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A. For any premises to be developed for multi-family residential or nonresidential use, a landscape plan must be submitted to the city showing how the requirements of these regulations are to be met. If the plan meets the regulations, the planning director may approve the landscape plan.
B. Where improvements are proposed to a developed premises devoted to a nonresidential use that was developed prior to the effective date hereof and does not meet the landscaping requirements of this chapter, the planning director may approve a landscape plan with deviations from the requirements of this chapter or impose alternative requirements that serve the purpose and intent of this chapter, if the requirements of this chapter cannot be reasonably complied with because of the existing developed conditions.
C. In approving a landscape plan, the planning director may allow or require minor deviations from the requirements of this chapter whenever a literal application of a requirement to a premises that would, because of unusual circumstances or situations not generally common to other premises, not achieve the purposes or intent of the regulation or cause an undesired result. (Ord. 09-04-15, 4-21-2015)
A. Any tree, shrub, plant, fence, or screen installed to satisfy the requirements of this chapter must meet the following requirements:
1. Trees must be a minimum of seven feet (7') in overall height immediately after planting and must be a minimum of three inches (3") caliper. Trees having an average mature crown spread of less than fifteen feet (15') in diameter may be grouped in sufficient number so as to create the equivalent of a fifteen foot (15') crown spread. Any trees or plants used to meet the requirements of these regulations are recommended to be one of the preferred trees or plants listed in section 9-6-11 of this chapter.
2. If residential or nonresidential property owners wish to use palms instead of the trees on the list, the property owners shall provide two (2) palm trees for every one shade or ornamental tree required by this code.
3. Shrubs must have a minimum of two feet (2') in height when measured immediately after planting. When used for screening purposes, the shrubs must not be separated by more than two and one-half feet (21/2'). Whenever hedges are used to meet a screening requirement, the plants must be planted and maintained so as to form a continuous, unbroken, solid, visual screen within one year of planting.
4. Vines must be a minimum of thirty inches (30") in height immediately after planting and may be used in conjunction with fences to meet physical barrier/buffer requirements. Any buffer fence installed to meet the requirements of these regulations must, unless otherwise specified, be constructed of wood, stone, brick, masonry, stucco, or concrete.
5. Ground covers used in place of grass, in whole or in part, must be planted to present a finished appearance and reasonable complete coverage within three (3) months after planting.
6. Grass must be of a species normally grown as permanent lawns in the Texas Rio Grande Valley region.
7. Earthen berms shall have side slopes not to exceed three to one (3:1) (3 feet of horizontal distance for each 1 foot of height). All berms shall contain necessary drainage provisions, as may be required by the project/city engineer.
8. Solid sod must be used to provide coverage and soil stabilization in swales or other areas subject to erosion.
9. Detention and retention basins and ponds must be landscaped with shade and ornamental trees, shrubbery, hedges, or other plants.
10. Indigenous and drought resistant plant material should be used, but if not used, an irrigation system shall be installed or a watering source made readily available within one hundred feet (100'). (Ord. 09-04-15, 4-21-2015)
A. Preferred trees and shrubs to be used to meet the city landscaping standards include, but are not specifically restricted to:
Plant Type | Botanical Name | Common Name |
Plant Type | Botanical Name | Common Name |
Shade trees | Celtis laevigata | Sugar hackberry; palo blanco |
Ehretia anacua | Sugarberry; anacua | |
Fraxinum berlandieriana | Rio grande ash; fresno | |
Leucaena pulverulenta | Lead tree; tepeguaje | |
Pithecellobium ebano | Texas ebony; ebano | |
Prospis glandulosa | Honey mesquite | |
Quercus virginiana | Live oak; encino | |
Ulmus crassifolia | Cedar elm; olmo | |
Ornamental trees | Acacia berlandieri | Guajillo |
Acacia smallii | Texas huisache | |
Bumelia celastrina | Saffron-plum; coma del sur | |
Celtis pallida | Spiny hackberry; granjeno | |
Cercidium texanum | Texas palo verde | |
Condalia hookeri | Brasil; bluewood | |
Cordia boissieeri | Mexican olive; anacahuita | |
Diospyros texana | Persimmon; chapote | |
Esenbeckia runyonii | Jopoy | |
Guaiacum angustifolium | Soapbush; guayacan | |
Lagerstroemia indica | Crepe myrtle | |
Parkinsonia aculeata | Retama; lluvia de oro | |
Pithecellobium pallens | Tenaza | |
Sapindus drummondii | West soapberry; jabonciilo | |
Sophora secundiflora | Mountain laurel | |
Screening shrubs | Acacia rigidula | Black brush |
Citherexylum berlandieri | Fiddlewood; tamaulipan | |
Leucophyllum frutescens | Purple sage; cenizo bouganvillea | |
Photinia fraseri | Oleander | |
Xylosma flexuosa | Holly; coronillo | |
Mass planting shrubs | Coursetia axillaris | Texas baby-bonnets |
Croton humilis | Low croton | |
Malpighia glabra | Manzanita | |
Salvia ballotiflora | Blue sage; mejorana | |
Schaefferia cuneifola | Desert yaupon; capul | |
Sophora tomentosa | Yellow sophora; tambalisa | |
Viguiera stenoloba | Skeletonbush | |
Ground cover plantings | Buchloe dactyloides | Buffalo grass verbena |
Lantana horrida | Texas lantana | |
Ruellia corzoi | Ruellia | |
Vines | Passiflora filipes | Yellow passion vine |
Passiflora foetida | Blue passion vine | |
(Ord. 09-04-15, 4-21-2015)
A. Definitions:
IRRIGATION SYSTEM: An assembly of component parts that is permanently installed for the controlled distribution and conservation of water to irrigate any type of landscape vegetation in any location, and/or to reduce dust or control erosion.
IRRIGATOR: A person who sells, designs, consults, installs, maintains, alters, repairs, supervises installations or services an irrigation system, including the connection of such system in and to a private or public, raw or potable water supply system or any water supply.
B. License Requirements For Landscape Irrigators And Permitting Requirements:
1. Securing Permits: It shall be unlawful for any person, firm or corporation who is not licensed by TCEQ as an irrigator to secure permits as provided herein. The irrigator shall furnish the name or names of persons who are authorized to sign permit applications and shall maintain it as updated as possible.
2. Landscape Irrigation Permits:
a. A permit is required for landscape irrigation systems installed within the city limits and the extraterritorial jurisdiction of the city of Alamo.
b. It shall be the duty of the irrigator to ensure that the installation of landscape irrigation systems conform to the minimum prevailing standards and specifications set forth by TCEQ.
c. The applicant must provide a copy of their irrigator's license, Texas driver's license and a copy of their liability insurance, prior to receiving a permit to install a landscape irrigation system.
d. A permit fee of one percent (1%) of the total cost or sixty six dollars ($66.00), whichever is greater, shall be required for the inspection and administering of the landscape irrigation requirements as allowed under HB 1656.
e. The requirements under this section do not apply to:
(1) On site sewage disposal systems;
(2) An irrigation system used on or by an agricultural operation;
(3) Or connected to a groundwater well used by the property owner for domestic use. (Ord. 09-04-15, 4-21-2015)