise affect stormwater
runoff quality, rate or quantity.
(3)
The facility shall be so designed that the planting in and adjacent
to it shall not have a negative effect on the hydrological function
of the facility.
(4)
Stormwater management facilities should be aesthetically pleasing
and compatible with adjacent land uses. Stormwater management best
management practices (BMPs), creative grading, and innovative stormwater
management facility forms are encouraged. Where stormwater management
facilities adjoin existing woodlands, it is recommended that plantings
be selected to blend with the natural surroundings.
(6)
Stormwater management facility slopes. Slopes shall be seeded in
PennDOT Formula "L" modified seed mix or an appropriate naturalized
seed mix.
(7)
Stormwater management facility perimeter plantings.
(a)
Definition: Plantings placed around stormwater management facilities
which provide naturalization and aesthetic enhancement without impeding
the function of the facility.
(b)
Intent: stormwater management facility perimeter landscaping
is not intended to screen a proposed stormwater management facility.
Rather, it is intended to fulfill stormwater management BMP functional
requirements while allowing the facility to blend with its natural
surroundings and providing aesthetic, habitat, and stormwater benefits
to the site. Plantings should be placed around all aboveground stormwater
management facilities with the goals of naturalization, providing
aesthetic enhancement, and enhancing wildlife habitat without impeding
hydrological function of the facility in any way. Stormwater management
facility perimeter landscaping should work in tandem with any required
street trees, softening buffers, and/or parking area landscaping that
may be required adjacent to the stormwater facility. Stormwater management
facility landscaping and any adjacent planting requirements should
be designed together to maximize plant health, aesthetic appeal, and
functional requirements without reducing visibility, where needed,
or overplanting.
(c)
Location: Trees and shrub groupings shall be installed around
the perimeter of the stormwater management facility. No tree planting
shall be placed on the fill area of the berm or on the spillway.
[1]
Where stormwater management facility perimeter landscaping is
located adjacent to required street trees, parking area plantings
and/or softening buffers, the shade and ornamental trees from these
planting requirements may be used to count towards the stormwater
management facility perimeter landscaping tree requirements.
[2]
Where stormwater management facility perimeter landscaping is
located adjacent to required parking area plantings and/or softening
buffers, the shrubs from these planting requirements may be used to
count towards the stormwater facility management landscaping requirements.
(d)
Planting: Trees and shrub groupings shall be planted in such
an arrangement around stormwater management facility perimeters as
to allow for a naturalizing effect. In order to achieve this, a minimum
of 50% of the circumference of the facility shall be planted with
a mix of trees and shrubs to allow for adequate coverage. Shade, ornamental,
and evergreen trees must account for at least 25% of the total stormwater
management facility plantings provided. To promote diversity, shade
trees may be substituted with ornamental or evergreen trees, where
desired.
F.
Steep slope landscaping.
(1)
When required. Steep slope landscaping includes disturbed areas of
the site with slopes in excess of one foot vertical to six feet eight
inches horizontal (6.67:1, slope of 15%).
(2)
Sodded lawn. Sodded lawn is required on slopes of 6.67:1 (15%) or
greater, except where ground cover plantings have been provided.
G.
Landscaping of other areas. Any area not used for buildings, structures,
paved areas, planting beds or screening shall be planted in an all-season
ground cover or lawn and other landscape materials in accordance with
the landscape plan. Existing vegetative materials shall be preserved
wherever possible.
H.
Existing vegetation. In cases where preserved natural features existing
on site duplicate or essentially duplicate the planting requirements
of this chapter, these requirements may be waived or amended by the
Board of Supervisors.
A.
All subdivisions and land developments shall be laid out in such
a manner so as to preserve the healthy trees and shrubs on the site
whenever possible. Every effort should be made to preserve any individual
tree or trees of significant size or historical value. "Tree of significant
size or historical value" shall mean any tree which is determined
by the Township Shade Tree Commission, Township Landscape Architect,
Montgomery Township Historical Society, or Board of Supervisors to
be of unique and intrinsic value to the general public because of
its size, age, historic association or ecological value, or any tree
designated by Montgomery Township as a legacy tree.
