A landscape plan ensures that landscaping requirements are provided that are intended to foster more aesthetically pleasing environments, establish compatible land use relationships with potentially incompatible development, and to facilitate proper site design and development.
A. Regulated Activity: Landscape plans are required for all required developments as determined in section 10-15-3-3 of this chapter.
B. Landscape Plan Content And Submission Requirements: Prior to the issuance of a building permit, the applicant shall submit a landscape plan for review and approval. Applicants shall be required to submit landscape plans in both hard copy and acceptable electronic copy formats for review and routing by city staff. Landscape plans submitted for review shall contain the following:
1. Completed application and fee(s);
2. Locations and dimensions of all building and site improvements including signs, freestanding HVAC, etc.;
3. An existing landscape survey;
4. The locations of all required landscaped areas as determined in section 10-15-3-5 of this chapter;
5. Species, planting size and location of proposed plant material, including photos and/or illustrations of plant species;
6. Methods of managing special screening areas such as transition yards, off street loading facilities including cross sectional details, as appropriate;
7. Any proposed landscape easements, together with instruments describing maintenance responsibilities;
8. The placement and design of artificial irrigation systems including the locations of hose connections, water lines and sprinkler heads;
9. At street and driveway intersections, the limits of the sight visibility triangle;
10. Calculations of: total site area, total landscaped area, total impervious surface, total area devoted to parking, and calculations for parking lot, perimeter and internal landscaping; and
11. An exterior lighting plan including all fixtures and illuminated signage.
12. Any other documentation requirements including elevations, cross sections and other plan details deemed appropriate by the city.
C. Design Guidelines: In preparing landscape plans, the following shall be followed:
1. General Landscape Design Principles:
a. Landscape improvements should serve to integrate the project to the site, with particular sensitivity to the natural topography, watercourses, and existing vegetation. Preservation of the existing landscape material and landforms shall be taken into account, particularly where mature trees are a part of the site. This is of particular importance in cases where specimen trees, groves, or tree lines, or tree lined watercourses are present.
b. Landscape improvements should serve to enhance the appearance of the site, especially as viewed from an adjacent public right of way. Effective year round screening shall be provided to lessen the visual prominence of: parking lots, service yards, loading docks, public utility structures, and unsightly appurtenances.
c. Innovative landscape design proposals that promote sustainability, reduce irrigation requirements, and that utilize effective on site stormwater management techniques are encouraged. Thoughtful selection and placement of plant material and ground covers based on ecological principles are also encouraged.
d. The aesthetic aspect of landscape improvements shall be considered both at installation and maturity. Groupings of trees or other plantings are recommended for optimal visual effect and ease of maintenance.
2. Scale: Scale and nature of landscape materials and planting bed size should be appropriate to the site and structures. Larger buildings and sites may accommodate and be enhanced by larger plant material, plant groupings, and planting beds.
3. Selection And Layout: Plant material shall be selected for its form, texture, color and concern for its size at maturity. Wherever possible, large planting areas shall be provided in groupings and masses to provide a more naturalistic appearance. Wherever appropriate, use of native woody and herbaceous plant materials is encouraged. In small planting areas within parking lots, trees and shrubs shall be planted in groups with massing appropriate to and in harmony with buildings, circulation, stormwater management, and neighboring landscapes. Energy conservation shall also be considered when determining layout of selection and layout of plant material. For instance, sun tolerant plant materials should be placed on the south and west sides of buildings to provide shade from summer sun, and shade tolerant plant materials should be concentrated on the north side of buildings to dissipate the effects of winter winds.
4. Stormwater Infiltration And Enhanced Water Quality: Wherever possible, preserve, restore, and integrate natural drainage patterns and features including swales, filter strips, and wetlands or rain gardens vegetated with native plant systems. The intention shall be to slow stormwater runoff, increase on site infiltration, and filter suspended solids and contaminants in support of on site stormwater management and treatment strategies that reduce or control costs to the community.
