A. Required Plans and Documents:
1. When Landscape and Irrigation Plans are required as part of the applications described below:
a. A Preliminary Landscape Plan, with applicable supporting material, shall be approved concurrently with the Development Plan review if a Final Landscape Plan is not submitted.
b. A Final Landscape Plan, with applicable supporting material, shall be submitted with the Development Plan or at time of Building Permit application and shall be approved before any Building Permit approval, any landscape construction, and issuance of a Certificate of Occupancy. Development within the WUI-O district shall submit the Final Landscape Plan concurrent with the Development Plan review, and the Fire Code Official shall give approval prior to any landscape installation and issuance of a Certificate of Occupancy.
c. An Irrigation Plan, with applicable supporting material:
(1) Shall be submitted with the Development Plan or at the time of Building Permit application and shall be approved before any Building Permit approval, irrigation construction, and issuance of a Certificate of Occupancy; or
(2) Upon request by the applicant, the irrigation plan can be submitted ninety (90) days subsequent to a Building Permit issuance and approved prior to any irrigation construction and issuance of a Certificate of Occupancy. Specifications, plans, and construction practices regarding the irrigation system shall comply with the Landscape Policy Manual.
d. For commercial projects less than one (1) acre in size, the Manager may require that the Final Landscape and Irrigation Plan, with applicable support material, be submitted and approved concurrent with the Development Plan review.
e. In the case of the conversion of land requiring a Development Plan that does not involve the construction of a structure, a Final Landscape and Irrigation Plan, with applicable support material, shall be submitted and approved concurrent with the Development Plan review.
2. Documents shall clearly and completely describe the design and any techniques and features provided to implement the design and meet the requirements of this Part 7.4.9 and the current approved Landscape Policy Manual.
3. A Landscape Architect licensed by the State of Colorado shall prepare all required landscape plans and supporting material.
4. A Landscape Architect licensed by the State of Colorado or a Certified Irrigation Designer shall prepare all required irrigation plans and supporting material.
B. Site Category Areas Required to be Landscaped:
1. The following areas of each lot or contiguous lots in a common development are required to be landscaped in accordance with the requirements of this Part 7.4.9:
a. Street frontages and parkways, and double frontage lot streetscapes (see Section 7.4.905 (Street Frontage and Street Trees));
b. Property edge landscape buffers (see Section 7.4.906 (Property Edge Landscape Buffers));
c. Parking lots (see Section 7.4.907 (Parking Lot Landscaping));
d. The interior of the development (see Section 7.4.908 (Additional Interior Landscaping)); and
e. Screening (see Subsection 7.4.908D.7 (Location of Landscaping)).
2. The locations and quantities of plants shall comply with the requirements established for the various category areas to be landscape as listed in Subsection B above. The site category minimum number of trees are cumulative. Areas or trees provided to meet each site category requirement may not consist of areas or trees that are proposed to meet the minimum requirements of other site categories.
C. Any calculation of a landscaping requirement that results in a fractional number shall follow Section 7.6.202 (Fractions).
D. Plant Materials:
1. General:
a. All trees and vegetation shall comply with the Landscape Policy Manual and all other standards of the Manual. Alternative or new species may be approved by the Manager provided they comply with the intent of this Part 7.4.9 and the Landscape Policy Manual.
b. Trees shall be spaced to allow for mature growth of trees, in accordance with the Landscape Policy Manual, without interfering with maintenance or use of overhead power lines, underground utility infrastructure, structures, walks, or drives.
c. The minimum planting or installation sizes of plant materials shall comply with Table 7.4.9-A.
Plant Material Requirements | |
Plant Type | Minimum Planting or Installation Size |
Deciduous shade tree | 1.5 inch caliper measured 6 inches above ground |
Deciduous ornamental tree | 1 inch caliper measured 6 inches above ground; or Multi-stemmed clump form with minimum height of 4 feet |
Evergreen tree | 6 feet height |
Evergreen and deciduous shrubs | #5 container size |
Ornamental grasses | #3 or #5 container size |
Ground covers and vines | 2.25 or 4 inch flat-type container, #1 or #5 container size |
d. To promote species diversity, on sites with twelve (12) or more trees, no more than thirty-five (35) percent of the trees used on a site may be from a single tree species.
e. At least forty (40) percent of site trees shall be trees that will exceed thirty (30) feet in height at maturity.
f. Tree species with invasive roots and brittle branches shall be planted at least twenty-five (25) feet from public wastewater, water, and stormwater lines, streets, curbs, and sidewalks. These species include Elder (Sambucus), Willow (Salix) and Cottonwood (Populus).
g. Plants with similar water needs within each site microclimate (i.e., shade, west facing, toe of slope, etc.) shall be zoned or grouped together for efficiency of water application, to prevent water waste, and to provide optimum application of water to the plants.