B.
During the construction of any site, trees and shrubs, as defined
herein, shall be protected by snow fencing or similar protection fencing
to ensure that there is no encroachment within the area of their dripline
by changing grade, trenching, stockpiling of building materials or
topsoil or the compaction of the soil and roots by any motor vehicle,
unless the following regulations are met:
(1)
The root area within the dripline of any tree or group of trees may
be encroached upon to a maximum of 1/4 of the total root area.
C.
Tree replacement and preservation requirements.
(1)
Preservation and replacement for naturalized trees. Naturalized trees
are those that are naturally occurring on a site or that were not
planted as part of any previous land development requirements.
(a)
Eight- to twenty-three-inch DBH naturalized trees.
[1]
Applicants are permitted to remove up to 50% of all eight- to
twenty-three-inch DBH naturalized trees located on site without replacement,
not counting trees located in the legal or ultimate right-of-way,
whichever is greater.
[2]
Any trees that are removed beyond 50% of eight- to twenty-three-inch
DBH naturalized trees on site will require replacement at a rate of
one replacement tree for every one tree removed.
(b)
Twenty-three- to forty-eight-inch DBH naturalized trees.
[1]
Applicants are permitted to remove up to 50% of all twenty-three-
to forty-eight-inch DBH naturalized trees located on site without
replacement, not counting trees located in the legal or ultimate right-of-way,
whichever is greater.
[2]
Any trees that are removed beyond 50% of all twenty-three- to
forty-eight-inch DBH naturalized trees on site will require replacement
at a rate of four replacement trees for every one tree removed.
(2)
Preservation and replacement for trees planted as part of previous
land development requirements. These are existing trees on a site
that are not naturalized and which were planted to fulfil the landscaping
requirements of any previous land development that has occurred on
site.
(a)
All trees removed from the site that were originally planted
as part of previous land development requirements shall be required
to be replaced individually, at the rate of one replacement tree for
every one removed tree.
(b)
Wherever possible, replacement trees should be installed near
the original location of the landscaping being replaced. When a replacement
plant is installed near the original location of the plant that it
is intended to replace, it may be used to count towards the landscaping
requirement that was met by the original plant.
(c)
Replacement landscaping should be designed in tandem with any
required street trees, softening or screen buffers, parking area landscaping,
or stormwater management facility landscaping to maximize shade, plant
health, aesthetic appeal, and functional requirements without reducing
visibility, or overplanting.
(3)
Naturalized trees which are diseased and should be removed for safety
or for the protection of other healthy trees, as determined by a certified
arborist, may be removed and will not be subject to the requirements
for tree preservation or tree replacement if the report of the arborist
is submitted to and approved by the Township.
(4)
Tree removal necessary to accommodate public utilities or public
facilities to be constructed or installed by the Township or the Township
Authority shall be exempt from tree preservation and replacement standards.
(5)
Replacement trees shall meet the following specifications:
(a)
Deciduous trees shall be a minimum of 2 1/2 inches in caliper.
(b)
Evergreen trees shall be a minimum of eight feet in height.
(c)
Ornamental or flowering trees shall be a minimum of eight feet
in height.
(d)
Two flowering trees may be substituted for one deciduous tree,
provided that the minimum size of the flowering trees shall be eight
feet in height.
(e)
Ten shrubs may be substituted for one deciduous tree, provided
that the minimum size of the shrubs shall be 24 inches for evergreen
and 30 inches for deciduous shrubs.
(f)
Up to 25% of the new trees to be planted may be of the evergreen
variety.
(g)
Trees required to be planted under the replacement/reforestation procedures for naturalized trees shall be in addition to any/all of the trees required by the planting requirements of § 205-52 above.
(h)
At the discretion of the Township, the required replacement
trees may be planted on other lands within the Township.
