(A) The town has an abundant and diverse tree and vegetative cover that is essential to the aesthetic value of the town and provides numerous ecological and economic benefits.
(B) Landscape requirements for new construction and substantial additions are set forth below, in order to:
(1) Encourage the preservation of existing trees and vegetation on undeveloped residential lots and ensure the reforestation of the lot when tree removal is required for any construction activities.
(2) Ensure landscape plans presented to the town include considerations for native species, reforestation, environmental protection, and effective stormwater management.
(C) The landscape and buffering standards set forth below require buffers and landscaping between dissimilar land uses, along public rights-of-way, and within parking lots, in order to:
(1) Encourage the preservation of existing trees and vegetation and replenish removed vegetation;
(2) Protect and improve the visual quality of the town and minimize the negative impacts of development such as noise, dust, litter, glare of lights, traffic, heat, overcrowding, odor, and views of unsightly parking lots, utilities, and mechanical systems and buildings;
(3) Provide environmental benefits such as climate modification, decreased energy consumption, reduced stormwater runoff, decreased erosion, improved water and air quality, and protection of wildlife habitat;
(4) Provide a transition between dissimilar land uses to protect abutting properties from potential negative impacts of neighboring development and to preserve the character and value of property and to provide a sense of privacy; and
(5) Improve standards for quantity, location, size, spacing, protection, and maintenance of plants and other screening materials to assure a high level of quality in the appearance of the town while allowing flexibility to promote well-designed and creative landscape plantings.
(Ord. 2023-07, passed 10-9-2023)