(A) Greenbelt requirements. Whenever in this chapter a greenbelt or planting is required, it shall be planted to completion within 180 days of occupancy of the building or structure unless a longer period is permitted in writing by the Zoning Official. Planting shall thereafter be reasonably maintained, including permanence and health of plant materials to provide a screen to abutting properties and including the absence of weeds and refuse. Withered and/or dead plant materials shall be replaced within a reasonable period of time, but no longer than one growing season.
(B) Minimum standards. The landscape standards of this article are considered the minimum necessary. In several instances, the standards are intentionally flexible to encourage flexibility and creative design. Applicants are encouraged to provide additional landscaping to improve the function, appearance and value of their property.
(C) Landscaping commission review. For existing and proposed uses that require site plan approval to either expand or be built, landscaping should be installed insofar as practical. The planning commission in its review of the site plan has the authority to increase, decrease or otherwise modify the landscaping and screening requirements of this article. In doing so, the commission shall consider the following criteria:
(1) The amount of space on the site available for landscaping.
(2) Existing landscaping on the site and on adjacent property.
(3) The type of use on the site and size of the development.
(4) Existing and proposed adjacent land uses.
(5) The effect the required landscaping would have on the operation of the existing or proposed land use.
(D) Plant material size.
(1) Plant material shall not be located within 4 feet of the property line.
(2) Where plant materials are placed in 2 or more rows, plantings shall be staggered in rows.
(3) Evergreen trees shall not be less than 7 feet in height.
(4) Narrow evergreen trees shall not be less than 5 feet in height when used as screening.
(5) Large shrubs shall be a minimum of a #5 container (18" to 24").
(6) Small shrubs shall be a minimum of a #3 container (15" to 18").
(7) Larger deciduous trees shall not be less than 2-2 1/2 inches in caliper measured one foot above ground level.
(8) Ornamental trees shall not be less than 1 3/4" – 2 1/2" in caliper measured 1 foot above ground level.
SUGGESTED PLANT MATERIALS LIST
LARGER TREES | ||
Norway Maple - Acer platanoides | Red Maple - Acer rubra | Sugar Maple - Acer saccharum |
Beech - Fagus | Honeylocust - Gleditisia - thornless | Dawn Redwood - Metasequoia glyptostroboides |
Bloodgood London Planetree- Platanus x acerifoili | Oak - Quercus | Linden - Tilia |
ORNAMENTAL TREES | ||
Serviceberry - Aelanchier | Crabapple - Disease Resistant - Malus | Canada Red Chokecherry - Prunus |
Ornamental Pearl - Pyrus calleryana | ||
EVERGREEN TREES | ||
Fir | Pine | Spruce |
NARROW EVERGREENS | ||
Arborvitae | Upright Junipers | Upright Yews |
LARGE DECIDUOUS | ||
Barberry | Buckthorn | Border Privet |
Burning Bush | Forsythia | Lilac |
Viburnums | ||
SMALLER DECIDUOUS | ||
Cottoneaster | Dwarf Lilac | Potentilla |
Spirea | Viburnum | Weigela |
LARGE SHRUBS | ||
Deciduous | ||
Honeysuckle | Lilac | Forsythia |
Border privet | Buckthorn | Sumac |
Pyracantha | Barberry | Flowering quince |
Sargent crabapple | Dogwood (Red Osier, Grey) | |
Cotoneaster (Pekin, Spreading) | ||
Evergreen | ||
Irish yew | Hicks yew | Mugo pine |
Pfitzer juniper | Savin juniper | |
SMALL SHRUBS | ||
Deciduous | ||
Regal privet | Fragrant sumac | Japanese quince |
Potentilla | Compact burning bus | Cotoneaster (Cranberry, Rockspray) |
Evergreen | ||
Dwarf mugo pine | Big leaf winter creeper | Arborvitae |
Low spreading junipers (Andora, Hughes, Tamarak, and the like) | ||
Spreading yews (Dense, Brown's, Ward, and the like) | ||
TREES NOT SUGGESTED | ||
Silver Maple - Acer saccharium | Boxelder - Acer nugundo | Honeylocust - Gleditisia - thorned |
Mulberry - fruiting - Morus | Poplar - Populus speciers | Black Locust - Robinia species |
Willow - Salix species | ||
(2) Mixture required. A mixture of plant materials (evergreen and deciduous trees and shrubs) is required in all landscape plants as a protective measure against disease and insect infestation.
(3) Parking lot landscaping and screening.
