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LANDSCAPING
The intent of this subchapter is to improve the appearance of vehicular use areas and property abutting public rights of way; to require buffering between different land uses; and to protect, preserve and promote the aesthetic appeal, character and value of the surrounding neighborhoods; and to promote public health and safety through the reduction of noise pollution, air pollution, visual pollution, air temperature and artificial light glare.
(Ord. 21-70, passed 7-13-70; Am. Ord. 46-97, passed 5-5-97)
It is further the purpose of this subchapter to specifically promote the preservation and replacement of trees and significant vegetation removed in the course of land development, and to promote the proper utilization of landscaping between certain land uses to minimize the opportunities of nuisances.
(Ord. 21-70, passed 7-13-70; Am. Ord. 46-97, passed 5-5-97)
(A) New sites. No certificate of zoning compliance or building permit shall be issued hereafter for any site development or the construction or improvement of any building, structure or vehicular use area except where landscaping for such development, construction has been approved as required by the provisions of this subchapter. Single-family uses shall be required to install street trees per § 153.134, screen service structures per §§ 153.133(c) and 153.077, and preserve existing vegetation per § 153.133(d)(1) and (2).
(Ord. 21-70, passed 7-13-70)
(B) Existing sites. No building, structure, or vehicular use area shall be constructed or expanded unless the minimum landscaping required by the provisions of this subchapter is provided to the property to the extent of its alteration or expansion. In the case of a substantial expansion, the entire site must be brought into compliance with the minimum requirements of this subchapter. An alteration or expansion to an existing property is substantial when:
(1) In the case of a building or structure expansion which does not involve additional land, the square footage of the alteration or expansion exceeds 25% of the square footage of the existing building exclusive of the alteration or expansion, and
(2) In the case of an alteration or expansion involving both an existing building or structure and additional land, and, if applicable, additional structures or buildings, the area or square footage of the expanded or altered land or structure or building, respectively, exceeds 25% of the area or square footage of the existing land or structure or building respectively, exclusive of the alteration or expansion.
(3) "Land," as used herein, includes land used for space, parking or building purposes.
(Ord. 38-82, passed 7-19-82)
(Ord. 46-97, passed 5-5-97)
This section describes the minimum requirements that shall be met in regard to perimeter buffer landscaping for different land use areas, perimeter landscaping for vehicular use areas, interior landscaping and shading of parking lots, landscaping for service areas, and additional site landscaping for businesses, buildings, structures or other new developments.
(A) Perimeter buffer landscaping requirements.
(1) Purpose. It is the purpose of this section to improve the appearance of vehicular use areas, to separate vehicular and pedestrian traffic areas, to reduce the effects of glare from automobile headlights, to screen the appearance of parking areas from public rights-of-ways and adjacent properties (vehicular use area perimeter requirements), and to require buffering between different land uses and along certain public rights-of-way (property perimeter requirements).
(2) Opacity requirements. Landscape materials, fences, and walls used to fulfill perimeter landscaping requirements shall be installed to provide 100 percent year round opacity. Landscape materials must be an evergreen species. The height of plant material used to fulfill the requirements of this section must be installed per § 153.135 and meet height and opacity requirements within four years after installation.
(3) Perimeter buffer landscape zone. The perimeter buffer landscape zone shall be provided by the property owner adjoining the street, unless the authority building the street has fully met all requirements on the street right-of-way. When adjacent to other common boundaries, the perimeter buffer landscaping:
(a) May be placed on either adjoining parcel, or astride the boundary, if both owned and being processed by the same owner; or
(b) Generally shall be placed on the activity listed under Appendix A, column B and Appendix B, column B, when adjoining parcels have different owners; or
(c) May be placed astride the boundary of adjoining parcels having different owners if a written agreement, signed by both owners, is filed with the Planning Director, as a public record; or
(d) Shall be placed on the activity or parcel being processed when adjoining property is already developed with the exception of Appendix A, lines 6 and 7; or
(e) Shall not be required along the common boundary if the requirements of this chapter have been fully complied with on the adjoining property, in fulfillment of the requirements of this chapter.
(4) Property perimeter requirements. Property perimeter requirements provide buffering between different land uses and along certain rights-of-way. See Appendix A.
(5) Vehicular use area perimeter requirements. Vehicular use area perimeter requirements provide buffering of areas used by vehicles such as parking lots and driveways from adjacent property or public rights-of-way. See Appendix B.