2. High Water Use Turfgrass:
a. High Water Use Turfgrass shall be hydrozoned and irrigated separately because of its unique water demand.
b. High Water Use Turfgrass cannot be used as an infill material and should be used as a
planned amenity or element, as defined in the Landscape Manual, in the designed landscape.
c. High Water Use Turfgrass shall not comprise more than twenty-five (25) percent of the total green space area of the site, and shall not:
(1) Be used on slopes greater than 5:1;
(2) Be used in medians, parking lot islands, or parking lot planters;
(3) Be used in any configuration that cannot be efficiently irrigated;
(4) Be used in street right-of-way between curb and sidewalk or on other locations on a site that are less than seven (7) feet wide; and
(5) Be used in areas with a contiguous area less than one hundred (100) square feet.
3. Ground Cover: All landscaped areas shall consist of one hundred (100) percent ground plane coverage in living vegetation, organic mulch, or, to a limited extent, ornamental paving or rock mulch as follows:
a. At least seventy-five (75) percent of all proposed shrub bed areas shall initially consist of plants and include organic mulch, cobble, or rock.
b. Ornamental paving (excluding sidewalks) or rock/cobble mulch without vegetation shall not exceed twenty-five (25) percent of any site category area.
c. Organic mulch shall be installed around each tree in shrub beds with rock or cobble mulch. In shrub beds with slopes greater than 3:1, angular rock or cobble is required.
d. At least seventy-five (75) percent of each landscape category area shall be covered by vegetation within three (3) years of planting.
e. Vegetative cover shall consist of ground covers, perennials, shrubs, native ornamental grasses, bulbs, and native grass mixes, or High Water Use Turfgrasses.
f. The foliage crown of trees shall not be counted in the seventy-five (75) percent calculation of vegetative cover.
g. Specifications, plans, and construction practices regarding native seed vegetation shall comply with City Engineering, Stormwater and Landscape Policy Manual Standards, and shall comply with requirements of the Fire Code Official if the development is located in the WUI-O district.
h. Native seed establishment shall meet uniform coverage and gap (six (6) inch by six (6) inch) criteria with low weed content (eighty (80) percent Native Grasses to twenty (20) percent weeds, or better).
i. Up to ten (10) percent of the area not required to be covered by living material may be covered by artificial turf if the Manager determines that the inclusions of such material will not compromise the visual appearance of the required landscape area or is necessary because of the difficult of maintaining other types of non-living material due to site conditions.
E. Fire Safety and Utility Constraints:
1. Fire Department Constraints: Within three (3) feet of the circumference of a fire hydrant, plantings shall be limited to eight (8) inch mature height. Landscaping shall not restrict the use of or obscure the view of any fire hydrant, Fire Department connection, outside horn/strobe, required signage, or other safety features. Access roadways used by the Fire Department shall remain clear and unobstructed to a minimum height of fourteen (14) feet with widths as individually prescribed for the development to protect public health and safety.
2. Utility Constraints:
a. Landscaping shall not interfere with the general function, safety, or accessibility of any gas, electric, water, sewer, telephone, or stormwater facilities, or other drainage or utility easements.
b. All landscaping adjacent to, above, or beneath utilities shall comply with standards of the respective governing utility and the Landscape Policy Manual.
c. All improvements, including landscaping, must comply with all applicable requirements of the Colorado Springs Utilities Line Extension and Service Standards, the National Electrical Code, the National Electrical Safety Code, and the "Use of Electric Line Rights-of-Way by Other Parties" prepared by the CSU Electric Utility.
d. All trees shall be planted at least six (6) feet from fire hydrants, valve boxes, curb stop boxes, underground utility vaults/structures, gas lines, stormwater infrastructure utility poles, street light standards, and above-ground utility structures such as transformer enclosures.
e. Trees shall be planted at least six (6) feet from underground utilities and comply with all Colorado Springs Utilities regulations regarding wet and dry utilities and tree distances.
f. When a tree is placed under overhead utility lines, its height range at maturity shall not exceed twenty-five (25) feet and the tree species must be selected from the City Forester's "Approved Street Tree List for Colorado Springs."
g. Water service connections for all irrigated areas shall be consistent with all Colorado Springs Utilities regulations.
h. All irrigation water shall be metered and have appropriate backflow prevention as identified by Colorado Springs Utilities Water Line Extension and Service Standards.
i. The irrigation water service connection shall be sized appropriately to accommodate irrigation during the hours and days outlined in the Water Shortage Ordinance, Chapter 12, Article 4, Part 13 of the City Code of Colorado Springs.
