This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the “Springfield
Township Landscape Ordinance.”
The purpose of this chapter is to provide proper guidelines and specifications
for preserving the natural character of the land and vegetation; to provide
regulations for planting trees and shrubs and landscaping in buffer areas,
along streets and throughout each development, as required by Township ordinances;
to prevent soil erosion; to enhance the aesthetic nature of each project;
to reduce air and sound pollution; to provide visual barriers; to provide
wind control; and to reduce glare and reflection.
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings
indicated:
BALD AND BURLAP (B&B)
The earth surrounding the roots of plant material which are being
transplanted and wrapped in burlap. No synthetic burlap shall be permitted.
BARE ROOTED (BR)
Harvested plant material from which the ground medium has been removed.
BERM
An elongated aesthetic mound of soil on a site, used as a view obstruction
or to vary the grade pattern, either natural or man made.
BUFFER
An area within a property or site, generally adjacent to and parallel
with the property line, consisting of either natural existing vegetation or
created by the use of trees, shrubs, fences and/or berms designed to continuously
limit view of the site from adjacent sites or properties.
CALIPER
The diameter of a tree trunk measured in inches, six inches above
the ground for trees up to four inches in diameter or 12 inches above the
ground for trees four inches in diameter or larger.
CONTAINER
A can, flat, pot, tub, etc., used to grow or hold plant material.
DECIDUOUS PLANTS
Trees and/or shrubs that shed all their leaves at the end of the
growing season and remain leafless during the winter or dormant period.
FIELD GROWN
Plant material grown in a field not operated and owned by a nursery.
GROUNDCOVER
Low-growing plants or sod that in time forms a dense mat covering
the area in which it is planted, preventing the growth of unwanted plants
while holding the soil in place.
MULCH
Any covering placed on soil to conserve moisture, retard weed growth
and protect plants from extremes of heat and cold.
NURSERY GROWN
Plant material grown in and/or obtained from a nursery which is grown
in a field or in containers.
ORNAMENTAL TREES
Trees that are grown for the beauty of their form, foliage, flowers
or fruit rather than for food, fiber or other uses.
SCREEN
A structure or plantings providing a continuous view obstruction
of the site, consisting of fencing, berms and/or evergreen trees or shrubs.
SHADE TREE
A deciduous woody perennial plant, usually having a single main axis
or stem (trunk) exceeding 30 feet in height at maturity and having foliage
to provide partial obstruction of direct sunlight.
SHRUBS
A woody perennial plant, usually smaller than a tree and generally
with multiple stems arising from the roots.
TOPSOIL
Soil which is friable and loamy, free of debris, contains no toxic
substance, has a pH range of 5.0 to 7.5 and contains not less than 5% organic
matter.
TREE EASEMENT
An area of the street in which trees shall be planted and maintained
for street shade or decoration, or both.
Shade trees shall be limited to deciduous trees as more fully set forth in §§
119-6 and
119-7. Only shade trees shall be installed along streets. Center islands of culs-de-sac may be either evergreens or deciduous species and a combination of trees and shrubs.
A. Shade trees shall be planted in all major subdivisions
and shall be located within a tree easement adjacent to the street line. A
plan showing location of all proposed shade trees, installation details and
specifications shall be submitted to the approving authority before preliminary
approval.
B. There shall be established, where possible and practical,
a tree easement along either side of each new street, as such streets are
hereafter laid out and established, and along the side of an existing street
that abuts the subdivision. The tree easements shall be five feet in width
and abutting the right-of-way line.
C. In each subdivision of land, the developer shall plant
in the tree easements along the side of the streets proper shade trees at
a maximum distance of 40 feet between trees. The trees shall not be located
within site triangle easements.
D. All shade trees planted in accordance with the provisions
of this chapter shall be placed in a proper manner and in a good grade of
planting soil mix within the area where the tree is planted.
E. All shade trees hereafter to be planted in accordance
with this chapter shall be nursery grown, of substantially uniform size and
shape, shall have straight trunks and shall comply with the American Standard
for Nursery Stock ANSI 260.1-1986 or latest edition.
