The purpose of this article is to indicate the minimum requirements for the landscaping of building foundations, developed lots, street frontages, paved areas, permanently protected green space areas, reforestation areas and bufferyards.
A. 
This article contains the standards that govern the amount, size, type, installation and maintenance of required landscaping. This article recognizes the important and diverse benefits which landscaping provides in terms of protecting the health, safety and general welfare of the community and implementing the Comprehensive Master Plan.
B. 
Each subsection of this article is oriented to a specific category of required landscaping. The landscaping requirements described in this article of the chapter are cumulative in nature and are required for all development, except single-family residential and agricultural uses, in the following locations: around building foundations, in developed lots, along street frontages, in or around paved areas, in permanently protected green space areas, in reforestation areas and in bufferyards. Descriptions of these areas and their associated landscape requirements are included in § 325-59, Landscaping requirements for regular development (building foundation, developed lots, street frontages paved areas); § 325-60, Landscaping requirements for other permanently protected green space areas; § 325-61, Landscaping requirements for required reforestation; and § 325-62, Landscaping requirements for bufferyards.
C. 
In each instance, a landscaping point concept is used to provide a maximum amount of flexibility in terms of the selection of plant materials. Section 325-58 presents sample landscape point combination alternatives used by this chapter. Section 325-63 provides a listing of plant species fitting into the "climax tree," "tall deciduous tree," "medium deciduous tree," "low deciduous tree," "tall evergreen tree," "medium evergreen tree," "low evergreen tree," "tall deciduous shrub," "medium deciduous shrub," "low deciduous shrub," "medium evergreen shrub," "low evergreen shrub" and "noncontributory plants" used by this chapter. Section 325-64 provides requirements for the installation and maintenance of required landscaping, Section 325-65 describes the procedure for calculating landscaping requirements for this article, and § 325-66 requires that any proposed landscaping be clearly depicted and labeled on a site plan.
A. 
Landscaping points. All landscaping requirements are stated in terms of the number of landscaping points required. The required number of landscaping points is dependent upon the type of land use, the zoning district and the size of the development. Each plant is awarded a different number of points, depending upon its typical growth rate, its mature height and whether it is a deciduous or evergreen species. A minimum installation size is required for each of these plant categories. These requirements are as follows:
Table 325-58
Landscaping Points and Minimum Installation Sizes
Plant Category
Landscaping Points Per Plant
Minimum Permitted Installation Size
Climax tree
75
2" caliper
Tall deciduous tree
30
1 1/2" caliper
Medium deciduous tree
15
6' tall
Low deciduous tree
10
4' tall
Tall evergreen tree
40
5' tall
Medium evergreen tree
20
4' tall
Low evergreen tree
12
3' tall
Tall deciduous shrub
5
36" tall
Medium deciduous shrub
3
24" tall
Low deciduous shrub
1
18" tall
Medium evergreen shrub
5
18" tall/wide
Low evergreen shrub
3
12" tall/wide
Noncontributory plants
0
N/A
Source: A Guide to Selecting Landscape Plants for Wisconsin, E.R. Hasselkus, UW-Extension Publication: A2865.
B. 
Depiction of sample landscaping schemes. Illustration 325-58, shown below, depicts sample landscaping schemes that may be used for building foundations, developed lots, street frontages, paved areas, reforestation and bufferyards. In general, landscaping schemes similar to Alternative A are best for building foundations, landscaping schemes similar to Alternative B are best for developed lots, landscaping schemes similar to Alternative C are best for street frontages, landscaping schemes similar to Alternative D are best for paved areas (including parking lots, walkways and plazas), landscaping schemes similar to Alternative E are best for reforestation, and landscaping schemes similar to Alternative F are best for bufferyards. A detailed listing of which plant species fit each plant type is provided in § 325-63.
C. 
Measurement for landscaping requirements. A minimum amount of landscaping points, based upon the zoning district, is required for the linear feet building foundations, the gross floor area of buildings on developed lots, the linear feet of street frontage and the total combined area of paved areas. The following diagram illustrates the measurement techniques used to determine these requirements:
Landscaping calculation equations for this example:
Paved area = (P1 x P2) + (P3 x P4) + (P5 x P6) + (P7 x P8) + (P9 x P10).
Street frontage = S1 + S2.
Building perimeter = F1 + F2 + F3 + F4 + F5 + F6 + F7 + F8.
Building floor area = (B1 x B2) + (B3 x B4) + (B5 x B6).
A. 
Building foundations. This section requires that certain buildings, or building additions, constructed after the effective date of this chapter be accented by a minimum amount of landscaping placed near the building foundation.
