(A) A planting yard comprised of a strip of land containing landscaping materials located along and parallel to a public street, or streets. A STREET YARD is defined as a planting yard comprised of a strip of land containing landscaping materials located along and parallel to a public street, or streets. The street yard is located on private property and not within the street right-of-way. Street yards may have a varying minimum width as specified in this section; however, no street tree can be planted more than 35 feet from the edge of the right-of-way to count as a street tree. The minimum depth of the street yard from the edge of the street right-of-way cannot be less than seven feet; or not less than five from the edge of the sidewalk. The average length of the street yard, running parallel to the right-of-way, shall be at least ten feet.
(B) For street yards, one large shade tree (expected height of 35 feet at maturity) is required for every 50 feet of linear street frontage of the lot minus the width of driveways and access points. Trees do not need to be spaced evenly. They may be clustered with a minimum spacing of 15 feet and a maximum spacing of 75 feet. Ornamental trees (expected height of 25 feet upon maturity) may be used in place of shade trees at the rate of one for every 30 feet. Due to above ground utilities; the town may require the use of ornamental trees in place of large shade trees.
(C) Inclusion of existing trees in the landscape design is encouraged. Shrubbery, ground cover and other planting materials shall be used to compliment the tree planting. No area of the street yard may be exposed soil, but instead shall be covered with vegetation, whether grass or shrubbery. The only area that shall remain uncovered is the six-foot radius surrounding the trunk of any tree; however, this area shall be mulched.
(Ord. passed 3-14-2005; Ord. passed 10-10-2016; Ord. passed 3-14-2019, § 702)