F. All shade trees planted pursuant to this chapter shall
be planted in a dormant state. The minimum height of all shade trees at time
of planting shall be 14 feet and have a minimum caliper of three inches, as
measured six inches above the finished grade. The main leader of all trees
shall not be pruned, split or broken.
G. Replacement of all new trees which fail to survive shall
be made at the next planting season and shall be of the same variety and species
and conform to the size and shape of the existing trees in that area. Any
deviation must be done only with the approval of the Township Planning Board.
In conjunction with commercial, industrial or professional office uses,
all areas of a lot not occupied by buildings, pavement or other surfacing
and other required improvements, except as otherwise specifically provided,
shall be landscaped by the planting of grass and/or groundcover, shrubs and
trees. The minimum quantity of plant material used shall be one tree and two
shrubs per every 250 square feet or fraction thereof. When this requirement
applies, such trees and shrubs shall be of a type approved by the Board. The
placement of the plant material shall be appropriate for the enhancement of
the property, in accordance with a landscape plan approved by the Board.
The applicant shall select deciduous, evergreen and groundcover species
which are typically found in this area. The shade tree species shall be one
of the following kinds of trees, or of a deciduous variety approved by the
Board:
A. Pin Oak (Quercus Palustris).
B. Red Oak (Quercus Borealis).
C. Honey Locust (Gleditsia Triancanthos Inermis), seedless
varieties.
D. Little Leaf Linden (Tilia Cordata).
E. Bradford Callery Pear (Pyres Calleryana Bradford).
F. Sugar Maple (Acer Saccharum).
G. Green Ash (Fraxinus Pennsylvanica Lanceolata), seedless
variety.
The following trees shall be prohibited along the streets:
A. Ginkgo (Ginkgo Biloba, Female).
B. Caster Aralia (Kalopanax Pictus).
C. Sweet Gum (Liguidambar Styraciflua).
D. Walnut (Juglans, all species).
E. Osage Orange (Machura Pomifera).
F. Crab Apple (Malus, all species).
G. Weeping Willow (Salix, all species).
H. All trees with thorns, such as Aralia species (Japanese
Angelica), the Crataegus species (Hawthorn) and Gleditsia Triacanthos (common
Honey Locust).
The following trees shall be prohibited in all buffer areas:
B. Araucaria Araucaria and Araucaria Heterophylla.
C. Cedrus Atlantica and Cedrus Libani.
D. Chamaecyparis Nootkatensis.
E. Cryptomeria Japonica Lobbii.
I. Latrix Kaempferi and Laris Leptolpis.
J. Pinus Wallichiana, Pinus Parviflora, Pinus Peuce and
Pinus Ponderosa.
All plans submitted to the Township for approval, except minor subdivisions,
shall contain a landscape plan. The landscape plan shall be prepared by a
landscape architect, architect, planner or engineer certified in the State
of New Jersey, whose name, signature, certification number and seal shall
appear on the plan. Wherever possible, the landscape architect, architect,
planner or engineer shall promote creativity in design locations and selection
of species.
All plans shall contain a plant material list and show the following
information:
A. Symbols or numbers identifying the proposed species.
B. The scientific name and common name of all trees, shrubs
and groundcover proposed for the site.
C. The quantity of each species.
D. The size and spacing of each species at initial planting,
either by caliper, spread or height. All deciduous trees shall be specified
by caliper.
E. An indication as to how the plants will be grown and
moved. For example, plants may be field grown or nursery grown and moved by
ball and burlap (B&B), bare roots (BR) or containerized (can size).
F. Any remarks as to spacing of plants or other special
information regarding the plant.
G. Grass seed mixture and rate of application or type of
sod.
The requirements of this chapter shall be enforced by the Township Engineer
or Construction Code Official, who shall inspect or require adequate inspection
of work. If the Township Engineer or Construction Code Official find any conditions
not as stated in any application, (s)he may refuse to approve further work.
The landscape plan shall be submitted concurrent with applications for
final or preliminary approval, and therefore, no additional fees shall be
charged under this chapter. All expenses for legal, engineering or planning
work required by the Township in connection herewith shall be authorized,
paid and funded out of the escrow accounts set up as part of the fee and escrow
structure under the applicable Township ordinances.