Borough of Zelienople, PA Subdivision and Land Development Amenities Standards

Street trees shall be required at the perimeters of all parking lots adjoining an existing or proposed street and along all lots and open space within a subdivision adjoining an existing or proposed street at a minimum spacing of one small tree every 25 feet on center or medium or large trees at spaced at a distance not to exceed the average spread of the fully developed canopy of the trees plus five feet.

Trees shall be planted in a manner wherein the plantings are alternated when required in each side of the street such that the trees on one side are planted directly across from a point on the opposite side of the street equidistant from the street trees planted thereon.

Uniform species shall be planted in regard to streets and adjacent streets or parking lots. Council may require low, medium, or large trees commensurate with the particular plans and character of a neighborhood or business district.[1]

[1]

Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I).

(4)

Street trees shall be planted no further than five feet from an adjacent right-of-way and may be planted within the right-of-way only with the express approval of Council.

(5)

Street trees shall be located so as not to interfere with the maintenance of utilities, required sight distances and visibility of street and traffic signs.

(6)

The species chosen shall be appropriate to the location. Factors such as microclimate, soils, habit of growth, salt, air pollution and disease tolerance, proximity of sidewalks and overhead utility lines, and social conditions (likelihood of soil compaction, vandalism, damage to dogs, deer, etc.) shall be considered.

Parking lot landscaping.

In addition to the requirements listed above, the perimeters of parking lots shall be landscaped with those low-level plantings required by this article. Landscaping area shall be at least 10 feet in depth from any adjacent street. However, said landscaping area adjoining a street within a Traditional Neighborhood Development or the C-1 Central Business District, excluding the C-1 Central Business District Overlay, shall be a minimum of five feet deep unless greater depth is required by the Zoning Ordinance. Additionally, low-level plantings and screening shall be provided in the C-1 District as specified in the Zoning Ordinance.[2]

[2]

Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I).

Council may require additional screening such as hedges at a minimum height of 2.5 feet, masonry walls, and decorative fencing where Council finds that such screening is required to buffer the proposed use from nearby residential uses or residentially zoned properties.

Parking lot interior areas.

(a)

Landscaping in the interior of parking lots shall be designed to provide visual and climatic relief from large expanses of paving, to channelize vehicular traffic and to define lots for safe pedestrian circulation.

(b)

Where lots exceed 30 spaces, one landscaping island shall be provided at least every 15 spaces in each row.

(c)

The other requirements placed upon interior parking lot areas not withstanding, at least 5% of the total area of any parking lot containing 30 spaces or less shall be landscaped, and at least 7% of any parking lot containing more than 30 parking spaces shall be landscaped.

(d)

In addition to other requirements of this article, at least one large or medium tree and three low-level plantings, or one small tree and three low-level plantings, shall be planted per 10 parking spaces, with at least one tree planted centrally in each island between spaces and with trees evenly spaced in islands between rows.

(e)

Where parking lots contain more than two rows of stalls, requiring access through multiple aisles, landscaped islands shall be provided between each row of stalls.

(f)

Trees required in this section shall be planted in protected lots, such as along walkways or within curbed islands located between rows of parking spaces, at the ends of bays, or between parking stalls.

(g)

Curbed landscaped islands shall have a minimum width of eight feet or a minimum radius of four feet, exclusive of the curbing, and shall be as long as the adjacent space(s).

(h)

No low-level planting shall grow within two feet of any curb.

General site planting requirements.

The following standards shall not apply to subdivisions and land developments within the C-1 Central Business District, excluding the C-1 Central Business District Overlay.

All land developments shall install low-level plantings at a minimum of one planting for every 1,000 square feet of site area.

In all land developments and major subdivisions, all areas of existing steep slope, where required by this chapter or the Zoning Ordinance to be preserved or undisturbed, shall possess a continuous coverage of deciduous native trees at maturity. A qualified professional forester shall prepare a plan determining the amount and location of additional tree plantings, where necessary, to achieve this standard. The plan shall contain an assessment of existing woodlands, and the state thereof, wherein diseased trees shall be replaced. Native evergreens may be employed where screening from adjacent uses is necessary.

(4)

In addition to street trees required, each lot in a residential subdivision shall bear two small trees or one medium or large tree.

(5)

In addition to street trees required, land developments shall provide two small trees or one medium or large tree for every 10,000 square feet of site area.

(6)

Required landscaping shall be distributed around parking areas, building perimeters and required buffer areas.

(7)

Council may require additional landscaping where the Zoning Ordinance requires buffering to adjacent properties.

(8)

Stormwater detention facilities shall require the planting of evergreen, medium, or large trees in a manner that effectively screens the facility or integrates the facility into adjoining open space.

Prior to final approval, the developer of a major subdivision shall provide covenants in favor of the Borough whereby the maintenance or replacement of required tree plantings is guaranteed.

§ 240-59 Lighting standards.

Lighting proposed shall be in accordance with the nuisance standards, heights, and locations required by the Zoning Ordinance.[1]

[1]

Editor's Note: See Ch. 280, Zoning.

Nonresidential land developments shall adhere to the following standards:

The following shall apply to all land developments cumulatively bearing less than or 5,000 square feet of gross floor area. Parking lots or pedestrianways, access lanes to parking lots and external storage of merchandise shall provide a uniformity ratio of 3:1 where the average footcandles maintained within said areas equals 2.4.

The following shall apply to all land developments cumulatively bearing more than 5,000 square feet of gross floor area. Parking lots or pedestrianways, access lanes to parking lots and external storage of merchandise shall provide a uniformity ratio of 3:1 where the average footcandles maintained within said areas equals 3.6.