§ 9.3 EXEMPTIONS.

   The following activities shall be exempt from the requirements of this article:

   9.3.1   The construction, reconstruction, expansion, or modification of a detached single-family dwelling on an individual lot; and

   9.3.2   The construction, reconstruction, expansion, or modification of no more than two attached dwelling units, provided that each unit is constructed with an individual driveway.

§ 9.4 GENERAL REQUIREMENTS.

   9.4.1   Landscaping required by this article shall comply with the minimum state or local sight distance requirements for street intersections and driveways.

   9.4.2   Required landscaping shall not obstruct or impede public pedestrian routes including sidewalks and greenway trails.

   9.4.3   Whenever planting areas required by this article are adjacent to motor vehicle use areas or motor vehicle display areas, the planting areas shall be protected from vehicle intrusion or damage by active restraint devices, such as bollards, wheel stops, or raised curbing.

   9.4.4   The soil surface of all planting areas required by this article shall be stabilized to prevent erosion. In addition to required interior trees and shrubs, the soil surfaces of planting areas shall contain live groundcover (grass), mulch, flowering plants, permeable pedestrian paver blocks, or a combination thereof.

   9.4.5   All required plantings installed shall be nursery grown stock that is free from disease or growth problems and shall comply with the latest edition of the American Standards for Nursery Stock, published by the American Nurserymen’s Association.

   9.4.6   The landowner is responsible for maintaining all required plant materials in good health. Any dead or missing plants must be replaced with new planting which meets the minimum installation dimension standards of this section. Plant replacement shall take place within one month of written notification by the Ordinance Administrator. In the event that plant material is severely damaged due to an unusual weather occurrence or other act of nature, or if replacement plantings are unavailable within one month of written notification, the landowner will have six months from the date of written notification to replace the required plantings. This time limit may be extended by the Ordinance Administrator if the area is under prolonged drought conditions, or if the particular type of plant material has a preferred planting season that would require extending the length of time.

   9.4.7   Where appropriate, the location of overhead utility lines shall be considered during the placement of required trees. The maximum mature height of required trees shall be determined as follows.

   (A)   Trees with a maximum mature height of less than 25 feet shall be used where they will be planted within 25 feet, measured horizontally, from overhead power lines.

   (B)   Trees with a maximum mature height of less than 35 feet shall be used where they will be planted within 35 feet, measured horizontally, from overhead power lines.

   (C)   Trees with a maximum mature height of greater than 35 feet may be used where they will be planted more than 30 feet, measured horizontally, from overhead power lines as long as they do not have a mature horizontal spread of more than 25 feet from the trunk.

   9.4.8   Safety and security concerns should receive prominent consideration during the selection and placement of landscaping materials.

   9.4.9   A minimum five foot radius containing no plant materials or structural elements other than groundcover plants shall be maintained around all fire protection equipment, including fire hydrants, post indicator valve, and Siamese connectors. Obvious sight lines to the fire protection equipment shall be maintained at all times.

   9.4.10   All plant material used to satisfy the requirements of this article shall be maintained in sound condition by the property owner. Proper maintenance of plant material includes regular mulching, watering, and pruning as well as the replacement of any required plantings which are damaged and/or dying.

   9.4.11   In order to encourage the use of a diverse mixture of plant material, the number of trees or shrubs from a single genus may not exceed one-third of the total number of trees or shrubs required to be planted by this article on a particular property.

§ 9.5 STREETYARD PLANTING AREAS.

   Landscaped streetyard planting areas shall be required for all land development activities subject to the requirements of this article. These planting areas shall conform to the following requirements.

   9.5.1   Planting areas shall be established along all public and private streets.

   9.5.2   Planting areas shall have a minimum width of ten feet.

   9.5.3   The forward (street side) edge of the planting area shall be located within ten feet of the right-of-way line.

   9.5.4   Each planting area shall contain a minimum of four trees per 100 linear feet of road frontage, excluding the width of driveways as measured at the right-of-way line. Each tree planted to satisfy this requirement shall be a minimum of eight feet in height and two inches in diameter, as measured six inches above ground level, at the time of installation.

   9.5.5   Each planting area shall contain a minimum of 16 shrubs per 100 linear feet of road frontage, excluding the width of driveways as measured at the right-of-way line. Each shrub planted shall be a minimum of 18 inches in height at the time of installation and reach a minimum height of 36 inches within three years of installation. Shrubs must be native species (preferred) or a locally adapted species which retain foliage to within six inches above ground level. No more than 50% of the shrubs planted to meet this requirement may be deciduous.

§ 9.6 LANDSCAPING OF MOTOR VEHICLE USE AREAS.

   Landscaped planting areas shall be required for all motor vehicle use areas which are associated with land development activities subject to the requirements of this article. These planting areas shall conform to the following requirements.

   9.6.1   One landscaped planting area shall be required for every 2,500 square feet of motor vehicle use area.

   9.6.2   Planting areas may be located along the edges of motor vehicle use areas, or within the interior as raised islands or medians.

   9.6.3   Each planting area shall have a minimum area of 250 square feet and a minimum radius of seven feet

   9.6.4   Each planting area shall contain at least one tree with a minimum height of eight feet and a minimum diameter of two inches, as measured six inches above ground level, at the time of installation.

   9.6.5   Each parking space within a motor vehicle use area is required to be within at least 60 feet of the trunk of a required tree.

   9.6.6   For loading docks and other maneuvering areas where the placement of trees within the interior of the site is impractical, the required number of trees may be clustered around the edge of such areas with the approval of the Ordinance Administrator.

   9.6.7   Trees planted or preserved to satisfy streetyard, buffering, or tree preservation requirements may be used to partially satisfy the requirements of this article, provided that no parking space shall be located more than 60 feet from the trunk of a required tree.

§ 9.7 STREET TREES.

   Where new public or private streets are established through the major subdivision process, street trees shall be required to be planted on both sides of the street in accordance with the following standards.

   9.7.1   Trees planted to satisfy the requirements of this section shall have a minimum mature height of 20 feet.

   9.7.2   Trees shall be planted at intervals of 40 feet as measured from the center of the trunk.

   9.7.3   Required trees shall be planted a minimum of five feet and a maximum of 15 feet from the edge of pavement.

   9.7.4   At the time of planting, each tree shall be a minimum of eight feet in height and two inches in diameter, as measured six inches above ground level.

   9.7.5   Along new streets that are to be maintained in a forested condition by the developer, the requirements of this section may be reduced or eliminated upon approval of the Ordinance Administrator in order to minimize grading and encourage the preservation of existing, mature trees. Tree planting requirements may be modified where extreme topography would require excessive grading to meet the specific standards above.