The following landscaping requirements shall apply for all parking areas containing 15 or more parking spaces.
(A) Interior landscaping. A minimum of 5% of the gross area of the interior vehicular use area of a parking lot shall be landscaped. Perimeter parking lot landscaping and/or buffering shall not be included toward satisfying this requirement.
(1) One-hundred percent of said landscaping area shall be planted with ground cover.
(2) (a) Appropriate ground cover may include shade trees, ornamental trees, shrubberies, hedges, and grasses.
(b) However, at least one shade tree shall be provided for every 120 lineal feet of landscaped area.
(3) Required trees shall have a trunk with a diameter of at least two and one-half inches and shall be at a height of at least five feet at the time of planting and shall be of a species characterized by rapid growth and by suitability and hardiness for location in a parking lot.
(B) Perimeter landscaping. All parking lots regulated by this section shall have a perimeter landscaped area of at least five feet in width and extending the full length of the parking lot.
(1) One-hundred percent of said landscaping area shall be planted with ground cover exclusive of walkways.
(2) (a) At least one shade tree shall be planted in the perimeter landscaping area for every ten parking spaces in the parking lot. However, if shade trees already exist in the right-of-way adjacent to the parking area, such trees may be counted to satisfy this requirement.
(b) Note: when determining the number of trees required, fractions shall be rounded to the nearest whole number.
(3) Required trees shall have a trunk with a diameter of at least two and one-half inches and shall be at a height of at least five feet at the time of planting and shall be of a species characterized by rapid growth and by suitability and hardiness for location in a parking lot.
(C) Maintenance. All required plant materials shall be maintained in a healthy condition and whenever necessary replaced with new plant materials to ensure continued compliance with the landscaping requirements.
(Ord. 2014-26, passed 9- -2014) Penalty, see § 156.999