[HISTORY: Adopted by the Township Council of the Township of Springfield
12-14-1994 as § 20-21 of the 1994 Code. Amendments noted where applicable.]
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:
The earth surrounding the roots of plant material which are being
transplanted and wrapped in burlap. No synthetic burlap shall be permitted.
Harvested plant material from which the ground medium has been removed.
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.
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.
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.
A can, flat, pot, tub, etc., used to grow or hold plant material.
Plant materials grown above ground within some type of container.
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.
A plant that does not lose its leaves during the winter.
Plant material grown in a field not operated and owned by a nursery.
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.
Any covering placed on soil to conserve moisture, retard weed growth
and protect plants from extremes of heat and cold.
Plant material grown in and/or obtained from a nursery which is grown
in a field or in containers.
Trees that are grown for the beauty of their form, foliage, flowers
or fruit rather than for food, fiber or other uses.
A structure or plantings providing a continuous view obstruction
of the site, consisting of fencing, berms and/or evergreen trees or shrubs.
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.
A woody perennial plant, usually smaller than a tree and generally
with multiple stems arising from the roots.
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.
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:
A.
Abies Pinsapo.
B.
Araucaria Araucaria and Araucaria Heterophylla.
C.
Cedrus Atlantica and Cedrus Libani.
D.
Chamaecyparis Nootkatensis.
E.
Cryptomeria Japonica Lobbii.
F.
Cunninghamia Lanceolata.
G.
Ginkgo Biloba.
H.
Larix Decidua.
I.
Latrix Kaempferi and Laris Leptolpis.
J.
Pinus Wallichiana, Pinus Parviflora, Pinus Peuce and
Pinus Ponderosa.
K.
Taxodium Distichum.
L.
Torreya Nucifera.
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.
A.
Planting details shall be shown for typical deciduous
trees, evergreen trees, shrubs and groundcover. Details shall also be provided
for any special planting conditions that may exist.
B.
Installation details shall be shown and include:
(1)
An indication as to how the plants will be grown and moved;
(2)
The type of groundcover and mulches proposed;
(3)
A drawing of a typical saucer berm;
(4)
Area and depth of mulch;
(5)
Directions for pruning;
(6)
Depth and width of pit;
(7)
Location and type of staking;
(8)
Type of planting soil mixture; and
(9)
Wrapping details for deciduous trees, evergreen trees, shrubs
and groundcover.
A.
The sheet size used for the landscape plan shall be one
of the standard sizes permitted by the Map Filing Law. The plan shall be drawn
at a scale no smaller than one inch equals 50 feet for major subdivisions
and one inch equals 30 feet for site plans. On large projects, additional
plans may be required showing sufficient detail to adequately explain the
landscaping.
B.
The landscape plan shall show, but not be limited to
the following information:
C.
All plant material shall be drawn to scale at mature
size, reflecting the conditions of the site and clearly labeled as per type
and quantity. For ease of readability, a selection of plant symbols should
be used for identifying different types of trees and shrubs.
D.
The landscape plan shall also show any type of construction
material used in landscaping, such as, but not limited to, treated landscape
timbers, fences, paving material, site furniture and recreational equipment
and details, as required, to explain its use and construction.
A.
Buffers and landscape screens shall consist of at least
75% evergreen species. Such buffers and screens shall consist of at least
two parallel rows or groups of trees, with tree settings staggered so as to
produce a visual screen at tree maturity. Evergreen trees shall be no further
apart than 15 feet on center and a minimum of six feet high. The selected
trees shall be thickly branched and dense, especially close to the ground,
and shall have a fast growth rate in the early years. When available, and
where appropriate, the following species may be used: Dark American Arborvitae
(Thuja Occidentalis Nigra), spaced not more than 30 feet on center, Canadien
Hemlock (Tsuga Canadensis), Douglas Fir (Pseudotsuga Douglasi), White Pine
(Pinus Strobus) and Norway Spruce (Picea Excelsa).
B.
Where any lot or parcel of land is submitted for site
plan or major subdivision approval, which site plan or major subdivision has
a side or rear lot line abutting an existing roadway, appropriate landscaping
and screening shall be provided by the applicant along such roadway and shown
as part of the landscape plan. The plan, as otherwise provided herein, may
consist of deciduous trees, evergreen trees, shrubs and/or berms and be so
located so as to screen the side and rear yards of the properties without
obstructing sight triangles.
