(A) Purpose. Enhance the city's environmental and visual character; preserve and stabilize the ecological balance in the city; establish a healthy environment by using vegetation to mitigate pollution's ill-effects; and protect public and private investments.
(B) Landscape plan required. A landscape plan is required prior to the issuance of a building permit for new construction or expansion of a nonresidential or mixed use structure in any district. Landscape plans must be prepared by a landscape architect.
(C) Installation of landscape materials.
(1) All landscaped areas must be in conformance with the approved landscaping plan.
(2) Planted landscaped materials must be replaced if it becomes diseased, dies, or removed.
(3) All landscaped areas and adjacent rights-of-way must be maintained in conformance with Chapter 97.
(4) All landscaping elements and plant materials must be installed with current professional horticultural standards.
(5) All landscape materials must comply with the intersection visibility requirements of § 152.1007.
(6) Overstory and coniferous trees may not be installed underneath overhead utility lines, nor may any landscape materials be installed over utility lines except in compliance with the city code and policy.
(D) Landscape areas. The landscape requirements have been divided into four categories: canopy cover (C), foundation landscape (FL), open areas landscape (OL), landscape screen (LS) and street trees (ST).
(1) Canopy cover (CC). The purpose of this requirement is to mitigate the effects of vehicular hardscape by establishing tree canopy cover to intercept rainfall, protect pavement from sun deterioration, reduce the heat island affect, and improve aesthetics. Vehicular hardscape area shall include all loading drives, parking lots, driveways, drop-offs, and other areas covered with a hard surface intended for vehicles.
(a) A minimum of one large tree or two medium trees shall be provided per 360 square feet of required parking lot area green space. These trees shall be located within parking areas and not within any required perimeter landscaping area. Pervious pavements are considered 50% hardscape.
(b) Required canopy trees shall be located within the parking lot area islands (minimum width of six feet and total area of 180 square feet if designed as end island or nine feet in width if designed as continuous island between bays.
(2) Foundation landscape (FL).
(a) The purpose of this requirement is to soften and enhance building architecture, define access points, add color and seasonal interest, and to blend buildings in with the natural environment.
(b) At least 40% of the total building perimeter shall be sodded or landscaped with approved ground cover, low level plantings in an area of no less than six feet in width.
(3) Open areas landscape (OL). The purpose of this requirement is to provide general site beautification and high aesthetic quality with a mix of plant materials in open areas. Open areas include all areas not occupied by building or hardscape.
(a) Each development must have at least the minimum percentage open space shown in the following table.
TABLE 152.1013.1 MINIMUM REQUIRED OPEN SPACE
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B-1
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B-2
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B-3, B-4
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BP
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I
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PI
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OP
| |
Total development site | 30% | 30% | 20% | 30% | 20% | 30% | 40% |
(b) Open space areas must not be covered by a building or other impervious surface, and must be planted with trees, shrubs, flowers, native plant species or similar and covered with sod, landscape rock or mulch. All site areas and areas that have been disturbed during construction must be covered with sod to property lines and/or adjacent rights-of-way. Rock and mulch may be substituted for sod in landscaping planting beds. Areas used for demonstrated parking cannot be used to fulfill the open space requirement. Interior parking lot landscaping provided on site to meet requirements in § 152.1019 counts towards this open space requirement.
(c) Plant diversity. No more than 25% of any trees planted shall come from the same family and 15% of the same species. In addition, the landscape plan design shall, at a minimum, provide at least three of the following required numbers of trees and shrubs in addition to any trees and shrubs required for screening in § 152.1024:
1. One overstory tree per 3,000 square feet of open area.
2. One ornamental tree per 1,500 square feet of open space.
3. One evergreen tree per 3,000 square feet of open area, except on sites where security, pedestrian or traffic safety are a concern evergreens may be excluded or installed in a reduced number.
4. One deciduous or evergreen shrub per 100 square feet of open area.
(d) Street trees (ST).
1. Street trees are required at the rate of one tree per 70 linear feet of road frontage, within the property line, where the property fronts any public road. Acceptable and unacceptable species are listed in the table below.
2. Evergreens shall not be planted as a street tree.
3. Street trees shall have a minimum trunk diameter of two inches measured six inches above grade.
4. The boulevard (planting area) must be at least eight feet in width.
5. The street tree planting site must be located as follows:
a. 50 feet or greater from street curb intersections as per § 152.1007.
b. At least 15 feet from curb on Class-I collector and any arterial streets.
c. At least ten feet from curb on local or Class-II collector streets.
d. At least ten feet from any sewer line, water line, or driveway.
e. At least five feet from a fire hydrant per § 93.26 and the International Fire Code.
f. At least five feet from any gas, electric, telephone, cable TV or other underground utility.
g. At least three feet from any sidewalk or trail.
h. At least 20 feet from overhead utility cables or using an approved ornamental dwarf tree noted in Table 152.1013.2 below.