A.
(Reserved)
B.
Calculation and estimation of existing trees shall be performed before
any clearing commences and shall be performed in the presence of the
Township Engineer, Township Shade Tree Commission or Township Landscape
Architect and shall be based on the following procedure:
(1)
Naturalized trees greater than eight inches, as measured at 4 1/2
feet (DBH) above natural grade, and all existing trees planted as
part of previous land development requirements will be documented
individually and noted on the landscape plan or existing conditions
plan.
(2)
The quantity of all trees eight inches and over standing in masses
of over 20 trees shall be estimated by the following method:
(a)
Three one-hundred-foot-by-one-hundred-foot-square areas will
be staked out in locations acceptable to the owner/developer and the
Township Engineer, Township Shade Tree Commission or Township Landscape
Architect.
(b)
The quantity of trees in each area will be counted and the totals
averaged to determine the average number of trees per 10,000 square
feet of wooded area.
(c)
This average quantity per area will be used to determine both
the quantity of trees being removed and the quantity of trees to remain
in large masses.
C.
Calculation and estimation of existing trees remaining after construction
shall be performed by the Township Engineer, Township Shade Tree Commission
or Township Landscape Architect based on a procedure similar to that
noted above.
D.
An estimated quantity of replacement trees for naturalized trees and for trees planted as part of previous land development requirements are required to be shown on the landscape plan or on separate schedules. Refer to § 205-51.
E.
(Reserved)
A.
No building permit shall be issued unless a performance bond or other
surety approved by the Township Solicitor has been filed with the
Township. Such surety shall be in an amount equal to the cost of purchasing,
planting, maintaining, and replacing all vegetative materials for
a period of 18 months after written acceptance of the landscape installation
by the Township.
B.
This condition may be satisfied through a land development agreement
with sufficient and appropriate financial guaranties suitable to the
Board of Supervisors.
The following is the recommended list of trees, shrubs and ground
cover for use in Montgomery Township. The Board of Supervisors may
permit other planting types if they are hardy to the area, not subject
to blight or disease and of the same general character and growth
habit as those listed below, and are not identified by the Pennsylvania
Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) as invasive.
Plants included on the DCNR "watch list" as potentially invasive,
and any associated varieties, hybrids, and cultivars of invasive species,
will not be permitted. Plants listed below that may be added to DCNR's
list of invasive plants after the adoption of this section shall not
be permitted. The size requirements listed herein for shade trees,
evergreen trees, ornamental trees, deciduous shrubs, evergreen shrubs
and ground cover are the minimum acceptable sizes at the time of installation.
Size and grading standards for all plants shall conform to those specified
by the American Nursery and Landscape Association's American
Standard for Nursery Stock, ANSI Z60.1-2014 or latest edition.
A.
Shade Street Trees: minimum size of 2.5-inch caliper, 12 feet to
14 feet in height with a full branching structure. All main branches
shall be pruned to a height of six feet above the ground. Street trees
shall have a single, straight trunk and unpruned central leader free
of codominant stems within the lower half of the crown, and shall
be free of disease and mechanical damage. Where appropriate due to
proposed and/or existing site conditions, columnar form trees may
be used.
(1)
The following street trees shall be located a minimum of six feet
from sidewalks and roadways.