C.
Landscape screens shall be properly installed and continuously
maintained in good condition by the owner of the land area which includes
the screening strip.
A.
Staking.
(1)
All stakes are to be driven outside the root ball.
(2)
Stakes shall be hardwood, and a minimum of two stakes
shall be used per tree.
(3)
Stakes, when driven, must be one-half to two-thirds the
height of the tree, measured from the ground level.
(4)
Stakes shall be two inches square.
(5)
Stakes shall be attached to the tree with 12 gauge galvanized
wire, covered with rubber or plastic hose where the wire is likely to come
in contact with the tree trunk. An alternative may be any of the commercially
available materials designed for staking trees, with the approval of the Board
Engineer. The loop in contact with the tree shall be lose enough to permit
growth and prevent grinding for two years, but shall be tightly bound to the
stake to prevent slipping.
(6)
Stakes shall remain in place at least two years and be
removed by the developer at that time.
B.
Wrapping.
(1)
Each deciduous tree shall be wrapped with an expandable
paper or cloth treated to last at least one year.
(2)
The wrap shall extend from the ground level up the trunk
to the first branches.
(3)
The wrap, to prevent scald, shall be attached or fastened
at each end with a material that will permit growth without grinding.
C.
Saucer.
(1)
A ring of packed soil shall be placed around the finished
planting hole of each tree.
(2)
The saucer shall be a minimum of six inches higher than
the finished grade.
(3)
Saucers placed on slopes shall be level at the top and
perpendicular to the tree trunk.
(4)
Saucers are to be designed to catch and hold the maximum
amount of water, either from natural precipitation or irrigation.
D.
Mulching.
(1)
A three-inch minimum layer of mulch shall be applied
around each individual or group of trees and shrubs.
(2)
A mulch, as defined in § 119-3, shall be considered any material, organic or inorganic, of a granular nature that is not readily subject to movement by wind or water.
(3)
Shredded hardwood bark, partially rotted or nitrogen
enriched, or licorice root may be used for mulching. New wood chips are not
acceptable because of the bacteria drawing available nitrogen from the soil,
thus preventing its use by the plants it is intended to protect.
E.
Tree and shrub pits. All pits for planting shall be six
inches deeper and at least 12 inches wider than the ball of the plant. A mound
comprised of a plant soil mixture as specified herein shall be placed and
compacted to a minimum of six inches thickness at the bottom of the pit to
provide support for the ball of the plant.
F.
Planting. Plants shall be set straight, backfilled and
firmly tamped and then adequately watered, guyed, pruned and wrapped.
G.
Planting soil mixture. The types of backfill mixture
shall consist of two-thirds topsoil and one-third peat, or other materials
as required by specific plants.
H.
Topsoil. Stripping, stock piling, site preparation and
application of topsoil shall be in accordance with the Standards for Soil
Erosion and Sediment Control in New Jersey and the Soil Conservation District
for Burlington County.
A.
Only nursery grown material will be acceptable, unless
a tree spade, commercial tree moving equipment, is used.
B.
No planting shall be done at street intersections that
will interfere with traffic safety and proper sight distances.
C.
Plant species should not be of the exotic variety requiring
substantial maintenance or be materially affected by pollution, salt damage
along highways or current insect manifestations.
D.
All areas with a 33% slope or greater must be planted
with an approved groundcover to stabilize the slope.
E.
The grade and land located within six feet of an existing
tree that will remain on the site after construction shall not be raised or
lowered more then six inches, unless compensated by welling or retaining wall
methods.
F.
For existing trees that will remain on the site after
construction, no vehicular equipment is to be driven within six feet of such
trees, and no building materials may be stacked or stored within six feet
of such trees. A snow fence shall be installed around trees adjacent to site
construction to maintain a six-foot clear area.
G.
During construction, no trees are to support any scaffoldings,
signs, temporary utility or other devices.
H.
Replacement of all new trees and shrubs which fail to
survive shall be made at the next planting season.
I.
Consideration will be given to the height and width of
plants at maturity to prevent crowding and shading as the plants grow.
J.
The existing natural trees remaining in a development
shall be pruned to remove dead and diseased limbs and offensive vines and
undergrowth.
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.
