A. The standards set forth in this section are minimum standards for landscaping.
B. The purpose of these landscaping standards is to provide uniform standards for the development and maintenance of the landscaping of private property and public rights-of-way. The purpose of landscaping is to improve the livability of residential neighborhoods, enhance the customer attraction of commercial areas, increase property values, improve the compatibility of adjacent uses, provide visual separation and physical buffers between incompatible adjacent land uses, provide visual relief from the expanse of parking lots, screen undesirable views, contribute to the image and appeal of the overall community, and mitigate air and noise pollution.
These standards are also intended to facilitate Low Impact Development (LID) techniques through the retention of existing native vegetation and mature, healthy trees, to the extent feasible. Additional LID related goals of this chapter are to: reduce erosion and storm water runoff; preserve and promote urban wildlife habitats; reduce the amount of carbon dioxide in the air; shade and reduce the temperature of adjacent waterways; and enhance the streetscapes along the city’s public rights-of-way with an emphasis on trees and LID stormwater facilities.
C. The minimum area requirement for landscaping for developments coming under design review shall be the percentage of the total land area to be developed as follows. Parking lot landscaping area is included in calculating the following landscape areas:
1. Fifteen (15) percent for all industrial and commercial zones (except the Downtown-Commercial zone, but including the Commercial-Residential zone).
2. Seven and one-half (7.5) percent for the Downtown-Commercial zone.
3. Thirty (30) percent for all residential zones.
D. LID stormwater management facilities, such as rain gardens and bioretention areas, may be counted toward the minimum landscaping requirement when they are located on private property. LID facilities in the public right-of-way cannot be counted toward the minimum landscaping requirement. The integration of LID stormwater management facilities within required landscaping must be approved by the city and shall comply with the design and construction standards set forth in the Canby Public Works Design Standards.
E. Trees and other plant materials to be retained shall be identified on the landscape plan. The Site and Design Review Board encourages the retention, to the extent practicable, of existing healthy trees and vegetation.
F. During the construction process:
1. The owner or the owner's agent shall provide above and below ground protection for existing trees and plant materials identified to remain.
2. Trees and plant materials identified for preservation shall be protected by chain link fencing placed around the tree, at the drip line.
3. If it is necessary to fence within the drip line, such fencing shall be specified by a qualified arborist, nurseryman or landscape architect.
4. Neither top soil storage nor construction material storage shall be located within the drip line of trees designated to be preserved.
5. Where site conditions make necessary grading, building, paving, trenching, boring, digging, or other similar encroachment upon a preserved tree's drip line area, such grading, paving, trenching, boring, digging or similar encroachment shall only be permitted under the direction of a qualified arborist, nurseryman or landscape architect. Such direction must assure that the health needs of trees within the preserved area can be met.
6. Tree root ends shall not remain exposed.
G. Landscaping under preserved trees shall be compatible with the retention and health of said trees.
H. When it is necessary for a preserved tree to be moved in accordance with the Tree Ordinance, the landscaped area surrounding said tree or trees shall be maintained and replanted with trees which relate to the present landscape plan, or if there is no landscaping plan, then trees which are complimentary with existing, nearby landscape materials.
I. Any required landscaped area shall be designed, constructed, installed and maintained so that within three (3) years, the ground shall be covered by living grass or other plant material. (The foliage crown of trees shall not be used to meet this requirement.) A maximum of five percent of the landscaped area may be covered with bark chips, mulch, or other similar materials. A maximum of five percent of the landscaped area may be covered with rock, stones, walkways, or other similar material acceptable to the Board. Required sidewalks shall not be used to meet the landscaping requirements.
J. All trees and plant materials shall be healthy, disease-free, damage-free, well-branched stock, characteristic of the species. The use of tree and plant species native to the Pacific Northwest is encouraged. Any new street tree planted must be included on the city’s list of approved tree species.
K. Landscaping methods should be guided by the provisions of the most recent edition of the Sunset Western Garden Book or similar publication.
L. The following guidelines are suggested to insure the longevity and continued vigor of plant materials:
1. Select and site permanent landscape materials in such a manner as to produce a hardy and drought-resistant landscaped area.
2. Consider soil type and depth, spacing, exposure to sun and wind, slope and contours of the site, building walls and overhangs, and compatibility with existing native vegetation preserved on the site or in the vicinity.
M. All plant growth in landscaped areas of developments shall be controlled by pruning, trimming or otherwise, so that:
1. It will not interfere with designated pedestrian or vehicular access; and
2. It will not constitute a traffic hazard because of reduced visibility.
3. It will not hinder solar access considerations.
N. After completion of site grading, topsoil is to be restored to exposed cut and fill areas to provide a suitable base for seeding and planting.
O. All planting areas shall be graded to provide positive drainage.
P. Neither soil, water, plant materials nor mulching materials shall be allowed to wash across roadways or walkways. (Ord.. 890 section 49, 1993; Ord.. 854 section 1,1991; Ord.. 848, Part IV, section 2, 1990; Ord.. 955 section 26, 1996; Ord. 1237, 2007; Ord.. 1338, 2010)