(a) Amount of Landscaping Required.
(1) For all parking areas with five or more parking spaces, a total of 10% of the paved area (not including loading spaces or stacking lanes/spaces) shall be landscaped under the provisions of this section.
 |
Figure 1177.07 1: Parking Lot Interior Calculation
The required landscaping shall be located within landscaped islands. Landscaped areas that extend into parking areas from the perimeter landscaping may count toward this requirement but only that area that extended into the parking area.
 |
Figure 1177.07 2: Landscaping and screening is intended to soften the appearance of large expanses of parking areas
and can also provide areas for storm water management.
(2) Landscaped islands shall be developed and distributed throughout the parking lot to define 2.major circulation aisles and driving lanes; and to provide visual and climatic relief from broad expanses of pavement.
A. Each island shall have a minimum dimension of nine feet in any horizontal direction.
B. Landscape islands shall be located at the end of each parking row with a minimum size of 135 square feet for single loaded parking rows, and a minimum size of 270 square feet for double loaded rows. See Figure 1177.07-1.
C. No more than 15 parking spaces shall be located in a continuous row without being interrupted by a landscaped island.
D. Island Planting Requirements.
1. There shall be a minimum of two deciduous trees and four shrubs provided for every 15 parking spaces, or fraction thereof; such trees shall be planted within the required landscaped islands.
2. Each individual landscape island shall include a minimum of one tree and two shrubs.
3. Additional shrubs or low, spreading plant materials may be planted within the required landscaped islands provided there is no impairment to the visibility of motorists or pedestrians.
4. The landscape medians/islands that separate every fourth row of parking spaces, running the full length of the parking area, shall be planted with a minimum of one tree per 40 lineal feet. Sidewalks and/or pedestrian paths may be incorporated into these medians.
5. The trees and shrubs shall be distributed throughout the parking lot islands to decrease the appearance of a single expanse of pavement and to create a canopy effect.
6. The area not covered by the canopy of the tree, but within an interior landscape area, shall be covered by shrubs, grass, ground cover, landscape gravel, or mulch.
(3) The landscaped islands shall be protected by the installation of continuous curbs or wheel stops with a height of six inches, except as modified to accommodate storm water run-off.
(4) The landscaped islands should be designed, to the maximum extent feasible, to accommodate storm water run-off. The use of porous pavement and/or specially designed brick or block is encouraged to increase on-site water detention for plant material and ground water supplies and to reduce problems associated with run-off.
(b) Perimeter Landscaping Requirements. All surface vehicular use areas designed for five or more parking spaces shall be screened in accordance with this subsection.
(1) Perimeter Adjacent to Property Line. Vehicular use areas shall maintain a minimum five foot perimeter planting strip along adjacent private property lines and public rights-of-way unless the vehicular use area is adjacent to or a continuation of a vehicular use area on an adjacent property.
A. The minimum planting strip width may be reduced to five feet through the provision of an ornamental metal fence or masonry wall constructed in accordance with the following:
1. The wall or fence shall have a minimum height of three feet and a maximum height of six feet;
2. A masonry wall shall have a minimum opacity of 75% of the entire wall surface along any single lot line;
3. The wall or fence shall be supplemented with 30-inch high evergreen shrubs planted between the fence or wall and the lot line a minimum of three feet on center.
B. The planting strip shall contain a continuous hedge composed of a double-staggered row of evergreen shrubs with a minimum planting height of 30 inches and a maximum on-center spacing of three feet.
C. Up to 25% of the shrubs may be deciduous.
D. In addition to the required shrubs, the planting strip shall include canopy trees that shall be provided at a rate of 2.5 trees per 100 lineal feet of the perimeter of the vehicular use area. Clustering or grouping of these trees is permitted.
E. Understory trees may be used in areas where the presence of overhead utilities prevents the use of canopy trees.
F. Trees may be planted in front of, behind, or within the hedge, as long as a continuous hedge is maintained.
(2) Building Perimeter. When a building is not abutted by a sidewalk, shrubs shall be placed around the building perimeter of the primary facade a minimum of three feet from the building. Building perimeter landscaping is not required when loading, service, or drive-through service access areas are adjacent to the building. See Figure 1177.07-3.
 |
Figure 1177.07 3: Building perimeter planting.
(Ord. 7675. Passed 11-11-14.)