(a) Parking lots of greater than 5,000 square feet in area shall meet the following landscaping requirements for the interior of the parking lot:
1. One canopy tree for every 20 parking spaces, with a minimum of two trees, shall be planted in end islands within the parking area;
2. Each interior landscaped area shall have at least 150 square feet;
3. Required parking lot land- scaping areas shall be covered with turf, shredded bark, stone, or living ground cover plants;
4. Each interior landscaped area shall be protected by a raised standard or rolled curb and gutter unless otherwise approved by the Planning Commission.
(4) Greenbelts. Greenbelts shall be required where a developed parcel or parking lot abuts a public thoroughfare in the RM-1, RM-2, MH, OS-1, B-1, B-2, B-3, PD, IRO, I-1, and I-2 Zoning Districts. Greenbelts shall meet the following standards.
(a) Greenbelts are to be constructed only on private property and are not a part of the public rights-of-way.
(b) The minimum width of a required greenbelt shall be at least 10 feet.
(c) Greenbelts shall contain 1 tree for each 75 lineal feet of frontage, or fraction thereof, on a public thoroughfare. At least one-half of the required trees shall be canopy trees.
(d) Greenbelts shall contain 4 shrubs for each 20 lineal feet or fraction thereof. Said shrubs shall be planted in beds of mulch, bark, or stone.
(e) If a landscape screen is required along a pubic thoroughfare, the greenbelt tree planting requirements shall still apply.
(f) In no case shall greenbelts be considered as a part of the off-street parking area landscape requirements.
(g) The Zoning Administrator may recommend approval of alternate spacing arrangements and alternative numbers of plant materials if the intent of reducing negative effects between incompatible land uses is achieved.
(5) Landscape screening between land uses.
(a) Multiple family residential land uses adjacent to a public park facility or land principally used or zoned for single family residential shall have the following between it and all areas of such park or residential land:
1. Wall or fence shall be provided with a minimum height of six feet; or a hedge, berm, or combination thereof forming a continuous screen at least four feet high, if approved by the Planning Commission;
2. Multiple family projects shall also provide a minimum of 1 deciduous or evergreen tree for every 1,000 square feet of open space on the development site. Trees in any required screen may be counted toward this requirement.
(b) The following screening features shall be provided by any commercial or office development which is adjacent to a public park or land principally used or zoned for single family residences:
1. A landscaping area having a minimum width of 15 feet. This area shall consist of natural landscape materials such as lawn, ground cover, shrubs, and trees, and shall not contain impervious materials;
2. A wall or fence shall be provided with a minimum height of 6 feet; or a hedge, berm, or combination thereof forming a continuous screen at least 4 feet high if approved by the Planning Commission;
3. Required tree plantings: 1 deciduous tree or evergreen tree shall be provided for every 75 feet of lot line shared with a residential or park use or zoned property.
(c) The following screening features shall be provided by any industrial property which abuts a residential or park use:
1. A landscape screen at least 15 feet in width. Screen areas shall consist of natural landscape materials such as lawn, ground cover, shrubs, and trees, and shall not contain impervious materials;
2. A wall or fence shall be provided with a minimum height of 8 feet; or a hedge, berm, or combination thereof forming a continuous screen at least 4 feet high if approved by the Planning Commission;
3. Required tree plantings: 1 deciduous or evergreen tree for every 75 feet of lot line shared with a residential or park use or zoned property.
(d) In cases where an industrial project abuts a commercial or office use a 15 foot wide screening area shall be provided. Screening shall include a wall or fence of 6 feet in height and 1 deciduous tree or evergreen tree per 75 feet of linear distance of shared lot line.
(6) Building fronts and interior grounds. Interior landscaping areas, constituting at least 5% of the total building main floor area, shall be provided in every nonresidential development or residential development with attached dwelling units, except in the CBD District. Interior landscaping should be grouped near building entrances, along building foundations, along pedestrian walkways and along service areas in accordance with the following standards:
(a) One deciduous or 1 evergreen tree shall be required for every 1,000 square feet of required interior landscaping area.
(b) One shrub shall be required for every 250 square feet of required interior landscaping area.
(c) The interior landscaping area shall contain grass, ground cover, or 4 inch deep shredded bark.
(7) Solid waste dumpsters. Solid waste dumpsters and recycling storage containers may be located on a commercial, industrial, or multiple family properties, provided that they are screened on all sides by a continuous opaque fence at least 6 feet high.
Access to the dumpster shall be via a latching opaque gate that shall remain closed when the dumpster is not being serviced. Acceptable gate enclosure materials include wood and chain link fencing with privacy slats. Acceptable screening materials include wood, brick, and masonry.
(1993 Code, § 82-460) (Ord. passed 10-12-1992; Ord. passed 10-11-1999(1); Ord. passed 3-13-2000; Ord. passed 1-10-2005)
Cross reference:
Landscape standards for parking areas, see Appendix F