(1) 
Landscaping required by this section shall be placed so that, at maturity, the plant's dripline is located within 10 feet of the building foundation. Such landscaping shall not be located in those areas required for landscaping as street frontages, paved areas, protected green space areas, reforestation areas or bufferyards under §§ 325-59 through 325-62 of this article. See § 325-58B, Alternative A, for a suggested scheme.
(2) 
For each 100 feet of building foundation perimeter, the following number of landscaping points (per § 325-58A) shall be provided on a prorated basis and installed and permanently maintained per the requirements of § 325-64.
(3) 
Climax trees and tall trees shall not be used to meet this requirement. The intent of this section is to require a visual break in the mass of buildings and to require a visual screen of a minimum of six feet in height for all exterior perimeter appurtenances (such as HVAC/utility boxes, standpipes, stormwater discharge pipes and other pipes).
(4) 
Where the officially approved site plan depicts a future building extension, the foundation landscaping requirement shall be calculated by measuring the length of the total perimeter. However, foundation plantings need only be installed based on the landscape points calculated from the portions of the building perimeter that will not be affected by building extension. If this results in point requirements which are not met through the initial planting, then said requirement shall be met within five years of building permit issuance or as extended in writing by the Plan Commission.
B. 
Developed lots. This section requires that certain lots developed after the effective date of this chapter contain a minimum amount of landscaping.
(1) 
Landscaping required by this section is most effective if located away from those areas required for landscaping as building foundations, street frontages, paved areas, protected green space areas, reforestation areas or bufferyards under § 325-59 through 325-62 of this article. See § 325-58B, Alternative B, for a suggested landscaping scheme.
(2) 
The following number of landscaping points (as described in § 325-58A) shall be provided on a prorated basis for every 1,000 square feet of gross floor area and installed and maintained per the requirements of § 325-64.
(3) 
The intent of this section is to provide yard shade and to require a visual screen of a minimum of six feet in height for all detached exterior appurtenances (such as HVAC, utility boxes, standpipes, stormwater discharge pipes and other pipes).
C. 
Street frontages. This section requires that street frontages on certain lots developed after the effective date of this chapter contain a minimum amount of landscaping in those areas which abut the right-of-way of a public street.
(1) 
All landscaping used to meet this requirement shall be located within 10 feet of the public right-of-way. In no instance shall such landscaping be located within a public right-of-way. See § 325-58B, Alternative C, for a suggested landscaping scheme. Landscaping shall not impede vehicle or pedestrian visibility.
(2) 
For every 100 linear feet of street frontage where a developed lot abuts a public street right-of-way, the following number of landscaping points (as described in § 325-58A) shall be provided on a prorated basis and installed and maintained per the requirements of § 325-64.
(3) 
Shrubs shall not be used to meet this requirement. A minimum of 50% of all points shall be devoted to climax and/or tall trees and a minimum of 30% of all points shall be devoted to medium trees.
D. 
Paved areas. This section requires that paved areas on certain lots developed after the effective date of this chapter contain a minimum amount of landscaping within, or within 10 feet of, the paved area. The intent is to require a continuous visual screen of parking areas from public rights-of-way at a minimum height of 40 inches.
(1) 
A minimum of 360 square feet of landscaped area, which shall be located within 10 feet of the paved area, is required for the placement of every 100 landscaping points. Said area does not have to be provided in one contiguous area. Sample configurations are depicted in § 325-58B above. Plants used to fulfill this requirement shall visually screen parking, loading and circulation areas from view from public streets.
(2) 
For every 20 off-street parking stalls or 10,000 square feet of pavement (whichever yields the greater landscaping requirement) located in a development, the following number of landscaping points (as described in § 325-58A) shall be provided on a prorated basis and installed and maintained per the requirements of § 325-64. A minimum of 30% of all points shall be devoted to climax and/or tall trees and a minimum of 40% of all points shall be devoted to shrubs.
[1]
Editor's Note: Table 325-59 is included at the end of this chapter.
A. 
This section requires that each acre of other permanently protected green space after the effective date of this chapter be planted with a minimum amount of landscaping.
B. 
For every one acre of other permanently protected green space in a development, 200 landscaping points (as described in § 325-58A) shall be provided. In addition, adequate ground cover shall be provided to stabilize the soil.
A. 
This section requires that each area required to be reforested be reforested and maintained in a manner appropriate to site conditions.
B. 
A detailed reforestation plan shall be submitted by the property owner and approved by the Village prior to clear cutting. This plan shall be reviewed by a reforestation consultant chosen by the Village, with funding for consulting services provided by the petitioner to the Village.
