(a) Whenever any yard (front, side, or rear) of a use other than single or two-family residential, is not designated for building, off-street parking, loading or unloading, or other purpose required by the zoning district requirements, such yard shall be improved with either natural or living groundcover including grass, plant material, rocks, stones, mulch, etc.
(b) The proposed landscape plan shall integrate existing significant trees, tree stands, and natural vegetation to the greatest extent possible and shall be included in the minimum landscape requirements of this chapter as determined by the Zoning Administrator.
(c) All existing and future landscaping shall be maintained in a presentable condition and shall be kept free of refuse and debris. All existing and future plants and living materials shall be maintained in a sound, noxious weed-free, healthy and vigorous growing condition, free of plant disease and harmful insects.
(d) All new parking lots subject to site plan review and approval in accordance with Section 1281.04 shall provide and incorporate all of the following landscaping to the extent possible:
(1) Interior parking lot landscaping. Interior tree plantings areas and side and rear yard planting strips for multifamily residential, commercial, and industrial activities shall be provided as follows:
Parking Lot Size by Space | Landscaping Required by Location |
0-10 spaces | Front and side yard planting strips |
11-20 spaces | Front, side, and rear yard planting strips |
21-40 spaces | Front, side, and rear planting strips; interior islands |
(2) Planting strips - rear and side. One deciduous canopy tree or coniferous tree shall be planted in any unpaved area along the side and rear property line, external to a parking area, at a rate of one tree per eight parking spaces or one tree per thirty lineal feet of planting strip, whichever is greater. Ornamental trees may be provided in lieu of canopy or coniferous trees at a rate of one tree per six parking spaces or one tree per twenty lineal feet of planting strip, whichever is greater. In addition, six deciduous or coniferous shrubs shall be provided for each thirty lineal feet of planting strip.
(3) Where the site abuts a public road right-of-way, the following frontage landscaping shall be provided in the front yard area adjacent to the road right-of-way (see example of frontage landscaping below):
Type of Landscaping | Minimum Required Landscaping |
Deciduous or Evergreen Tree | 1 per 30 linear feet of road frontage or fraction thereof |
Shrubs | 1 per 30 linear feet of road frontage or fraction thereof |
The depth of the frontage landscaping area shall be sufficient to contain the required landscaping and ensure the survivability of plant material. For the purposes of computing length of road frontage, openings for driveways and sidewalks shall not be counted. Trees and shrubs may be planted at uniform intervals, at random, or in groupings. However, the Zoning Administrator may require the planting design to use massing or groupings of materials to create a stronger visual impact from the public right-of-way.
Example of Frontage Landscaping
Length of Road Frontage: 250 linear feet minus 30-foot driveway = 220 feet
Required Number of Plants
Deciduous or evergreen trees 220 ft./30 ft. = 7 deciduous or evergreen trees
Shrubs (220 ft./30 ft.) = 7 shrubs
TOTAL 7 deciduous or evergreen trees and 7 shrubs
Figure 22. Frontage Landscaping
(4) Interior tree planting areas. Interior tree planting areas must be provided at a size equal to or greater than 10% of the overall parking lot area. Interior islands must be surrounded by or contained by at least two sides of parking lot. Multiple interior planting areas may be grouped or combined. One deciduous canopy tree or conifer type tree shall be provided at a rate of one tree per eight parking spaces, and at least one tree must be provided per interior planting area. Landscaping islands with or without walkways must be used to subdivide parking areas into parking rows with no more than twenty spaces. See image below.
Figure 23. Interior Tree Planting Areas
(5) Trees and shrubs may be placed either symmetrically or asymmetrically throughout and around the parking area within planting strips and interior planting areas.
(Ord. 10-2020. Passed 11-24-20; Ord. 04-2021. Passed 4-13-21.)