[Ord. No. 433 §8.01, 5-18-2005]
A.
The
purpose of this landscaping and screening regulation is:
1.
To provide greenery to visually soften paved areas and buildings;
2.
To establish healthy environmental conditions by providing shade,
air purification, oxygen regeneration, ground water recharge, storm
water runoff retardation and noise, glare and heat abatement;
3.
To ensure that the local stock of native trees is replenished; and
4.
To buffer uncomplimentary land uses and generally enhance the quality
and appearance over the entire site of the project.
[Ord. No. 433 §8.02, 5-18-2005]
The City Engineer shall have authority to approve the landscape
plan subject to such additional requirements as may be deemed necessary
by the Board of Aldermen to promote the purpose of this Article.
[Ord. No. 433 §8.02, 5-18-2005]
All plans submitted in support of a site plan shall hereafter
include a landscape plan and include transition strip visual screening
where appropriate.
[Ord. No. 433 §8.04, 5-18-2005]
A.
Information Required. All plans submitted for approval of
a landscape plan shall have the following information:
1.
North point and scale.
2.
Topographic and final grading information adequate to identify and
properly specify planting for areas needing slope protection.
3.
The location, size and surface of materials of all structures and
parking areas.
4.
The location, size and type of all above ground and underground utilities
and structures with proper notation, where appropriate, as to any
safety hazards to avoid during landscape installation.
5.
The approximate location, type, size and quantity of all proposed
landscape materials, along with the names of all plant species. The
size, grading and condition shall be specified according to American
Association of Nurserymen standards.
6.
The location, size and common name of all existing plant materials
to be retained on the site. Large masses of trees may be indicated
by mass outline only.
7.
Mature sizes of plant material shall be drawn to scale and called
out on plan by common name or appropriate key.
8.
Location of hose connections and other water sources.
9.
The location of all existing trees twelve (12) inch caliper or larger
measured four and one-half (4½) feet above ground level on
sites that are proposed for removal.
10.
The location, size and type of required screening methods as required in Section 400.480(C).
B.
Minimum Tree Requirements.
1.
Residential areas. One (1) tree per fifty (50) feet
or portion thereof of street frontage, public or private, shall be
required within the landscape setback of ten (10) feet abutting said
front property line. Said trees may be clustered or arranged within
the setback and need not be placed evenly at fifty (50) foot intervals.
a.
In addition to the required trees, based on street frontage, one (1) tree shall be required for every two (2) multi-family units. These may include the trees required in the parking lots as set out in Subsection (C).
b.
Exception. Individual single-family and duplex dwellings
not within a subdivision. However, all proposed subdivisions within
the residential areas shall meet those requirements as a part of subdivision
approval.
2.
Commercial and industrial areas. One (1) tree per
forty (40) feet or portion thereof of street frontage, public or private,
shall be required within the landscape setback of ten (10) feet abutting
said front property line. Said trees may be clustered or arranged
within the setback and need not be placed evenly at forty (40) foot
intervals.
3.
Existing trees saved. Existing trees saved on the
site during construction may be credited toward the minimum tree requirements
specified for each area. Those existing trees credited shall be a
minimum of two (2) inch caliper as measured six (6) inches above the
ground for deciduous shade tree. Minimum size for existing ornamental
and evergreen species shall be six (6) feet in height. All existing
plant material saved shall be healthy and free of mechanical injury.
C.
Planting Requirements Within Parking And Vehicular-Use Areas. The intent of this Subsection is to encourage interior landscaping
within vehicular parking areas, to break up the large expanses of
pavement and to provide relief from the reflected glare and heat,
as well as to guide vehicular and pedestrian traffic.
Except for vehicle storage lots, multiple level parking structures
and parking lots having a paved area no wider than a double-loaded
aisle no more than sixty-five (65) feet in width, all parking areas
in all areas shall include the following as minimum requirements:
1.
Not less than ten percent (10%) of the interior of a parking lot
shall be landscaped. The interior of a parking lot shall be calculated
by multiplying the number of parking spaces by two hundred seventy
(270) square feet. Planting which is required along the perimeter
of a parking lot shall not be considered as part of the interior landscaping
requirement.