C. 
Rationale. The provisions of this section are designed to ensure that reforestation efforts required as part of woodland disruption mitigation standards result in the thorough and reasonably rapid replacement of the important and varied environmental functions which woodlands provide.
A. 
Purpose and rationale.
(1) 
Purpose. This section provides the landscaping and width requirements for bufferyards on lots developed after the effective date of this chapter. A bufferyard is a combination of distance and a visual buffer or barrier. It includes an area, together with the combination of plantings, berms and fencing, that is required to eliminate or reduce existing or potential nuisances. These nuisances can often occur between adjacent zoning districts. Such nuisances are dirt, litter, noise, glare of lights, signs and incompatible land uses, buildings or parking areas.
(2) 
Rationale. One of zoning's most important functions is the separation of land uses into districts which have similar character and contain compatible uses. The location of districts is supposed to provide protection, but in the Village of Cottage Grove, this is not the case since zoning districts permitting uses as diverse as single-family residential and industrial uses were located next to one another long before the effective date of this chapter. Bufferyards will operate to minimize the negative impact of any future use on neighboring uses.
B. 
Required locations for bufferyards. Bufferyards shall be located along (and within) the outer perimeter of a lot wherever two different zoning districts abut one another. Bufferyards shall not be required in front yards.
C. 
Determination of required bufferyard. The determination of bufferyard requirements is a two-staged process. First, the required level of bufferyard opacity is determined using Table 325-62D(1). Opacity is a quantitatively derived measure which indicates the degree to which a particular bufferyard screens the adjoining property. The required level of opacity indicated by Table 325-62D(1) is directly related to the degree to which the potential character of development differs between different zoning districts. The provisions of this section indicate the minimum requirements for bufferyards located along zoning district boundaries.
(1) 
Identification of required level of opacity. Table 325-62D(1) shall be used to determine the minimum level of opacity for the required bufferyard. The required level of opacity is determined by the value given in the cell of the table at which the column heading along the top row of the table (representing the subject property's zoning district) intersects with the row heading along the left-hand side of the table (representing the adjacent property's zoning district). The value listed is the required level of opacity for the bufferyard on the subject property.
(2) 
Identification of detailed bufferyard requirements.
(a) 
If a proposed use adjoins a parcel for which a bufferyard is required by the presence of a zoning district boundary, that use shall provide a bufferyard with the level of the opacity indicated in Table 325-62D(1).
(b) 
For each level of opacity listed in Table 325-62D(1), a wide variety of width, landscaping point, berm and structure combinations are possible. These are listed in Table 325-62D(2). The requirements listed in Table 325-62D(2) pertain to the number of landscaping points, the minimum bufferyard width and the type of berm or fencing required within every 100 feet of required bufferyard. A variety of landscaping point options are available and may be mixed within distinct portions of the same bufferyard. Section 325-58A describes the various available landscaping point alternatives. Section 325-63 provides a listing of tree and shrub species which correspond the landscaping point descriptions.
D. 
Tables for required bufferyards.[1]
Notes for Table 325-62D(1): For properties zoned in the Rural Holding District (RH), refer to the Comprehensive Master Plan's Land Use Map to determine the proposed zoning district for said property. Bufferyard requirements shall be taken from this proposal. An opacity of 1.0 is required for land uses regulated as conditional uses when associated with potential or probable nuisance factors related to outdoor activities.
