(a) Topsoil Preservation. Topsoil moved during the course of construction shall be redistributed on all regraded surfaces so as to provide at least four (4) inches of even cover to all disturbed areas of the development and shall be stabilized by seeding or planting.
(b) Removal of Debris. All stumps and other tree parts, litter, brush, weeds, excess or scrap building materials, or other debris shall be removed from the site and disposed of in accordance with the law. No tree stumps, portions of tree trunks, or limbs shall be buried anywhere in the development. All dead or dying trees, standing or fallen, shall be removed from the site, If trees and limbs are reduced to chips, they may, subject to approval of the City Engineer, be used as mulch in landscaped areas.
(c) Protection of Existing Plantings. Maximum effort should be made to save fine specimens. No material or temporary soil deposits shall be placed within four (4) feet of shrubs or ten (10) feet of trees designated to be retained on development site. Protective barriers or tree wells shall be installed around each plant and/or group of plants that are to remain on the site. Barriers shall not be supported by the plants they are protecting, but shall be self-supporting. They shall be a minimum of four (4) feet high and constructed of a durable material that will last until construction is completed. Snow fences and silt fences are examples of acceptable barriers.
(d) Slope Plantings. Landscaping of the area of all cuts and fills and/or terraces shall be sufficient to prevent erosion, and all roadway slopes steeper than one (1) foot vertically to three (3) feet horizontally shall be planted with ground covers appropriate for the purpose and soil conditions, water availability, and environment.
(e) Additional Landscaping. In residential developments, in addition to the screening and street trees required, additional plantings or landscaping elements shall be required throughout the subdivision where necessary for climate control, privacy, or for aesthetic reasons in accordance with a planting plan recommended for approval by the Planning Commission and approved by City Council. In nonresidential developments, all areas of the site not occupied by buildings and required improvements shall be landscaped by the planting of grass or other ground cover, shrubs, and trees as part of a site plan recommended by the Planning Commission and approved by City Council.
(f) Planting Specifications. Deciduous trees shall have at least a two-inch caliper measured twelve (12) inches above the ground at planting. Size of evergreens and shrubs shall be allowed to vary depending on size and type of shrub. Only nursery-grown plant materials shall be acceptable; and all trees, shrubs, and ground covers shall be planted according to accepted horticultural standards. Dead or dying plants shall be replaced by the developer during the following planting season.