2.
The landscaping and planting areas shall be reasonably dispersed
throughout the parking lots.
3.
The interior dimensions of any planting area planting median shall
be sufficient to protect the landscaping materials planted therein
and to insure proper growth. Any protected planting strip where trees
are to be planted shall be a minimum of seven (7) feet wide and shall
be protected from vehicle overhang.
4.
The primary landscaping materials used in parking lots shall be trees
that provide shade or are capable of providing shade at maturity.
Shrubbery, hedges and other planting material may be used to complement
the tree landscaping. Effective use of earth berms and existing topography
is also encouraged as a component of the landscaping plan.
5.
In those instances where plant material exists on a parking lot site prior to its development, such landscape material may be used if approved as meeting the requirements in Subsection (D).
6.
No landscaping, tree, shrub, fence, wall or similar item shall be
placed in zones of ingress or egress at street corners or in the intersection
of a public right-of-way that will create an obstruction to visibility
or is a traffic hazard.
D.
Planting Requirements. The minimum planting sizes for all
plant material shall be as follows:
1.
Medium and large deciduous shade trees. Two (2)
inch caliper, as measured six (6) inches above the ground as specified
by the American Association of Nurserymen.
2.
Small deciduous or ornamental trees. Four (4) feet
in height as specified by the American Association of Nurserymen,
with the exception of true dwarf species.
3.
Conifers. Six (6) feet in height.
4.
Upright evergreen trees. Four (4) feet in height
as specified by the American Association of Nurserymen, except for
true dwarf varieties.
5.
Shrubs. (Deciduous and conifer including spreader
and globe tree forms.) Size optional as determined by the applicant.
6.
Ground cover plants. Crowns, plugs, containers:
In a number as appropriate by the species to provide fifty percent
(50%) surface coverage within the first (1st) growing season.
7.
Grass seeding. As appropriate to provide complete
coverage within the first (1st) growing season.
8.
Sod. As necessary to provide coverage and soil stabilization.
[Ord. No. 433 §8.05, 5-18-2005]
A.
Application. On any lot having a commercial or industrial
use that abuts a lot in a residential district shall be provided a
transition strip.
B.
(Reserved)
C.
Transition Strip Requirements.
1.
Width. Such transition strip shall not be less than
fifteen (15) feet for all commercial and industrial use properties.
2.
Location. Such transition strip shall be provided
along every lot line, except a front lot line, which abuts a lot in
such districts and shall not be included as part of the yard required
around the building or structure.
3.
Screening required. Such transition strip shall
be improved at the time the lot is improved and shall include a planting
screen consisting of compact evergreen plants that will provide an
effective screen. A six (6) to eight (8) foot high screen wall or
fence may be required in addition to or in lieu of a planting screen
when the reviewing authority deems it necessary in order to adequately
screen certain types of non-compatible uses.
4.
Sight triangle exception. On a corner lot in any
district no planting, berm, fence, sign or wall shall be placed in
such a manner as to impede vision within the twenty-five (25) foot
sight triangle.
[Ord. No. 433 §8.06, 5-18-2005]
A.
Landscaping In Place Prior To Occupancy Permit. All landscape
material, living and non-living, shall be healthy and in place prior
to issuance of final occupancy permit. A temporary certificate may
be issued without the installation, provided written assurances are
given that the planting will take place when the proper season arrives.
A site performance bond maybe required.
B.
Maintenance And Enforcement. The trees, shrubs, fences,
walls and other landscaping materials depicted on plans approved by
the City shall be considered as elements of the project in the same
manner as parking, building materials and other details are elements
of the plan.
C.
The
developer, his/her successor and/or subsequent owners and their agents
shall be responsible for the continued maintenance.
D.
Plant
material that exhibits evidence of insect pests, disease and/or damage
shall be appropriately treated and dead plants promptly removed and
replaced within the next planting season.
Should landscaping not be installed, maintained and replaced
as needed to comply with the approved plan, the owner and his/her
agent or agents shall be considered in violation of terms of the building
or occupancy permit. The City Engineer or his/her designee is empowered
to enforce the terms of this Article.