5. Berming: Earthen berms and existing topography shall, whenever practical, be incorporated into the landscape treatment of a site. Bermed areas shall be designed to resemble natural landforms, whenever possible. The maximum permissible slope is four to one (4:1).
6. Facade Treatments: Landscape improvements shall be provided to enhance architectural features and to add visual interest adjacent to large expanses of building walls. Landscape improvements shall also be provided as a buffer between pedestrian and vehicular activity at primary building entrances and along building facades.
7. Fence Treatments: When fencing is used, provide landscaping which includes a variety of plant material, height, color and texture. This landscaping should buffer, soften or minimize the visual monotony of long expanses of fencing.
8. Miscellaneous Screening Standards: Functional activities within and adjoining the development site must be considered in the design of the landscape improvements, including consideration of the following: trash dumpsters or other waste receptacles, all utility equipment, dish antennas, loading docks or other outdoor service areas and ground signs. Particular attention shall be paid towards screening mechanical equipment, air conditioning units, or any other visible outside equipment, service areas, including dumpster enclosures, loading docks, and bicycle parking areas. Enhance walkways, entrances, seating areas, bus stops or any other pedestrian areas; separate and buffer pedestrian and public areas from circulation drives and parking areas; and direct attention to focal areas and main entrances.
9. Miscellaneous Placement Standards: There shall be a three foot (3') radius free of trees or shrubs around fire hydrants, valve vaults, hose bibs, manholes, hydrants, fire department connections, and other site features as deemed necessary by the city. Additionally, plant material branching higher than two feet (2') and lower than six feet (6') above top of curb shall not be planted or maintained in a sight visibility triangle as defined by the superintendent of public works or his/her designee.
10. Texture: Plants differ in texture according to foliage, color, size and density. A variety of textures will add interest and depth to the landscape design. For example, coarser plants (larger leaves, dense foliage) may work to "anchor corners", medium textured materials can gradually transition to fine textured plants. In massing, coarser textured plants are usually more effective when placed at greater distances from common viewing locations. Groups of finer textured plants are typically more effective near walkways and entrances and in courtyards of buildings or plazas.
11. Form: Among the most important design qualities of a plant is form, which includes columnar, round, vase, weeping, pyramidal and oval forms. Plants of contrasting shapes may provide variety and interest by accenting a group of plants of another form. Evergreen trees exhibit pyramidal forms, while many crabapples are round to oval. Plantings that combine two (2) or more forms may effectively buffer or "soften" building facades, fences, and other structures. The dominant use of native trees and shrubs that display strongly horizontal branch patterns and "layered" flowering forms is basic to effective use of the unified "prairie style", associated historically and ecologically with this region, and is encouraged.
12. Color: Color can be used to unify or contrast plantings on a site. It is essential to consider the varying colors exhibited by a plant in all seasons. Most importantly, through the use of perennials and/or annuals, color can be used to call attention to entryways and other focal points.
13. Repetition: A design is tied together through the repeated use of a small number of plant species, sizes, colors, forms, or textures throughout the site. Too much repetition can result in monotony, so it is important to find a balance. Natural landscaping techniques using a diverse palette of randomly mixed prairie forbs and grasses will provide repetition and unity throughout the planting area and across the seasons. On smaller sites it is recommended to keep the plant palette short and simple.
14. Massing: Massing ties in with scale and repetition. In general, shrubs, perennials and annuals are massed or grouped together to achieve a more dramatic effect. For example, large sites may have shrubs in groupings of one hundred (100) or more. Large buildings and sites are complemented with larger material and greater massing of shrubs and/or color.
15. Variety: Variety adds interest and liveliness to the design. It provides a few unlike qualities to contrast with those qualities that are alike and duplicated as part of repetition. Variety is achieved through the use of different forms, textures, colors and plants. (Ord. 06-12-0, 3-22-2006)