Table 325-62D(2)
Detailed Bufferyard Requirements
Opacity
# Landscaping Points/100 feet
Width
Required Structure
0.05
00
10'+
Minimum 44" picket fence*
00
10'+
Minimum 4' wood rail fence*
40
10'
—
0.05
36
15'
—
33
20'
—
31
25'
—
29
30'
—
0.10
00
10'+
Minimum 44" picket fence*
38
10'+
Minimum 4' wood rail fence*
91
10'
—
80
15'
—
0.10
73
20'
—
68
25'
—
65
30'
—
62
35'+
—
00
35'+
Minimum 4' berm
0.20
00
10'+
Minimum 6' solid fence*
84
10'+
Minimum 44" picket fence*
133
15'+
Minimum 4' wood rail fence*
198
15'
—
173
20'
—
0.20
158
25'
—
149
30'
—
140
35'
—
10
35'+
Minimum 4' berm
135
40'+
—
00
40'+
Minimum 5' berm
0.30
00
10'+
Minimum 6' solid fence*
198
15'+
Minimum 44" picket fence*
320
20'
—
240
20'+
Minimum 4' wood rail fence*
276
25'
—
252
30'
—
0.30
235
35'
—
104
35'+
Minimum 4' berm
223
40'
—
44
40'+
Minimum 5' berm
215
45'
—
209
50'+
—
00
50'+
Minimum 6' berm
0.40
53
10'+
Minimum 6' solid fence*
330
20'+
Minimum 44" picket fence*
440
25'
—
362
25'+
Minimum 4' wood rail fence*
385
30'
—
349
35'
—
0.40
208
35'+
Minimum 4' berm
327
40'
—
148
40'+
Minimum 5' berm
310
45'
—
299
50'+
—
56
50'+
Minimum 6' berm
0.50
135
15'+
Minimum 6' solid fence*
564
30'
—
405
30'+
Minimum 44" picket fence*
492
30'+
Minimum 4' wood rail fence*
499
35'
—
319
35'+
Minimum 4' berm
0.50
454
40'
—
261
40'+
Minimum 5' berm
422
45'
—
405
50'
—
160
50'+
Minimum 6' berm
388
55'
—
374
60'+
—
0.60
221
20'+
Minimum 6' solid fence*
433
35'+
Minimum 4' berm
541
35'+
Minimum 44" picket fence*
630
35'+
Minimum 4' wood rail fence*
626
40'
—
0.60
379
40'+
Minimum 5' berm
570
45'
—
525
50'
—
270
50'+
Minimum 6' berm
500
55'
—
480
60'+
—
0.80
415
30'+
Minimum 6' solid fence*
655
40'+
Minimum 4' berm
627
45'+
Minimum 5' berm
873
45'+
Minimum 44" picket fence*
910
50'
—
0.80
505
50'+
Minimum 6' berm
809
50'+
Minimum 4' wood rail fence*
804
55'
—
744
60'
—
710
65'
—
677
70'+
—
1.00
636
40'+
732
50'+
751
50'+
867
55'+
1091
60'+
1.00
1136
60'+
1083
65'
994
70'
934
75'
892
80'+
[1]
Editor's Note: Table 42D(1) is included at the end of this chapter.
For the purpose of this chapter, plant materials are classified into 13 groupings: "climax tree," "tall deciduous tree," "medium deciduous tree," "low deciduous tree," "tall evergreen tree," "medium evergreen tree," "low evergreen tree," "tall deciduous shrub," "medium deciduous shrub," "low deciduous shrub," "medium evergreen shrub," "low evergreen shrub" and "noncontributory plants." Species suitable for landscaping use and compatible with Dane County climate and soil factors are listed in Table 325-63 below. The Zoning Administrator shall review proposals for, and the applicability of, species not contained in this list and is authorized to approve appropriate similar species.
Table 325-43
Classification of Plant Species
Climax Trees
(75 Landscaping Points)
Botanical Name
Common Name
Acer saccharum
Sugar Maple
Ginkgo biloba
Ginko
Quercus sp.
Oak: Red, White, Pin
Tall Deciduous Trees
(30 Landscaping Points)
Botanical Name
Common Name
Acer sp.
Maple: Red, Norway
Fraxinus sp.
Ash: White, Green
Gleditsia triancanthos
Honeylocust
Populus grandidentata
Bigtooth Aspen
Tilia sp.
Linden: Basswood, Littleleaf, Redmond
Medium Deciduous Trees
(15 Landscaping Points)
Botanical Name
Common Name
Betula sp.
Birch: River, Paper
Prunus sp.
Cherry: Choke, Pin
Low Deciduous Trees
(10 Landscaping Points)
Botanical Name
Common Name
Amelanchier sp.
Serviceberry
Crataegus sp.
Hawthorn: Cockspur, Downy, Washington
Malus sp.
Crabapple sp.
Tall Evergreen Trees
(40 Landscaping Points)
Botanical Name
Common Name
Abies concolor
White Fir
Pinus sp.
Pine: Red, White, Scots
Tsuga Canadensis
Canada Hemlock
Medium Evergreen Trees
(20 Landscaping Points)
Botanical Name
Common Name
Thuja occidentalis
American Arborvitae
Low Evergreen Trees
(12 Landscaping Points)
Botanical Name
Common Name
Juniperus sp.
Juniper: Mountbatten, Redcedar
Thuja sp.
Arborvitae: Pyramidal, Techny
Tall Deciduous Shrubs
(5 Landscaping Points)
Botanical Name
Common Name
Cornus sp.
Dogwood: Grey, Pagoda
Syringa sp.
Lilac: Chinese, Hyacinth
Viburnum sp.
