(A) A landscaped yard shall be installed and maintained along all public streets except on lots in agricultural districts, on through lots (not corner lots) in R-1 districts, or on lots abutting a public transportation facility. This yard shall be kept clear of all structures, storage and off-street parking, except for driveways. This yard shall be at least five feet in depth from the public right-of-way for all properties abutting Cedar Avenue south of 140th Street and for all properties abutting 150th Street west of Pilot Knob Road, but east of 147th Street. This yard shall be at least 15 feet in depth along all other streets, measured from the public right-of-way. The measurement shall be determined as of the time that the permit for construction or improvement is issued. Except for driveways, the yard shall extend along both streets in the case of a corner lot.
(B) An approved landscape plan shall be required for all new commercial, industrial, multiple residential and institutional developments. For developments having a construction value in excess of $1,000,000, the plan shall be prepared by a landscape architect registered and licensed in the state. To the maximum extent feasible, this site plan shall incorporate any existing vegetative features on the site; to the extent that the value of preserved vegetation can be demonstrated, a credit to the minimum expenditures following below may be allowed. The landscape plan shall include size, location, quantity and species of all plant materials and the method of maintenance. The minimum cost of landscaping materials for the plan shall be a percentage of the estimated building construction cost based on current means construction data as follows:
(1) Multiple residential, 2½%;
(2) Commercial, 2½%;
(3) Institutional, 2½%; and
(4) Industrial, 1½%.
(C) The City Council may require a landscape bond to ensure that all plant materials are planted and maintained for at least one year.
(D) Landscaped islands shall be provided in parking lots containing more than 25 parking stalls. Total area of islands shall be at least 2% of the parking lot area, except that no island shall be less than the size of a standard parking stall. Islands shall be surrounded by a concrete curb and provided with a weed retardant mesh or plastic sheeting. Islands shall be planted with a minimum 2½-inch diameter tree at the rate of one tree per 150 square feet of island area.
(‘81 Code, § A1-56) (Ord. 291, passed 4-21-83; Am. Ord. 436, passed 2-23-89; Am. Ord. 875, passed 12-22-09)