6. Street trees shall be balled and burlapped and a minimum size of two inch caliper unless noted in § 152.1013(E).
7. Street tree species and placement will be reviewed and approved by the Operations and Maintenance Department as not to interfere with existing or proposed utility systems.
Acceptable Shade Trees
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Acceptable Ornamental Dwarf Trees
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Bi-Color Oak (swamp white oak) Columnar Norway Maple Freeman Maple Ginko (no seed producing) Hackberry Imperial Honey Locust Little Leaf Linden New Horizon Elm Northwood Maple Sugar Maple River Birch Triumph Elm (street) | Amur Maple (single stem) Heritage River Birch Ironwood Japanese Lilac Tree Korean Mountain Ash Newport Plum Pink Spire Crabapple Red Splendor Crabapple |
Additional species may be allowed with City Manager approval. | |
Prohibited Tree and Shrub Species | |
American Elm Amur Maple Box Elder Common Buckthorn Cottonwood North American Ash Lomardy Poplar Russian Honeysuckle Siberian Elm | |
Above listed trees/plants are prohibited due to their high maintenance costs, surface roots, intolerance to storms, undesirable fruiting habits, or a susceptibility to disease or pests. | |
(E) Minimum size requirements. The minimum plant size requirements are described in the following table:
Plant Type
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Minimum Size*
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Large trees | Bare root - 1.75 in. Balled and burlapped or container - 2 in. caliper |
Medium and small trees | Bare root - 1.5 in. Balled and burlapped or container - 1.5 in. caliper |
Evergreen trees | 6 ft. height |
Large shrubs | 5 gallon container |
Medium shrubs, small shrubs and groundcovers | 3 gallon container |
Ornamental grasses and perennials | 4 in. pot |
*City may limit bare root plantings in areas of high visibility. In selected situations the city may allow ten whip bare root plantings, or five 3/4 in. caliper bare root plantings to be substituted for 1 large tree. Bare root plantings must be protected with rodent guards. | |
(F) Credits. Existing healthy trees that are not susceptible to disease, new larger or smaller sized trees, or decorative landscaping may be credited toward the required trees detailed in this section, and the additional trees required for screening as defined in the table below. The following table establishes the landscaping credits.
Vegetation Type
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Size
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Exchange Credit
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Existing trees | 2 in. bb (caliper) deciduous or between 6 ft. and 14 ft. coniferous | 1 tree |
4 in. bb (caliper) deciduous or 14 ft. coniferous or larger | 2 trees | |
New larger trees | 4 in. bb (caliper) or 14 ft. coniferous | 2 trees |
Two 3 in. bb (caliper) | Three 2 in. trees | |
Ornamental deciduous trees or smaller overstory deciduous | Min. 1.5 in. (caliper) | 2 trees may be substituted for 1 overstory deciduous tree (maximum substitution = 50% of required overstory trees). |
Shrubs | 10 large shrubs | 1 tree |
Decorative landscape yard | Exterior sculptures, fountains, decorative walks, courtyards and/or additional ponds beyond those required, shown on a landscape plan that meets the intent of this section to the satisfaction of the City Manager and/or City Council. | |
(G) Irrigation system required.
(1) All landscaped areas, including parking area islands must be equipped with an underground, automatic irrigation system or an alternative if approved by the City Engineer. The irrigation system must include a flow meter, moisture sensing devices and must be calibrated to meet all applicable city codes. Irrigation of adjacent rights-of-way is required; however, irrigation equipment must not be located within the right-of-way without approval from the City Manager.
(2) In lieu of an underground automatic irrigation system, an alternative irrigation plan may be approved. An alternative plan can include, but is not limited to, rain gardens, closed rain barrels, or greywater systems. Any alternative system must ensure that landscaping will be provided with adequate irrigation.
(a) The greywater shall be contained on the site where it is generated.
(b) Greywater shall be directed to and contained within an irrigation or disposal field.
(c) Ponding or runoff is prohibited and shall be considered a nuisance.
(d) Greywater may be released above the ground surface provided at least two inches of mulch, rock, or soil, or a solid shield covers the release point. Other methods which provide equivalent separation are also acceptable.
(e) Greywater systems shall be designed to minimize contact with humans and domestic pets.
(f) Greywater shall not contain hazardous chemicals derived from activities such as cleaning car parts, washing greasy or oily rags, or disposing of waste solutions from home photo labs or similar hobbyist or home occupational activities.
(3) Arid landscaping plans are exempt from irrigation requirements.
(Ord. 2024-1304, passed 7-29-24)