(a) Responsibility for Installation of Landscaping Materials. The landscaping requirements shall be provided by the person in charge of or in control of developing the property, whether as owner, lessee, tenant, occupant or otherwise.
(b) Existing Landscape Material.
(1) Unless otherwise noted, existing landscape material in healthy condition can be used to satisfy the requirements of this chapter in whole or in part provided they meet all requirements of this chapter.
(2) The City Engineer shall determine satisfaction of this requirement.
(c) Easements and Clear Vision.
(1) Required landscaping may be placed wholly or partially in utility or other easements provided all requirements can be fulfilled and approval is granted by the holder of the easements.
(2) Landscaping must also be placed in the required area between the property line and the front, rear and side yard setbacks.
(3) In no case shall landscaping and buffer yards be established so as to block the sight distance at street or drive intersections in accordance with Section 1173.06 Traffic Safety Visibility Triangle.
(d) Landscaping Materials. Existing vegetation shall be preserved as much as possible in accordance with City tree standards in the City's Tree Care and Maintenance Ordinance. The following items are suitable for landscaping materials used individually or in combination with each other, subject to review and approval by the City Engineer. Nursery stock identification tags shall not be removed from any planting prior to inspection and approval of final installation by the City.
(1) Walls and Fences.
A. When walls or fences are used to fulfill screening requirements, they shall be detailed on the plan.
B. Walls or fences are to be constructed of weather-proof materials. This includes pressure treating or painting of lumber if it is not redwood or cedar and using aluminum or galvanized hardware.
C. Chain link fences with or without wooden or synthetic slat material shall not be allowed when used to satisfy the buffer requirements of this chapter.
D. Walls and fences shall be designed to orient the finished side away from the subject lot so the finished side faces the adjacent lots.
(2) Plants.
A. Plant materials used in conformance with these provisions shall conform to the American Nursery and Landscape Association and shall have passed any inspection required under state regulations. Trees shall be balled and burlapped or in containers. Shrubs, vines, and ground covers can be planted as bare root as well as balled and burlapped or from containers.
B. The following are specific standards for landscaping materials.
1. Deciduous Trees.
Deciduous trees shall have a minimum caliper of at least two inches diameter at breast height (DBH) conforming to acceptable nursery industry procedures at the time of planting. If deciduous trees are to be used for screening purposes, additional materials listed in this chapter shall be used to create a dense buffer.
2. Evergreen Trees.
Evergreen trees shall be a minimum of six feet in height at the time of planting. Evergreen plantings when used for buffer screening shall be planted at a maximum distance of 20 feet on center to provide an effective, dense screen within four years of planting.
3. Ornamental and Understory Trees.
Ornamental and understory trees shall have a minimum height of five feet or a minimum caliper of at least 1.25 inches DBH conforming to acceptable nursery industry procedures at the time of planting.
4. Shrubs and Hedges.
Shrubs and hedges shall be at least 24 inches in height at the time of planting. Unless otherwise specified in this chapter, all shrubs and hedges shall be designed to provide an effective, dense screen and mature height of at least six feet within four years after the date of the final approval of each planting. The height at installation of the planting shall be measured from the level of the surface of the plant base at the edge closest to the screening.
5. Grass and Ground Cover.
Grass of the Fescus (Gramineak) or Bluegrass (Poaceae) family shall be planted in species normally grown as permanent lawns in the City of Defiance. In swales or other areas subject to erosion, solid sod, erosion reducing net, or suitable mulch shall be used and nursegrass seed shall be sown for immediate protection until complete coverage otherwise is achieved. Grass sod shall be clean and free of weeds and noxious pests or diseases. Ground cover shall be planted at a maximum spacing of one foot on center to provide 75% complete coverage after two growing seasons.
C. Once the minimum landscape requirements have been met, any size plant may be installed on a lot to supplement the minimum requirements.
(3) Species Diversity.
A. To curtail the spread of disease or insect infestation in a plant species, new plantings shall comply with the approved planting material list as established in the city's Tree Care and Maintenance Ordinance and with Table 1177.03-1: Species Variety Requirements.
TABLE 1177.03-1: SPECIES VARIETY REQUIREMENTS | |
NUMBER OF TREES REQUIRED ON SITE | MAXIMUM PERCENTAGE OF TREES THAT MAY BE A SINGLE SPECIES |
1 - 19 | 50% |
20 - 39 | 33% |
40 or more | 25% |
B. Required shrubs shall utilize the same species diversity requirements.
C. Nothing in this subsection shall be construed so as to prevent the utilization of a larger number of different species than specified above.
(4) Earth Mounds. Earth mounds may be used as physical barriers which block or screen a view. Differences in elevation between areas requiring screening do not constitute an earth mound. Earth mounds shall be constructed of earthen materials and shall conform to the following standards:
A. The maximum side slope shall be 3:1 and the design shall be reviewed by the City Engineer to ensure that proper erosion prevention and control practices have been utilized.
B. Mounds and earth forms shall be designed with physical variations in height and alignment throughout their length.
C. Landscape plant material installed on mounds and earth forms shall be arranged in an irregular pattern to accentuate the physical variation and achieve a natural appearance.
D. The landscape plan shall show sufficient detail, including a plan and profile of the mound or earth form, soil types and construction techniques to demonstrate compliance with the above provisions.
E. Mounds and earth forms shall be located and designed to minimize the disturbance to existing trees located on the site or adjacent thereto.
F. Adequate ground cover shall be used and maintained to prevent erosion of the earth mound.
(5) Grade Changes. In cases where grading is necessary that results in a parking lot lower in elevation than the surrounding area or adjacent right-of-way, the resulting embankment shall be planted with low shrubs and shade or ornamental trees. The type and variety of plantings shall be based on the steepness of the slope.
(Ord. 7675. Passed 11-11-14.)