Landscaping shall be provided in the locations specified below.
A. Setbacks. All setback and open space areas not occupied by driveways, parking areas, walkways, building projections and approved hardscape areas, shall be planted, except where a required setback is screened from public view, or it is determined by the Director that planting is not necessary to fulfill the purposes of this Chapter.
1. For single-family, two-family and three-family residential projects, all street-facing setback areas shall be landscaped. Such areas shall be landscaped with live plant materials for a minimum of 75% of the subject area, unless paving of a larger area is required to comply with Subsection 17.320.035.C. (Parking Space and Lot Dimensions), to provide a standard 16-foot, double-wide driveway for a two-car garage within the 20-foot front setback area, to comply with Table 3-5 of Subsection 17.320.035.N.3. (Residential Covered Parking Requirements), or unless such paving involves a pedestrian pathway subject to Section 17.310.020.A.b, subject to the discretion of the Director.
2. In addition to any required driveway paving in single-family, two-family and three-family residential projects, additional paving in a street facing setback may be allowed for a pedestrian pathway provided it is not more than 4 feet in width. The pedestrian path shall be separated from the driveway by a minimum width of 3 feet and landscaped unless the pathway is designed to lead from the driveway to the dwelling entrance. In that case, the pathway connection shall not exceed 4 feet in width.
B. Unused Areas. All areas of a project site or a vacant lot not intended for a specific use, including areas held for future development, shall be landscaped, unless it is determined by the Director that landscaping is not necessary to fulfill the purposes of this Chapter.
C. Parking Areas and Parkways. Parking areas shall be landscaped in compliance with the following requirements:
1. Plant materials. Plant materials shall be evenly distributed throughout the parking lot using a combination of trees, shrubs, and ground cover.
2. Curbing. Areas containing plant materials shall be bordered by a concrete curb at least 6 inches high and 6 inches wide. Alternative barrier design to protect landscaped areas from damage by vehicles may be approved by the Director.
3. Location of planted area. Parking lot landscaping shall be designed so that pedestrians are not required to cross planted areas to reach building entrances from parked cars. This should be achieved through proper orientation of the planted fingers and islands.
4. Bumper overhang areas. To increase the parking lot planted area, a maximum of 2 feet of the parking stall depth may be planted with low-growth, hearty materials in lieu of paving, allowing a 2-foot bumper overhang, including the 6-inch required curbing, while maintaining the required parking dimensions. See Figure 3-5 (Bumper Overhang Area) at top of next page:
5. Parking lot perimeter landscaping. Parking area perimeters shall be planted as follows. The Director may adjust the tree spacing requirements of this Subsection, based upon the growth characteristics and proper maintenance practices for the species of trees proposed. See Figure 3-6 (Parking Lot Perimeter Landscaping Requirements) at top of next page.
a. Adjacent to streets. Parking areas for non-residential uses adjoining a public street shall be designed to provide a landscaped planting strip between the street right-of-way and parking area with a minimum width of 5 feet (inside dimension).
i. Screening plant materials. The landscaping shall be designed and maintained to screen cars from view from the street, and plant materials shall be selected to provide a minimum height of 36 inches at time of planting. The Director may approve screening of less than 36 inches, when deemed necessary to protect the public interest. Screening materials may include a combination of plant materials, earth berms, solid masonry walls, raised planters, or other screening devices to meet the intent of this requirement; however, screening materials may not use only solid masonry walls without plant cover.
ii. Shade trees. Shade trees shall be provided at a minimum rate of 1 for every 20 linear feet of landscaped area, and may include areas of clustered trees.
b. Adjacent to residential use. Parking areas for non-residential uses adjoining residential uses shall be designed to provide a landscaped planting strip between the parking area and the common property line bordering the residential use with a minimum width of 5 feet (inside dimension). One tree shall be provided for each 20 linear feet of the landscaped planting strip.
i. A solid masonry wall with a minimum height of 6 feet shall be provided along the property line to address land use compatibility issues, such as nuisance noise and light or glare, if determined necessary by the Director.
ii. For properties adjoining alleys, a planting strip of 2 feet shall be provided on the public right-of-way side of a required masonry wall.
6. Interior parking lot planted areas. Planted areas are required within parking lots to provide shade, reduce pavement heat gain, and soften the appearance of large paved areas. See Figure 3-7 (Examples of Interior Parking Lot Landscaping) below.
a. Planter islands. Planter islands with a minimum width of 5 feet (inside dimension) and at least 1 tree shall be provided at the beginning and end of every parking row. In addition, a planter island with a shade tree shall be provided at least every minimum 4 spaces within a parking row.
b. Larger projects. Parking lots with more than 150 spaces shall provide a concentration of landscape elements at primary entrances. Such elements may include specimen trees, flowering plants, enhanced paving, and project identification, as determined by the Director.
(Ord. No. 2020-013 § 2 (part); Ord. No. 2022-008)