|
Acer rubrum - Red maple
|
|
Carpinus betulus - European hornbeam
|
|
Cercidiphyllum japonica - Katsuratree
|
|
Gingko biloba - Gingko (Male varieties only)
|
|
Koelreuteria paniculata - Golden raintree
|
|
Liquidambar styraciflua var. 'Rotundiloba' - Seedless
sweetgum
|
|
Metasequoia glyptrostroboides - Dawn redwood
|
|
Nyssa sylvatica - Blackgum
|
|
Ostrya virginiana - American hophornbeam
|
|
Quercus acutissima - Sawtooth oak
|
|
Quercus alba - White oak
|
|
Quercus borealis - Northern red oak
|
|
Quercus coccinea - Scarlet oak
|
|
Quercus imbricaria - Shingle oak
|
|
Quercus lyrata - Overcup oak
|
|
Quercus montana - Chestnut oak
|
|
Quercus phellos - Willow oak
|
|
Quercus rubra - Red oak
|
|
Tilia cordata - Littleleaf linden
|
|
Tilia tomentosa - Silver linden
|
|
Ulmus spp. - Elm (Dutch elm disease resistant varieties only)
|
|
Zelkova serrata - Japanese zelkova
|
(2)
The following street trees shall be located a minimum of 10 feet
to 12 feet from sidewalks and roadways.
|
Acer saccharum - Sugar maple (heat- and drought-resistant varieties
only)
|
|
Carya glabra - Pignut hickory
|
|
Carya ovata - Shagbark hickory
|
|
Celtis occidentalis - Hackberry
|
|
Cladrastis kentukea - Yellowwood
|
|
Fagus grandifolia - American beech
|
|
Fagus sylvatica - European beech
|
|
Gleditsia triacanthos var. 'inermis' - Thornless honeylocust
|
|
Gymnocladus dioicus - Kentucky coffeetree (fruitless forms)
|
|
Liriodendron tulipifera - Tulip poplar
|
|
Magnolia acuminata - Cucumbertree magnolia
|
|
Platanus x acerifolia - London planetree
|
|
Quercus palustris - Pin oak
|
B.
Small Street Trees: the following trees shall be used when small street trees are required in accordance with SLDO § 205-52A(2)(c). Small street trees shall be a minimum of 1 1/2 inches in caliper, eight feet to 10 feet in height, and shall have a full branching structure. All main branches shall be pruned to a clearance height of five feet above the ground. Small street trees shall have a single, straight trunk and unpruned central leader free of codominant stems within the lower half of the crown, and shall be free of disease and mechanical damage. Where appropriate due to proposed and/or existing site conditions, columnar form trees may be used.
|
Acer griseum - Paperbark maple
|
|
Carpinus caroliniana - Ironwood
|
|
Cercis canadensis - Eastern redbud
|
|
Chionanthus virginicus - Fringetree
|
|
Cornus florida - Flowering dogwood
|
|
Cornus kousa - Kousa dogwood
|
|
Cornus mas - Cornelian cherry
|
|
Cornus x 'Rutban' - Aurora dogwood
|
|
Cotinus coggyria - "Smoke tree"
|
|
Crataegus crusgalli var. inermis - Thornless cockspur hawthorn*
|
|
Crataegus phaenopyrum - Washington hawthorn*
|
|
Crataegus viridis 'Winter King' - Winter king hawthorn*
|
|
Malus spp. - 'Adirondack,' 'Prairifire,'
or 'Professor Sprenger'*
|
|
Oxydendrum arboreum - Sourwood
|
|
Prunus spp. - 'Autumnalis,' 'Kwanzan,' 'Okame,'
or 'Yoshino'*
|
|
Syringa reticulata 'Ivory Silk' or 'Summer Snow'
|
|
Styrax japonicas - Japanese snowbell
|
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Tilia cordata 'Halka
|
|
*
|
Other disease-resistant varieties permitted where the average
landscape size does not exceed 35 feet in height.
|
C.
Shade trees: minimum of 2.5 inches in caliper, 12 feet to 14 feet
in height with a full branching structure. All main branches shall
be pruned to a height of six feet above the ground. Trees shall have
a single, straight trunk and unpruned central leader free of codominant
stems within the lower half of the crown and shall be free of disease
and mechanical damage. All trees shall be located a minimum of six
feet from sidewalks and roadways.
