(A) Landscape plan required. A landscape plan shall be required and approved for all construction and development activity.
(B) Contents. All landscape plans submitted for approval shall be to an engineering scale and contain or have attached thereto the following information:
(1) The location and dimensions of all existing and proposed structures, parking lots and drives, roadways and right-of-way, sidewalks, bicycle paths, ground signs, refuse disposal areas, bicycle parking areas, fences, freestanding electrical equipment, utility easements, conservation easements, lighting, tot lots and other recreational facilities, proposed locations of storm water inlets, valve vaults, hose bibs, manholes, hydrants, fire department siamese connections, and other structural features as determined necessary by the Director of Planning or his or her authorized designee.
(2) The location, quantity, size, root ball condition (e.g., balled and burlapped or potted), and name, both scientific (Latin) and common, of all proposed plant materials, and existing plant materials to be preserved as well as boundaries of all planting beds.
(3) The location of all proposed berming and drainage swales, indicating contours at one foot intervals, percent of slope, and the location of all proposed drainage features with natural vegetation including, but not limited to, rain gardens, and other storm water detention and infiltration areas.
(4) Specification and boundaries of all natural landscaping areas, including prairie, woodland, and wetland plant communities, identified by specific community type and by scientific and common names of all species. (If natural landscaping areas will contain grasses or sedges that exceed 18 inch mature height, a natural landscaping permit is required.)
(5) Elevations and details of all fences, bridges, retaining walls, or other decorative features proposed for location on site. The details shall include, but are not limited to, materials, colors, styles and sizes.
(6) Elevations, cross sections, all necessary planting details and notes, and other information as determined necessary by the Director of Planning or his or her designee.
(7) Landscape data box which shall include the required and proposed calculations for the following: total area in square feet of the lot or tract to be developed, the total square feet and percentage of landscape area between the building(s) and any public or private street, and the total square feet and percentage of the area being landscaped. The data box in chart form shall also include the total number of trees required and proposed, their common and botanical names, and their type (shade, evergreen, or ornamental), and the total number of shrubs required and proposed, their common and botanical name and their type (evergreen or deciduous).
(8) Delineate the width and length of the buffer yard, the quantity of trees by name (common and scientific) and by type (evergreen, shade or ornamental), and the quantity of shrubs by name (common and scientific) and type (evergreen or deciduous).
(9) Details of erosion control for natural landscaping areas.
(C) Design guidelines. In preparing a landscape plan, the design guidelines shall be as follows:
(1) General landscape design principles.
(a) Landscape improvements should serve to integrate the project to the site, with particular sensitivity to the natural topography, watercourses, and existing vegetation. Preservation of the existing landscape material and land forms should be taken into account, particularly where mature trees are a part of the site. This is of particular importance in cases where specimen trees, groves, or tree lines, or tree lined watercourses are present.
(b) Landscape improvements should serve to enhance the appearance of the site, especially as viewed from an adjacent public right-of-way. Effective year round screening shall be provided to lessen the visual prominence of: parking lots, service yards, loading docks, public utility structures, and unsightly appurtenances.
(c) Innovative landscape design proposals that promote sustainability, reduce irrigation requirements, and that utilize effective on-site storm water management techniques are encouraged. Thoughtful selection and placement of plant material and ground covers based on ecological principles are also encouraged.
(d) The aesthetic aspect of landscape improvements should be considered both at installation and maturity. Groupings of trees or other plantings are recommended for optimal visual effect and ease of maintenance.
(2) Scale. Scale and nature of landscape materials and planting bed size should be appropriate to the site and structures. Larger buildings and sites may accommodate and be enhanced by larger plant material, plant groupings, and planting beds.
(3) Selection and layout. Plant material should be selected for its form, texture, color and concern for its size at maturity. Wherever possible, large planting areas should be provided in groupings and masses to provide a more naturalistic appearance. Wherever appropriate, use of native woody and herbaceous plant materials is encouraged. In small planting areas within parking lots, trees and shrubs should be planted in groups with massing appropriate to and in harmony with buildings, circulation, storm water management, and neighboring landscapes. Energy conservation should also be considered when determining layout of selection and layout of plant material. For instance, sun tolerant plant materials should be placed on the south and west sides of buildings to provide shade from summer sun, and shade tolerant plant materials should be concentrated on the north side of buildings to dissipate the effects of winter winds.
(4) Storm water and water quality. Wherever possible, preserve, restore, and integrate natural drainage patterns and features including swales, filter strips, and wetlands or rain gardens vegetated with native plant systems. The intention should be to slow storm water runoff, increase on site infiltration, and filter suspended solids and contaminants in support of on-site storm water management and treatment strategies that reduce or control costs to the village.
(5) Berming. Earthen berms and existing topography should, whenever practical, be incorporated into the landscape treatment of a site. Bermed areas should be designed to resemble natural land forms, whenever possible. The maximum permissible slope is three to one (3:1).