(6) Requirements conflicts. Whenever a parcel or activity falls under two or more of the categories listed in the table of division (A)(4) or (5) hereof, only one category, that with the most stringent requirements, shall be enforced.
(7) Perimeter buffer landscape zone conflicts. The required perimeter buffer landscape zone may be combined with a utility or other easement as long as all of the landscape requirements can be provided in addition to, and separate from, any other easement. Cars or other objects shall not overhang or otherwise intrude upon the required perimeter buffer landscape zone more than two and one-half feet, and wheel stops or curbs shall be required.
(8) Existing landscape material. Existing landscape material shall be shown on the required plan, and any material in satisfactory condition may be used to satisfy these requirements in whole or in part when, in the opinion of the public approval authority, such material meets the requirements and achieves the objectives of this chapter.
(9) Landscaping at driveway and street intersections. To insure that landscape materials do not constitute a driving hazard, a sight triangle shall be observed at all street intersections or intersections of driveways and streets. Within this sight triangle, no landscape material nor parked vehicles, except for required grass or ground cover, shall be permitted. Within the sight triangle, trees shall be permitted as long as, except during early growth stages, only the tree trunk is visible between the ground and eight feet above the ground, or otherwise does not present a traffic visibility hazard. The sight triangle is defined in the following sections and is illustrated in Appendix C.
(a) Driveway intersection sight triangle. At intersections of driveways with streets, the sight triangle shall be established by locating the intersection of the street curb with the driveway edge, and by measuring from this point a distance of ten feet along the driveway to a point and a distance of 20 feet along the street curb to a point and connecting these points.
(b) Street intersection sight triangle. At street intersections, the sight triangle shall be formed by measuring at least 35 feet along curb lines and connecting these points.
(B) Interior landscaping for vehicular use areas. Any open vehicular use area, excluding loading, unloading and storage areas in an industrial zone or business zone, containing more than 6,000 square feet of area, or 20 or more vehicular parking spaces, shall provide interior landscaping in addition to the previously required perimeter landscaping. Interior landscaping may be peninsular or island types, and must include at least one deciduous shade tree per penlnsula or island (from Appendix E, Group A or B) to be counted towards the required landscape area.
(1) Purpose. It is the purpose of this section to break up large areas of impervious surfaces in order to provide shade and heat abatement, and enhance the appearance of the community.
(2) Landscape area. For each 100 square feet or fraction thereof, of vehicular use area, a minimum total of five square feet of landscaped area shall be provided.
(a) Minimum area. The minimum landscape area permitted shall be 112 square feet with a minimum inside dimension width of seven feet, and a four-foot minimum dimension to all trees from edge of pavement where vehicles overhang.
(b) Maximum contiguous area. In order to encourage the required landscape areas to be properly dispersed, no individual landscape area shall be larger than 350 square feet in size, and no individual area shall be larger than 1,500 square feet in vehicular use areas over 30,000 square feet. In both cases, the least dimension of any required area shall be four feet minimum dimension to all trees from edge of pavement where vehicles overhang. Individual landscape areas larger than above are permitted as long as the additional area is in the excess of the required minimum total.
(3) Tree planting requirement. The following number and size of trees are required within the interior landscaped area. This requirement is based upon total ground coverage of structures and vehicular use areas:
(a) There shall be a minimum of one tree for every 5,000 square feet of ground coverage. Trees must be at least two inches in caliper at installation.
(b) Permitted trees to fulfill this requirement include those listed in Appendix E, Group A or B. Ornamental and evergreen trees cannot be used to fulfill this requirement.
(c) Trees shall have a clear trunk of at least five feet above the ground, and the remaining area shall be landscaped with hardwood mulch, shrubs, or ground cover, not to exceed two feet in height.
(4) Vehicle overhang. Parked vehicles may hang over the interior landscaped area no more than two and one-half feet, as long as concrete or other wheel stops are provided to insure no greater overhang or penetration of the landscaped area. See illustration Appendix D.
(Ord. 13-91, passed 5-18-81)
(C) Screening For Service Structures. Service structures shall be screened in all zoning districts. For the purposes of this section, service structures shall include but not be limited to loading docks, storage tanks, dumpsters, electrical transformers, utility vaults which extend above the surface, cooling towers, roof top units and other equipment or elements providing service to a building or a site. Structures may be grouped together; however, screening height shall be based upon the tallest of the structures. Roof top mechanical units must be screened to the full height of the unit.