|
Acer rubrum - Red maple
|
|
Acer saccharinum - Silver maple
|
|
Acer saccharum - Sugar maple (heat- and drought-resistant varieties
only)
|
|
Carya glabra - Pignut hickory
|
|
Carya ovata - Shagbark hickory
|
|
Celtis occidentalis - Hackberry
|
|
Cercidiphyllum japonica - Katsuratree
|
|
Cladrastis kentukea - Yellowwood
|
|
Fagus grandifolia - American beech
|
|
Fagus sylvatica - European beech
|
|
Gingko biloba - Gingko (male varieties only)
|
|
Gleditsia triacanthos var. 'inermis' - Thornless honeylocust
|
|
Gymnocladus dioicus - Kentucky coffeetree (fruitless forms)
|
|
Koelreuteria paniculata - Golden raintree
|
|
Liquidambar styraciflua - Sweetgum, including var. 'Rotundiloba'
and 'Happidaze'
|
|
Liriodendron tulipifera - Tulip poplar
|
|
Metasequoia glyptrostroboides - Dawn redwood
|
|
Nyssa sylvatica - Blackgum
|
|
Ostrya virginiana - American hophornbeam
|
|
Platanus x acerifolia - London planetree
|
|
Quercus acutissima - Sawtooth oak
|
|
Quercus alba - White oak
|
|
Quercus bicolor - Swamp white oak
|
|
Quercus borealis - Northern red oak
|
|
Quercus coccinea - Scarlet oak
|
|
Quercus falcata - Southern red oak
|
|
Quercus imbricaria - Shingle oak
|
|
Quercus lyrata - Overcup oak
|
|
Quercus macrocarpa - Burr oak
|
|
Quercus montana - Chestnut oak
|
|
Quercus muehlenbergii - Chinkapin oak
|
|
Quercus palustris - Pin oak
|
|
Quercus phellos - Willow oak
|
|
Quercus rubra - Red oak
|
|
Quercus shumardii - Shumard oak
|
|
Taxodium distichum - Bald cypress
|
|
Tilia americana - American basswood
|
|
Tilia cordata - Littleleaf linden
|
|
Tilia tomentosa - Silver linden
|
|
Zelkova serrata - Japanese zelkova
|
D.
Evergreen trees: minimum eight feet to 10 feet height, single leader
with no codominant stems, symmetrically branching to the ground, and
free of disease and mechanical damage.
|
Abies balsamea - Balsam fir
|
|
Abies concolor - White fir
|
|
Chamaecyparis thyoides - Atlantic white cedar
|
|
Ilex opaca - American holly
|
|
Juniperus virginiana - Eastern redcedar
|
|
Picea abies - Norway spruce
|
|
Picea glauca - White spruce
|
|
Picea mariana - Black spruce
|
|
Picea pungens - Colorado spruce
|
|
Pinus banksiana - Jack pine
|
|
Pinus echinata - Shortleaf pine
|
|
Pinus resinosa - Red pine
|
|
Pinus rigida - Pitch pine
|
|
Pinus strobus - White pine
|
|
Pinus sylvestris - Scotch pine
|
|
Pinus taeda - Loblolly pine
|
|
Pinus thunbergii - Japanese black pine
|
|
Pinus virginiana - Virginia scrub pine
|
|
Thuja spp. - Arborvitae (deer resistant varieties only)
|
E.
Ornamental/flowering trees: minimum 1 1/4 inches caliper, eight
feet to 10 feet height and full branching structure. Trees shall have
a single, straight trunk and unpruned central leader free of codominant
stems within the lower half of the crown, and shall be free of disease
and mechanical damage. Clump, shrub and multistem forms shall be permitted
at a minimum height of eight feet to 10 feet and a minimum root ball
diameter of 28 inches to 32 inches.