Viburnum: Arrowwood, Wayfaringtree, Nannyberry
Medium Deciduous Shrubs
(3 Landscaping Points)
Botanical Name
Common Name
Corylus americana
American Filbert, Hazelnut
Cotoneaster sp.
Cotoneaster
Forsynthia sp.
Forsythia: Border, Early, Weeping
Rosa sp.
Rose: Virgina, Rugosa
Low Deciduous Shrubs
(1 Landscaping Point)
Botanical Name
Common Name
Berberis thunbergii
Japanese Barberry
Spiraea sp.
Spirea: Froebel, Snowmound
Tall - Medium Evergreen Shrubs
(5 Landscaping Points)
Botanical Name
Common Name
Juniperus chinensis
Juniper: Pfitzer
Taxus sp.
Yew: Japanese
Low Evergreen Shrubs
(3 Landscaping Points)
Botanical Name
Common Name
Juniperus sp.
Juniper: Sargent, Creeping, Andorra
A. 
Installation.
(1) 
Any and all landscaping and bufferyard material required by the provisions of this chapter shall be installed on the subject property, in accordance with the approved site plan, within 730 days of the issuance of an occupancy permit for any building on the subject property.
(2) 
Surety. If the subject property is to be occupied prior to the installation of all required landscaping and bufferyard material, the property owner shall sign an agreement stating the intent to install the landscaping within the seven-hundred-thirty-day period. This agreement shall also contain a statement indicating that there are fines associated with not complying with this agreement.
(3) 
Existing plant material which meets the requirements of § 325-58A and which will be preserved on the subject property following the completion of development may be counted as contributing to the landscaping requirements.
(4) 
All landscaping and bufferyard areas shall be seeded with lawn or native ground cover unless such vegetation is already fully established.
(5) 
The exact placement of required plants and structures shall be depicted on the required detailed landscaping plan and shall be the decision of each property owner within the requirements of this section, except that the following requirements shall be met:
(a) 
Evergreen shrubs shall be planted in clusters in order to maximize their chance for survival.
(b) 
Where a combination of plant materials and/or berming and/or fencing is used in a bufferyard, the fence and/or berm shall be located toward the interior of the subject property, and the plant material shall be located toward the exterior of the subject property.
(c) 
A property owner may establish through a written agreement, recorded with the Register of Deeds office, that an adjacent property owner shall agree to provide a partial or full portion of the required bufferyard on an immediately adjacent portion of their land, thereby exempting the developer from providing all or a portion of the bufferyard on his property.
(d) 
In no manner shall landscaping or bufferyard materials be selected and/or located in a manner that results in the creation of a safety or visibility hazard.
(e) 
The restrictions on types of plants listed in § 325-59 shall apply.
B. 
Maintenance. The continued and continual maintenance of all required landscaping and bufferyard materials shall be a requirement of this chapter and shall be the responsibility of the owner of the property on which said materials are required. This requirement shall run with the property and is binding upon all future property owners. Development of any and all property following the effective date of this chapter shall constitute an agreement by the property owner to comply with the provisions of this section. Upon failure to comply with these provisions, the Village may enter upon the property for the purpose of evaluating and maintaining all required landscaping and bufferyard materials and may specially assess the costs thereof against the property. Failure to comply with this requirement shall be considered a violation of this chapter and shall be subject to any and all applicable enforcement procedures and penalties.
C. 
Use of required bufferyard and landscaped areas. Any and all required bufferyards or landscaped areas may be used for passive recreation activities. Said areas may contain pedestrian, bike or equestrian trails, provided that: no required material is eliminated; the total width of the required bufferyard, or the total area of required landscaping, is maintained; and all other regulations of this chapter are met. In no event, however, shall swimming pools, tennis courts, sports fields, golf courses or other such active recreation use be permitted in such areas. Furthermore, in no instance shall any parking be permitted in such areas, nor shall any outdoor display or storage of materials be permitted in such areas. Paving in such areas shall be limited to that required for necessary access to, through or across the subject property.
D. 
Utility easements. Landscaping materials, fences and berms located within a duly recorded utility easement and/or a pedestrian easement shall not count toward meeting a landscaping requirement. However, the width of such areas may be counted as part of a landscaping requirement.
In calculating the number of required landscaping points under the provisions of this article, all areas and distances on which required calculations are based shall be rounded up to the nearest whole number of square feet or linear feet. Any partial plant derived from the required calculations of this section (for example 23.3 canopy trees) shall be rounded up to the nearest whole plant (24 canopy trees).
Any and all proposed landscaping on the subject property, required to meet the standards of this chapter, shall be clearly depicted and labeled as to its location and makeup on the site plan required for the development of the subject property.