(Ord. 17-88, passed 3-6-89)
(1) Screening requirements. A continuous (having 100% opacity) planting, hedge, fence, wall of earth, which would enclose any service structure on all sides is required, unless such structure must be frequently moved, in which case screening on all but one side is required. The height of the screening material shall be one foot more than the height of the enclosed structure, but shall not be required to exceed 12 feet in height. Whenever a service structure is located next to a building wall, perimeter landscaping material or vehicular use area landscaping material, such walls or screening material may fulfill the screening requirement for that side of the service structure if that wall or screening material is of sufficient height to meet the height requirement set out in this section. Plant material used to screen a service structure shall be an evergreen species which retains its needles throughout the year. Deciduous plant material cannot be used to fulfill this screening requirement. The height of the evergreen plant material at installation must be equal to, or greater than, two-thirds of the height of the service structure(s), and meet the height and opacity requirements within four years. No interior landscaping shall be required within an area screened for service structures.
(2) Curbs to protect screening material. Whenever screening material is placed around any trash disposal unit or waste collection unit which is emptied or removed mechanically on a regularly occurring basis, a curb to contain the placement of the container shall be provided within the screening material on these sides where there is such material. The curbing shall be at least one foot from the material and shall be designed to prevent possible damage to the screening when the container is moved or emptied.
(D) Additional Site Landscaping Requirements. All new developments, regardless of type, and all alterations or expansions to existing developments, shall provide site landscaping in addition to any previously required perimeter landscaping. Site landscaping shall consist primarily of new tree planting or the preservation of existing trees or hedges within the development site.
(1) Preservation of wooded areas. Efforts shall be made to preserve natural vegetation areas. Streets, lots, structures and parking areas shall be designed to avoid the unnecessary destruction of heavily wooded areas or outstanding tree specimens. Whenever possible, heavily wooded areas may be designated as park reserves. (Refer to §§ 153.140 - 153.148 Tree Preservation.)
(2) Site planting requirements.
(a) Purpose. It is the purpose of this section to provide landscaping to enhance the appearance and customer attraction of commercial and industrial areas, to enhance the architectural character and aesthetics of residential neighborhoods, and to enhance the beauty of the city. This section pertains to additional landscaping located around the building and other portions of the site. It does not include landscape material that has been provided to fulfill the planting requirements for interior landscaping, vehicular use area perimeters, property perimeters, and street trees.
(b) For all new development the following landscape requirements shall apply:
Use | Requirement |
R-4, R-10, R-12, and PUD Districts | There shall be tree plantings equal to one-inch in tree trunk size for every 300 square feet or fraction thereof in ground coverage by a multi-family structure. |
Business and Community Shopping (per lot) | There shall be landscaped areas equal to 2% of the building ground coverage area, or fraction thereof. Landscaped areas shall contain trees, planting beds, hedges, fences, walls, earth mounds, benches or other materials designed and located in a manner complementary to the architecture of surrounding buildings. |
Office - Institutional | There shall be tree plantings equal to one inch in tree size for every 1,500 square feet of building ground coverage, or fraction thereof. |
Industrial | There shall be tree plantings equal to one inch in tree size for every 2,000 square feet of building ground coverage, or fraction thereof. |
Use | Requirement |
Single-Family | Front yard trees are required on every single family lot at the quantity and size specified in the following table. The trees to be planted shall be an approved front yard tree as listed in Appendix H (Approved Front Yard Trees for Dublin, Ohio) and have a minimum truck caliper of no less than 2 inches. Trees shall be located in front of or along any front-facing facade of the home, no closer than three feet to a side property line. Corner and through lots shall meet these requirements on all street frontages. |
Lot Width | Front Building Setback | Tree Size and Quantity |
Up to 59.9 feet | Less than 20 feet | 1 small tree |
20 feet or more | 1 medium tree | |
60-90.9 feet | Less than 20 feet | 1 medium tree plus 1 small tree |
20 feet or more | 1 large tree plus 1 medium tree | |
91 feet or more | Less than 20 feet | 1 large tree plus 2 trees of any size |
20 feet or more | 2 large tree plus 1 tree of any size |
(c) Parking lots: See division (B) of this section.