|
Acer griseum - Paperbark maple
|
|
Acer pennsylvanicum - Striped maple
|
|
Amelanchier arborea - Downy serviceberry
|
|
Amelanchier canadensis - Serviceberry
|
|
Amelanchier laevis - Allegheny serviceberry
|
|
Asimina triloba - Common pawpaw
|
|
Betula lenta - Sweet birch
|
|
Betula nigra - River birch
|
|
Betula papyrifera - Paper birch
|
|
Betula populifolia - Gray birch
|
|
Carpinus caroliniana - American hornbeam
|
|
Cercis canadensis - Eastern redbud
|
|
Chionanthus virginicus - Fringetree
|
|
Cornus florida - Flowering dogwood
|
|
Cornus kousa - Kousa dogwood
|
|
Cornus mas - Cornelian cherry
|
|
Cornus x 'Rutban' - Aurora dogwood
|
|
Cotinus coggyria - "Smoke Tree"
|
|
Crataegus crusgalli var. inermis - Thornless cockspur hawthorn*
|
|
Crataegus phaenopyrum - Washington hawthorn*
|
|
Crataegus viridis 'Winter King' - Winter king hawthorn*
|
|
Diospyros virginiana - Common persimmon
|
|
Halesia carolina - Carolina silverbell
|
|
Larix laricina - American larch
|
|
Magnolia tripetala - Umbrella magnolia
|
|
Magnolia virginiana - Sweetbay magnolia
|
|
Magnolia x soulangeana - Saucer magnolia
|
|
Malus spp. - 'Adirondack,' 'Prairifire,'
or 'Professor Sprenger'*
|
|
Oxydendrum arboreum - Sourwood
|
|
Prunus spp. - 'Autumnalis,' 'Kwanzan,' 'Okame,'
or 'Yoshino'*
|
|
Ptelea trifoliata - Wafer-ash
|
|
Sassafras albidum - Common sassafras
|
|
Styrax japonicas - Japanese snowbell
|
|
Syringa reticulata - 'Ivory Silk' or 'Summer
Snow'
|
|
Tilia cordata 'Halka'
|
|
Taxodium distichum - Baldcypress
|
|
*
|
Other disease-resistant varieties permitted.
|
F.
Deciduous shrubs: minimum acceptable container classes #5, #7, #10,
with a thirty-inch minimum height, symmetrically branched to the ground,
and free of disease and mechanical damage.
|
Aesculus parviflora - Bottlebrush buckeye
|
|
Alnus rugosa - Speckled alder
|
|
Alnus serrulata - Smooth alder
|
|
Aronia arbutifolia - Red chokecherry
|
|
Aronia melanocarpa - Black chokecherry
|
|
Callicarpa americana - American beautyberry
|
|
Calycanthus florida - Sweetshrub
|
|
Castanea pumila - Allgheny chinquapin
|
|
Ceanothus americanus - New Jersey tea
|
|
Cephalanthus occidentalis - Buttonbush
|
|
Clethra alnifolia - Summersweet clethra
|
|
Comptonia peregrina - Sweetfern
|
|
Cornus amomum - Silky dogwood
|
|
Cornus racemosa - Gray dogwood
|
|
Cornus sericea - Redosier dogwood
|
|
Corylus americana - American filbert
|
|
Cotinus obovatus - American smoke tree
|
|
Deutzia spp. - Deutzia
|
|
Euonymus americanus - Strawberrybush
|
|
Fothergilla gardenii - Dwarf fothergilla
|
|
Fothergilla major - Large fothergilla
|
|
Hamamelis vernalis - Spring witch hazel
|
|
Hamamelis virginiana - Common witch hazel
|
|
Hydrangea arborescens - Smoothleaf hydrangea
|
|
Hydrangea quercifolia - Oakleaf hydrangea
|
|
Hypericum prolificum - Shrubby St. John's wort
|
|
Ilex verticillata - Winterberry holly
|
|
Itea virginica - Virginia sweetspire
|
|
Leucothoe racemosa - Sweetbells leucothoe
|
|
Lindera benzoin - Spicebush
|
|
Myrica pennsylvanica - Northern bayberry
|
|
Physocarpus opulifolius - Eastern ninebark
|
|
Rhododendron spp. - Native deciduous azalea and rhododendron
varieties
|
|
Rhus glabra - Smooth sumac
|
|
Rosa carolina - Carolina rose
|
|
Rosa palustris - Swamp rose
|
|
Rosa virginiana - Virginia rose
|
|
Salix discolor - Pussy willow
|
|
Sambucus canadensis - Elderberry
|
|
Spiraea japonica 'Anthony Waterer' - Anthony Waterer
spiraea
|
|
Spiraea x vanhouttei - Vanhoutte spiraea
|
|
Styrax americanus - American snowbell
|
|
Symphoricarpos albus - Snowberry
|
|
Symphoricarpos orbiculatus - Coralberry
|
|
Viburnum acerifiolium - Mapleleaf viburnum
|
|
Viburnum carlesii - Koreanspice viburnum
|
|
Viburnum cassinoides - Witherod viburnum
|
|
Viburnum dentatum - Arrowwood viburnum
|
|
Viburnum lentago - Nannyberry viburnum
|
|
Viburnum prunifolium - Blackhaw viburnum
|
|
Viburnum trilobum - American cranberrybush viburnum
|
G.
