(A) The goal of these standards is to assure that neighborhood convenience centers present a landscaped appearance that is compatible with adjacent residential areas, and complementary to the image of the community as a whole.
(B) The minimum cost of landscaping materials for the project shall be 5% of the estimated building construction cost based on the current means construction data. For projects with a construction cost in excess of $500,000, the landscape plans, as required in § 155.349, shall be prepared by a landscape architect registered and licensed in the state.
(C) Plant materials, fences and walls shall be utilized to:
(1) Provide screening of undesirable views;
(2) Compliment the architectural form of the building;
(3) Define walkways, traffic circulation, special use areas, and building entries;
(4) Provide a pleasant street appearance;
(5) Soften the visual impact of large paved areas;
(6) Soften the edge between a parking lot or street and the building; and
(7) Mitigate the impacts of lighting or other negative influence.
(D) Landscaped islands within parking lots shall be provided for all parking lots in the neighborhood center. The total area of the islands shall be at least 5% of the parking lot area, except that no island shall be less than the size of a standard parking stall. In addition to the required tree planting in landscape islands, see § 155.349(D), ground cover within the island shall also be installed.
(E) The landscape treatment of the space abutting the public right-of-way shall include deciduous canopy trees in concert with berming or other screening devices to conceal parking and circulation areas.
(F) Planting beds, conifers and ornamental trees shall be used to accent entries and freestanding signage.
(G) Signage and identity structures shall be incorporated into the landscape design and shown on landscape or site plans.
(H) At least 75% of the “landscape area” shall be live plant material as opposed to walks, patios, and the like. Plant materials used in planting beds shall be sized to achieve a minimum of 50% bed coverage within two years of installation.
(I) Installation of trees and evergreens at larger than minimum city standards may be required by the city to achieve buffering or streetscape effect in some circumstances.
(J) The architectural design shall include plazas, patios, outdoor seating adjacent to building entries.
(K) Special paving materials (brick pavers, stamped concrete, paving stones, and the like) may be used to define pedestrian circulation through parking and vehicular circulation areas.
(L) Paths and sidewalks, a minimum five feet in width, shall be provided to assure that pedestrians can move safely and conveniently on the site and between the site and the neighborhood.
(M) In all turf and landscape areas, an in-ground landscape irrigation system shall be installed. The systems shall be considered a portion of the cost of the building (not the landscaping) and shall be inspected as part of the building construction.
(‘81 Code, § A1-35) (Ord. 291, passed 4-21-83; Am. Ord. 436, passed 2-23-89; Am. Ord. 462, passed 10-12-89; Am. Ord. 471, passed 1-11-90)