(A) Purpose. The purpose of this chapter is to establish landscape requirements that will enhance the city's character and livability, improve air quality, reduce the heat island effect, reduce stormwater runoff, reduce noise, and provide buffers between different types of uses.
(B) Applicability. The requirements of this chapter apply to the following, unless otherwise specified:
(1) New developments that require site plan approval.
(2) Planned developments.
(3) The construction of any new parking lot of 15 spaces or more.
(4) The expansion or reconstruction of any existing parking lot that results in a total of 15 aggregate spaces or more.
(C) Occupancy permit. The requirements of this chapter shall be met and landscape elements and stormwater management facilities shall be fully installed 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 city with a letter of credit, escrow, performance bond, or other surety as approved by the Zoning Administrator equal to 125% of the remaining costs of installation as estimated by a qualified 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 city as part of any site improvement that meets the criteria of division (B) 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 section.
(1) Licensed landscape architect. The landscape plan shall be prepared by a licensed landscape architect registered in the State of Illinois if the project involves 15 parking spaces or more.
(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 as determined by the Zoning Administrator.
(b) Location, quantity, size, 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.
(c) Location, quantity, size, and name, both botanical and common, of all proposed plant material.
(d) Existing and proposed grading of the site indicating contours at one-foot intervals.
(e) Elevations of all fences and retaining walls proposed for the site.
(f) Location of snow storage areas.
(3) Operations and maintenance plan. Maintenance of all elements of a landscape plan located on private property shall be the responsibility of the property owner. Prior to approval of a landscape plan, an operations and maintenance plan including detail on the maintenance procedures to ensure ongoing compliance with this chapter must be signed by the owner, notarized, and submitted to the city.
(E) Stormwater management plan. A stormwater management plan shall be submitted to the city as part of any site improvement that meets the criteria of division (B) of this section, and shall be approved by the Zoning Administrator. The stormwater management plan shall be evaluated and approved based on the standards included in this section and § 1250.03 (Stormwater Management).
(1) Plan certification. The stormwater management plan shall be prepared by a professional engineer registered in the State of Illinois.
(2) Contents. The stormwater management plan shall contain the following:
(a) Location and dimensions of all existing and proposed structures, utilities, easements, and other site elements.
(b) Description of the proposed development, including land cover, contours, and expected pollutant load.
(c) All storm drainage systems, including existing and proposed drain lines, culverts, catch basins, headwalls, hydrants, manholes, and temporary and permanent stormwater best management practices (BMPs). Site BMPs shall consist primarily of green infrastructure features for the purpose of extending the time of concentration to the drainage system, filtering runoff through plants and soil and reducing total runoff.
(d) All pertinent calculations and specifications used in the design and construction of the permanent stormwater BMPs to retain, detain, and filter the 50-year storm event and to provide means to manage and direct overflows to the public right-of-way.
(e) A plan showing site sub-catchment areas, retention BMP areas and capacities, detention BMP areas and capacities, conveyance BMPs, and stormwater runoff treatment of BMPs in which runoff is directed before leaving the site (surface or sub-surface). The applicant shall also describe the receiving stream, canal, pipe, culvert, ditch, or other drainage structure into which the runoff from the property flows.
(f) The estimated and itemized cost of proposed drainage and stormwater BMPs.
(g) The anticipated timeline for implementation of the stormwater management plan.
(h) An operations and maintenance (O&M) plan containing a specific inspection and maintenance schedule for each site BMP.
(Ord. 17-31, passed 9-12-2017)