(d) New tree plantings shall not be required if the aggregate trunk sizes of existing trees meet or exceed the requirements set forth in this chapter and providing that the trees are evenly distributed throughout the developed area and not confined either to dense clusters or to the perimeter of the developed area. A tree preservation plan to include location of tree fencing, fertilization and pruning techniques, and utility placement must be submitted. The minimum tree size for existing trees shall be no less than two inches in trunk diameter. Trees to be preserved shall be subject to review by the Director of Land Use and Long Range Planning or a designee.
(Ord. 13-81, passed 5-18-81)
(Ord. 46-97, passed 5-5-97; Am. Ord. 95-96, passed 10-5-98; Am. Ord. 59-03, passed 11-3-03; Am. Ord. 40-07, passed 7-2-07)
The planting of street trees shall be required at the time a parcel is developed or redeveloped, in all zoning districts, and in accordance with the following regulations.
(Ord. 66-93, passed 9-20-93)
(A) Requirements for trees located on city-owned public property. The following are requirements for the planting, pruning and removal of trees within city-owned property. For the purposes of this section, city-owned property shall include all public ways, streets, alleys, parks or other property owned by the Municipality.
(1) Requirements. It shall be required that all subdividers or developers plant trees along public streets of their developments in such a manner, type, quantity and location as approved by the Planning and Zoning Commission and as defined by the following conditions, and that any undeveloped street or existing street with undeveloped frontage shall conform to these requirements at the time of the development. Final tree locations may be adjusted by the city as unusual conditions may warrant.
(a) The tree to be planted shall be an approved street tree as listed in Appendix E (Approved Street Trees for Dublin, Ohio).
(b) The minimum spacing between this and other trees shall be 40 feet for large trees, 30 feet for medium trees and 20 feet for small trees. See definition below.
(c) The maximum spacing between trees shall be 45 feet for large trees, 35 feet for medium trees, and 25 feet for small trees. Spacing may be adjusted for columnar trees, as approved by City Forestry Division.
(c) The maximum spacing between trees shall be 45 feet for large trees, 35 feet for medium trees, and 25 feet for small trees. Spacing may be adjusted for columnar trees, as approved by City Forestry Division.
(d) Size and spacing of street trees shall be designed to emphasize neighborhood individuality, highlight the importance of intersections and pedestrian facilities, and complement the size and massing of surrounding architecture as noted in the Neighborhood Design Guidelines.
(e) The minimum distance between the tree and the edge of the street shall be two and one-half feet for a large tree, two feet for a medium tree and one and one-half feet for a small tree. In areas where a sidewalk exists or is proposed, the minimum distance between the tree trunk and both the edge of the street and the sidewalks shall be two feet for a large tree, two feet for a medium tree and one and one-half feet for a small tree.
(f) The tree location shall be at least 20 feet from street intersections and ten feet from fire hydrants or utility poles.
(g) A small tree shall be used when planting under or within ten lateral feet of overhead utility wires. A small or medium tree shall be used when planting within ten to 20 lateral feet of overhead utility wires.
(h) The developers shall be required to maintain the trees for one year after the trees are planted and to replace any tree which fails to survive or does not exhibit normal growth characteristics of health and vigor within such one-year period. A one-year guarantee period shall begin at each planting and shall recommence as trees are replaced. Upon completion of a street tree planting, the landscape contractor shall contact the Division of Planning and City Forester for a preliminary inspection. The guarantee period shall begin after the approval of the Division of Planning and City Forester. A final inspection shall be made at the end of the guarantee period. All trees not exhibiting a healthy, vigorous growing condition, as determined by the city's inspection, shall be promptly replaced at the expense of the developer.
(i) The trees should be of one and the same genus and species planted continuously down each street as per street tree ordinance.
(j) The minimum trunk caliper measured at six inches above the ground for all street trees shall be no less than two and one-half inches.
(B) Tree topping. No person shall, as a normal practice, top any tree within the public right-of-way. Topping is defined as the severe cutting back of limbs to stubs larger than three inches in diameter within the tree's crown to such a degree so as to remove the normal canopy and disfigure the tree.
(C) Height of limbs over sidewalks and streets. Tree limbs extending over a sidewalk shall be trimmed to such an extent that no portion of the same shall be less than seven feet above the sidewalks. Tree limbs extending over streets shall be trimmed to such an extent that no portion of the same shall interfere with the normal flow of traffic.
