(A) Time Limit
All landscaping, including mulching and seeding, shall be completed in accordance with the approved development plan prior to issuance of a Certificate of Occupancy for the site, unless the Planning Director grants an exception to meeting this requirement due to extreme heat or cold conditions. The installation of these requirements shall comply with the required planting standards set forth in the Town's Community Appearance Manual and the soil erosion and sedimentation control provisions in Section 7.4. Installation of required landscaping (i.e., trees and shrubs) shall be strongly discouraged during the months of April through September. The use of alternative water source (other than public water) is encouraged to ensure plantings are healthy after first growing season. Projects which require installation of landscaping between April through September are required to have a landscape agreement in place prior to the issuance of a Certificate of Occupancy.
(B) Extensions and Exceptions
The Planning Director may grant exceptions and extensions to the above time limit in the following circumstances and under the following conditions:
(1) Exceptions may be granted due to unusual environmental conditions, such as drought, ice, over-saturated soil (deep mud), or inappropriate planting season for the plant species (plantings between April through September are strongly discouraged), provided that the developer or property owner provides the Town with a certification on a form approved by the Planning Department ensuring the installation of the remaining landscape materials. In such cases, the Planning Director may issue a conditional Certificate of Occupancy for a period of thirty (30) to one hundred eighty (180) days, depending on the Director's recommendation for the next earliest planting season.
(2) Exceptions may be granted due to the substitution or unavailability of plant species or acceptable plant size as specified on the development plan, provided that the developer or property owner provides the Town with a certification on a form approved by the Planning Department to ensure that the unavailable plants will be installed on the property. In such cases, the Director may issue a temporary Certificate of Occupancy for a term of up to one hundred eighty (180) days or to the next planting season, whichever comes first. Only twenty (20) percent of the plant materials to be installed on the property may be delayed under this exception. All such substitutions shall be marked on the "as-built" landscaping plans submitted to the Planning Director, and must be signed, dated, and approved by that Director prior to installation.
(3) Exceptions may be granted due to circumstances beyond the developer's or property owner's control, such as incomplete construction or utility work to occur in a proposed landscaped area within thirty (30) days after expected site completion, provided that the developer or property owner submits a letter from the utility company stating the estimated installation date, and provides a certification on a form approved by the Planning Department to ensure installation of the required landscaping. In such cases, the Inspections and Permits Department may issue a temporary conditional Certificate of Occupancy.