(6) Facade treatments. Landscape improvements should be provided to enhance architectural features and to add visual interest adjacent to large expanses of building walls. Landscape improvements should also be provided as a buffer between pedestrian and vehicular activity at primary building entrances and along building facades.
(7) Fence treatments. When fencing is used, provide landscaping which includes a variety of plant material, height, color and texture. This landscaping should buffer, soften or minimize the visual monotony of long expanses of fencing.
(8) Miscellaneous screening standards. Functional activities within and adjoining the development site must be considered in the design of the landscape improvements, including consideration of the following: trash dumpsters or other waste receptacles, all utility equipment, dish antennas, loading docks or other outdoor service areas and ground signs. Particular attention should be paid towards screening mechanical equipment, air conditioning units, or any other visible outside equipment, service areas, including dumpster enclosures, loading docks, and bicycle parking areas. Enhance walkways, entrances, seating areas, bus stops or any other pedestrian areas; separate and buffer pedestrian and public areas from circulation drives and parking areas; and direct attention to focal areas and main entrances.
(9) Miscellaneous placement standards. There should be a three foot radius free of trees or shrubs around fire hydrants, valve vaults, hose bibs, manholes, hydrants, fire department siamese connections, and other site features as deemed necessary by the village. Additionally, plant material branching higher than two feet and lower than six feet above top of curb shall not be planted or maintained in a sight visibility triangle as defined by the Village Engineer.
(10) Multi-family interior landscaping. On multi-family parcels with more than one structure, the open space between buildings should be appropriately landscaped to provide: screening of adjacent dwelling units, screening and shading to improve energy efficiency, and a visually appealing living environment. Landscape features such as trees and shrubs (a combination of evergreen and deciduous), ground cover, flowering annuals and perennials, permitted natural landscaping areas, rain gardens, vegetated swales, filter strips and berming should be used as appropriate to enhance the overall appearance and function of the open space area.
(11) Texture. Plants differ in texture according to foliage, color, size and density. A variety of texture will add interest and depth to the landscape design. For example, coarser plants (larger leaves, dense foliage) may work to "anchor corners", medium textured materials can gradually transition to fine textured plants. In massing, coarser textured plants are usually more effective when placed at greater distances from common viewing locations. Groups of finer textured plants are typically more effective near walkways and entrances and in courtyards of buildings or plazas.
(12) Form. Among the most important design qualities of a plant is form, which includes columnar, round, vase, weeping, pyramidal and oval forms. Plants of contrasting shapes may provide variety and interest by accenting a group of plants of another form. Evergreen trees exhibit pyramidal forms, while many crabapples are round to oval. Plantings that combine two or more forms may effectively buffer or "soften" building facades, fences, and other structures. The dominant use of native trees and shrubs that display strongly horizontal branch patterns and "layered" flowering forms is basic to effective use of the unified "prairie style", associated historically and ecologically with this region, and is encouraged.
(13) Color. Color can be used to unify or contrast plantings on a site. It is essential to consider the varying colors exhibited by a plant in all seasons. Most importantly, through the use of perennials and/or annuals, color can be used to call attention to entryways and other focal points.
(14) Repetition. A design is tied together through the repeated use of a small number of plant species, sizes, colors, forms, or textures throughout the site. Too much repetition can result in monotony, so it is important to find a balance. Natural landscaping techniques using a diverse palette of randomly mixed prairie forbs and grasses will provide repetition and unity throughout the planting area and across the seasons. On smaller sites it is recommended to keep the plant palette short and simple.
(15) Massing. Massing ties in with scale and repetition. In general, shrubs, perennials and annuals are massed or grouped together to achieve a more dramatic effect. For example, large sites may have shrubs in groupings of 100 or more. Large buildings and sites are complemented with larger material and greater massing of shrubs and/or color.
(16) Variety. Variety adds interest and liveliness to the design. It provides a few unlike qualities to contrast with those qualities that are alike and duplicated as part of repetition. Variety is achieved through the use of different forms, textures, colors and plants.
(D) Approval.
(1) All landscaping plans shall be submitted to the Comptroller, or his or her designee, for review. The Comptroller shall have 14 business days to review the landscape plan for conformance with this chapter.
(2) In the event that the Comptroller finds a landscape plan to be in conformance with the requirements of this chapter, the Comptroller shall forward a copy of it to the Board of Trustees with his or her finding that the landscape plan is in conformance with this chapter.
(3) Within 30 days after receipt of a landscape plan the Board of Trustees shall review and approve the plan by resolution duly adopted. The Comptroller shall report the decision of the Board of Trustees to the developer in writing with a copy of the resolution.
(4) In the event that the Comptroller finds that a landscape plan is not in conformance with this chapter, he or she shall notify the developer in writing specifying the reasons why the landscape plan is not in conformance with this chapter and what must be done to bring it into conformity.
(5) Approval of a landscape plan does not give a developer a right to a building permit and shall only be a condition precedent to issuance of a building permit.
(Ord. 7-5, passed 1-24-07)