A. Applicability: The following requirements shall apply to landscaping located within a parkway, as defined in Section 8-6-1
, adjoining the property.
B. Parkway Trees:
1. Location And Spacing: Parkway trees shall be planted in conformance with Section 8-4-1
of the Des Plaines Municipal Ordinance.
2. Species:
a. Trees installed within the parkway shall be of an appropriate species based on the specific site or development. A list of recommended parkway trees can be found in the Des Plaines Planting Guide maintained by the Department of Community and Economic Development.
b. The selection of tree species shall be reviewed and approved by the zoning administrator.
c. No evergreen trees or fruit-bearing trees shall be installed within the parkway.
3. Maintenance: Parkway trees shall be trimmed and maintained in accordance with Section 8-4-3 to avoid obstructions and safety concerns within the public rights-of-way.
C. Parkway Ground Surface Materials and Plantings:
1. Turf: Turf is permitted in all parkways and is recommended on slope grades up to 50 percent (2 horizontal: 1 vertical). Turf is not recommended on slopes greater than 50 percent.
2. Groundcover: Groundcover is permitted in all parkways but shall not exceed 24 inches in height at maturity.
3. Shrubs: Shrubs are permitted in all parkways but shall not exceed 36 inches in height at maturity. Shrubs should be installed so as not to obstruct or frustrate the use of sidewalks or on-street parking areas.
4. Driveways and Walkways: Driveways and walkways are permitted in parkways provided that these improvements conform with all applicable City Code regulations.
5. Prohibited Materials: Materials prohibited in parkways include brick pavers, gravel, asphalt, and concrete except approved materials for driveways and walkways pursuant to Section .
D. Public Right-of-Way Landscape Planters:
1. Applicability: The following items shall apply to newly constructed buildings on properties within the C-5 Central Business District where the building setback on the front elevation is zero feet or as otherwise required by the zoning administrator.
2. License Agreement: A license agreement, in accordance with Title 8, Chapter 5
of this title, is required prior to the of all landscape planters within city rights-of-way.
3. Landscape Planter Specifications: Landscape planter boxes shall be at least 18-inches in height and of a sufficient width to cover at least 25% of street-facing elevations.
4. Landscape Planter Location: Landscape planter boxes must be located within the portion of the right-of-way directly adjoining the lot frontage. Landscape planter boxes must be located at least five feet away from the curb of any roadway.
5. Live Green Wall Alternative: As an alternative to providing landscape planters, live green walls may be provided on street-facing elevations from the ground to eight-feet in height for a horizontal distance of 25% of the street-facing elevation or a combination of landscape planters and live green walls may be utilized. (Ord. Z-8-20, 2-18-2020)