Evergreen shrubs: minimum acceptable container classes #5, #7, #10,
with a twenty-four-inch minimum height and eighteen-inch minimum spread,
symmetrically branched to the ground, and free of disease and mechanical
damage. Spreading evergreen shrub forms shall be permitted at a minimum
twenty-four-inch spread and in minimum acceptable container classes
#5, #7, and #10.
|
Ilex spp. - Japanese holly and other evergreen shrub hollies
|
|
Ilex glabra - Inkberry holly
|
|
Juniperus spp. - Juniper
|
|
Kalmia spp.
|
|
Leucothoe spp.
|
|
Mahonia aquifolium - Oregon grape
|
|
Pieris spp.
|
|
Prunus laurocerasus - Cherry laurel
|
|
Rhododendron spp. - Native evergreen azalea and rhododendron
varieties
|
|
Taxus spp.
|
|
Viburnum spp. - Evergreen Viburnums
|
H.
Ground cover plants:
(1)
Heavily rooted herbaceous plants provided in minimum four-inch pots
and spaced at a maximum of 12 inches on center, and free of disease
and mechanical damage.
|
Ajuga spp. - Bugleweed
|
|
Asarum canadense - Wild ginger
|
|
Carex pensylvanica - Pennsylvania sedge
|
|
Chrysogonum virinianum - Green-and-gold
|
|
Dennstaedtia punctolobula - Eastern hay-scented fern
|
|
Hemerocallis hybrids - Daylilies (non-invasive species only)
|
|
Heuchera spp. - Coral bells
|
|
Liriope muscari - Liriope
|
|
Liriope spicata - Lily turf
|
|
Pachysandra procumbens - Alleghany pachysandra
|
|
Phlox stolonifera - Creeping phlox
|
|
Potentilla canadensis - Dwarf cinquefoil
|
|
Sedum ternatum - Wild stonecrop
|
|
Tiarella cordifolia - Heartleaf foamflower
|
(2)
Woody ground cover plants to be provided in minimum two-gallon containers
with a minimum 15 inches spread. Plants shall be spaced at a maximum
of 36 inches on center, and shall be free of disease and mechanical
damage.
|
Arctostaphylos uva-ursi - Bearberry
|
|
Comptonia peregrina - Sweetfern
|
|
Deutzia gracilis 'Nikko' - Nikko deutzia
|
|
Itea virginica 'Sprich' - Little Henry Virginia sweetspire
|
|
Juniperus horizontalis - Creeping juniper
|
|
Parthenocissus quinquefolia - Virginia creeper
|
|
Paxistima canbyi - Mountain lover
|
|
Rhus aromatica 'Gro Low'
|
|
Xanthorhiza simplicissima - Yellowroot
|
(3)
Basin floor coverings:
|
Grass: PennDOT Formula "L" modified seed or other naturalized
mix
|
|
Naturalized seed mix
|
|
Wildflower sod
|