F. Conservation of Soil and Drainage:
1. Soil Conservation: Topsoil shall be stockpiled during construction for use in landscape areas prior to planting. At minimum, enough topsoil must be stripped and stored to provide for at least four (4) inches of spread topsoil in new landscape areas. Stripped topsoil must be stored in an area away from machinery and construction operations and care must be taken to protect the topsoil as a valuable commodity. Topsoil shall be stored in piles or rows no more than four (4) feet deep where possible; to keep soil organisms alive until the topsoil is reinstalled.
2. Soil Analysis:
a. In order to develop a planting plan suited to the site, an existing soil analysis report shall be conducted by an established soil analysis laboratory and be submitted with the Final Landscape Plan. The Soil analysis report shall provide at the minimum, the soil texture, percentage of organic matter, pH, total soluble salts and recommended amounts of soil amendments and fertilizers where appropriate. A report shall be provided for each type of proposed new landscape type (sod, shrub beds, and native seed).
b. In some certain situations the existing Soil Analysis Report and amendment/fertilizer recommendations may be submitted and approved with the Irrigation Plan submittal if the Manager determines the delay will have no adverse impact on the selection or survival of required landscaping. The applicant shall request the deferral with the Final Landscape Plan and if approved by the Planning Department, all required information shall be submitted with the Irrigation Plan.
c. A written request for waiver of the soil analysis may be approved by the City where landscape improvements are minimal and the applicant demonstrates sufficient measures will be undertaken to amend the existing soil to provide an acceptable growing medium.
3. Soil Amendments and Preparation: Soil amendments to improve water drainage, moisture penetration or retention, and nutrient availability shall be provided as determined by the soil analysis. Tilling of the soil to incorporate amendments and counter any compaction or soil consolidation shall be required for all landscape planting areas. Soil preparation shall be consistent with the cultural needs of the plant species proposed for each site category and meeting Colorado Springs Utilities soil amendment requirements for establishing new plant material.
4. Drainage: All drainage within landscaped areas, including the use of swales, shall comply with this UDC, the Landscape Policy Manual, and Engineering Criteria. Where existing native plant communities are to be retained, drainage patterns shall not be altered so as to be detrimental to the viability of the plants.
G. Maintenance:
1. Landscaping, screening, and buffers shall be maintained in compliance with the standards of this Part 7.4.9.
2. The owner is responsible for the maintenance, repair, and replacement of all required landscaping, screening, and curbing unless maintenance is assigned through covenants to another party (e.g., a homeowners' or property owners' association) with the City's approval.
3. All landscaped areas shall be maintained with a neat and orderly appearance, which includes pruning, removal, and replacement of dead or diseased plants and trees, disposal of litter, repair of damaged walls and hard surface areas, and upkeep of irrigation systems.
4. Landscaped areas that lose required vegetation shall be re-vegetated and re-mulched to avoid erosion.
5. Where landscaping was installed pursuant to a Land Use Plan, Development Plan, or Landscape Plan, the landscaping shall be replaced according to any landscaping and maintenance plan associated with that approval.
6. Trees or plants that die shall be replaced by the owner as expeditiously as possible. All plant material that is in poor health or not living shall be replaced with equivalent vegetation and maintained in good health throughout the life of the project.
7. Street trees shall be maintained and kept alive and healthy. Maintaining, removing, and replacing existing street trees or other trees planted in the public right-of-way shall be the responsibility of adjacent property owners.
8. Fences, walls, and other barriers shall be maintained in good repair. All barriers that are damaged, broken, or with failing paint shall be repaired, replaced, or refinished.
9. For double frontage lots, when a tract is not platted, street rights-of-way or parkways between a property line and curb or street pavement adjoining the property shall be maintained by the adjacent landowner.
10. Stumps of removed trees and shrubs shall be ground out to four (4) inches below existing grade located on the site and rights-of-way.
11. Vegetation shall be maintained so as to inhibit the spread of noxious weeds, and to mitigate hazards, such as the spread of wildfires, slope failures, soil erosion, and increased flooding.
12. Native seed shall be maintained and provide the necessary maintenance practices to aid in the growth of the approved native seed mix and long term goal of naturalization. This includes weed control, overseeding, irrigation (if installed), and correct mowing schedules. The approved native seed mix will determine the height of the native seed grasses and should be allowed to grow and establish new seed heads and repopulate the growing area.
13. Vegetation on residential properties in the WUI-O district shall be maintained in accordance with the City of Colorado Springs Fire Prevention Code and Standards.
14. Vegetation adjacent to public sidewalks or that extend over a public or private street or alley shall be maintained with eight (8) feet of clear space between the existing grade and lowest limb for pedestrian safety. (Ord. 23-03)