§ 11.3 TREE PRESERVATION INCENTIVES.

   The following incentives shall be provided when a development proposal complies fully with the standards and requirements set forth in this article.

   11.3.1   Tree preservation credits. In order to encourage the preservation of existing trees on a site, a tree preservation credit for the retention and protection of existing, undisturbed, structurally sound and healthy trees shall be granted in accordance with the following standards.

   (A)   Credit amount. For each tree preserved and protected in accordance with the standards of this article, a credit in the amount of one and one-half times the number of preserved trees shall be credited and applied towards the tree planting requirements for landscaping and buffering. To receive credit, the preserved trees must meet the following requirements.

      (1)   Canopy trees, whether deciduous or evergreen, shall have a minimum diameter of eight inches, as measured four and one-half feet above ground level, to receive credit.

      (2)   Understory or ornamental trees, whether deciduous or evergreen, shall have a minimum diameter of four inches, as measured four and one-half feet above ground level, to receive credit.

      (3)   For credit towards the tree planting requirements in Article 9, Landscaping Standards, the preserved tree(s) must be located inside, or within 30 feet of, the planting area for which the credit will be applied.

      (4)   For credit towards the tree planting requirements in Article 10, Buffering Standards, the preserved tree(s) must be located within the width of the required perimeter buffer strip.

   (B)   Credit towards required plantings. Approved tree preservation credits may be applied to the tree planting requirements for streetyard landscaping, motor vehicle use area landscaping, street trees, or perimeter buffers as appropriate. In no case shall tree preservation credits be used to offset more than 50% of the required number of trees in the area to which they are applied.

   11.3.2   Reduction in minimum parking requirements. When trees preserved and credited in accordance with division 11.3.1 are located inside, or within 15 feet of, the perimeter of a motor vehicle use area containing required parking spaces, the minimum parking requirement, as set forth in Article 13, may be reduced by 2.5% for each preserved tree that meets these standards. In no case shall the minimum parking requirement be reduced by more than 15%, regardless of the number of trees preserved.