A. Purpose: The purpose of this chapter is to establish landscape requirements that will enhance the Village's character and livability, improve air quality, reduce the heat island effect, improve water quality, reduce the rainfall volume conveyed to storm sewer systems, and provide for transitions between zoning districts.
B. Applicability: The requirements of this chapter shall apply to the following:
1. New developments that require site plan review approval (see section 10-3-2, "Site Plan Review", of this title).
2. Planned unit developments (see chapter 4, "Planned Unit Developments", of this title).
3. The construction of any new parking lot of ten (10) spaces or more.
4. The expansion or reconstruction of any existing parking lot that results in a total of ten (10) aggregate spaces or more.
5. Removal of existing trees, per the requirements of section 10-9-2, "Tree Preservation", of this chapter.
C. Occupancy Permit: The requirements of this chapter shall be met and landscape elements shall be fully installed in good health and condition, as determined by the Zoning Administrator, prior to the issuance of an occupancy permit.
1. Seasonal Conditions: If seasonal conditions preclude the completion of landscape installation, the applicant shall provide the Village with a letter of credit, escrow, performance bond, or other surety, as approved by the Zoning Administrator, equal to one hundred twenty five percent (125%) of the remaining costs of installation, as estimated by a qualified landscape architect or similar professional, in order to receive an occupancy permit.
2. Permit Revocation: Failure to implement the approved landscape plan or maintain installed landscape elements shall be cause for revocation of the occupancy permit and/or the application of fines and penalties. All landscape elements are subject to periodic inspection for compliance with the approved landscape plan.
D. Landscape Plan: A landscape plan shall be submitted to the Village as part of any site improvement that meets the criteria of subsection B, "Applicability", of this section, and shall be approved by the Zoning Administrator. The landscape plan shall be evaluated and approved based on the standards included in this chapter.
1. Preparation Of Landscape Plan: The landscape plan shall be prepared and stamped by a licensed landscape architect registered in the State of Illinois, or another qualified professional, if the project meets the criteria of subsection B, "Applicability", of this section.
2. Contents: The landscape plan shall contain the following:
a. Location and dimensions of all existing and proposed structures, parking spaces, landscape islands, buffer yards, street lights, utilities, easements, and other site elements.
b. Location, quantity, size, spacing, and name, both botanical and common, of all existing plant material, including trees and plant material in the right-of-way. The landscape plan shall indicate whether existing plant material will be retained or removed, including information on how existing trees will be preserved and protected (see section 10-9-2, "Tree Preservation", of this chapter).
c. Location, quantity, size, spacing, and name, both botanical and common, of all proposed plant material including the type of tree stock.
d. Planting details and Best Management Practices for all plantings, including type, depth and quantity of soil.
e. Existing and proposed grading of the site indicating contours at one foot (1') intervals.
f. Elevations of all fences and retaining walls proposed for the site.
g. Location of snow storage areas.
h. Construction information, including the location of temporary roads, access points for construction equipment, staging areas, material storage areas, and other related information.
i. To ensure ongoing compliance with this chapter, a landscape plan must include an operations and maintenance plan that includes detailed information on operations and maintenance procedures. Maintenance of all elements of a landscape plan shall be the responsibility of the property owner.
E. Credit For Existing Vegetation: The Zoning Administrator may credit existing vegetation toward the landscape element requirements of sections 10-9-4, "Street Trees", 10-9-5, "Parking Lot Landscaping", 10-9-6, "Buffer Yards", and/or 10-9-7, "Screening Requirements", of this chapter, provided that the existing vegetation is an acceptable species, adequately protected during the construction process, in good health, and meets all applicable specifications of this chapter. (Ord. 67-2018, 12-18-2018)