(D) Municipal rights. The municipality shall have the right to plant, prune, maintain and remove trees, plants and shrubs within the lines of all streets, alleys, avenues, lanes and other public grounds as may be necessary to insure public safety or to preserve or enhance the environmental quality and beauty of such public grounds. A public tree permit shall be obtained prior to commencement of work. The City Forester or other Municipal Officer may cause or order to be removed any tree or part thereof which is in an unsafe condition or which by reason of its nature is injurious to sewers, electric power lines, gas lines, water lines or other public improvements, or is, affected with any planting of street trees by adjacent property owners provided that the selection and location.
(E) Reducing treelawn. No person shall by any type of construction reduce the size of a treelawn without first procuring permission from the Division of Planning.
(F) Violations. A person who removes, damages or causes to be removed a public tree from the treelawn or other public place without a Public Tree Permit shall be subject to the provisions and penalties of § 131.08 of the Codified Ordinances of Dublin and/or shall be required to remove and replace the tree with a tree of like caliper as approved by the municipality.
(G) Permit requirements.
(1) No person, contractor or city department shall hereafter plant, remove, prune, or treat with growth inhibiting measures, any tree or shrub upon any public way, street, alley, park, or other property owned by the city, without obtaining a public tree permit from the city or in the case of municipal park land, a public tree permit shall be issued by the Director of Buildings and Grounds. A public tree permit shall specify the number of trees or shrubs, size, type, species, and location to be planted, pruned or removed.
(2) The City Manager or an appropriate designee shall have the authority to deny a permit to any person or contractor, who proposes to plant any tree or shrub upon a public way, street, alley, park or other property owned by the city, of a size, type or species determined to be undesirable for the proposed location, or if the location is determined to be unsuitable.
(3) Public tree permits shall be valid for a maximum period of 60 days, unless otherwise specified. All work approved by the permit shall be completed in the time specified by the permit and in the manner described. Permits shall be considered void if the terms are violated. If the work to be performed is in a city-owned right-of-way, an additional permit is required from the City Engineer to work in a public right-of-way.
(4) Public tree permits shall be administered by the City Forester. Each location subject to a public tree permit shall be field inspected by the City Forester or Landscape Planner prior to approval or rejection. All permits for pruning of public trees shall show conformance with the National Arborist Association Pruning Standards For Shade Trees.
(5) Utility companies shall provide written evidence to the City Forester, of adherence to established guidelines (as recommended by the National Arborists Association) for line clearance work. These guidelines shall cover the following areas:
(a) Tree trimming/pruning.
(b) Tree removal
(c) Brushing.
(d) Right-of-way clearance for new transmission conductor on private right-of-way.
(e) Chemical brush control and appropriate precautions.
(H) Removal, replanting and replacement in public places.
(1) Wherever it is necessary to remove a tree(s) or shrub(s) from a treelawn or other public place, as defined, in connection with the paving of a sidewalk, or the paving or widening of a portion of a street, alley, or highway used for vehicular traffic, or any other reason, the city shall endeavor to remove and replant such trees or shrubs, or replace them. No tree over 12 inches in caliper or 30 years in age shall be removed without prior review by the Tree and Landscape Advisory Commission.
(2) No person or adjacent property owner shall remove a tree or shrub from the city-owned treelawn, or other public place, as defined, for any purpose.
(I) Abuse or mutilation of public trees.
(1) Unless specifically authorized by the City Manager or an appropriate designee, no person shall intentionally damage, cut, carve, transplant, or remove any tree or shrub; attach any rope, wire, nails, advertising posters, or other contrivance to any tree or shrub, allow any gaseous liquid, or solid substance which is harmful to such trees or shrubs to come-in contact with them; or set fire or permit fire to burn when such fire or the heat thereof will injure any portion of any tree or shrub.
(2) No person shall excavate any ditches, tunnels, trenches, or install a driveway or sidewalk within a radius or ten feet from the trunk of any public tree or shrub without first obtaining written approval from the City Forester.
(J) Public tree care.
(1) The city shall have the right to plant, prune, maintain and remove trees, plants and shrubs or portions thereof within the rights-of-way of all streets, alleys, avenues, lanes, and other public grounds, as may be necessary to insure public safety or to preserve or enhance the health of the plant material or the beauty of such public grounds.
(2) The City Manager or an appropriate designee may remove or cause or order to be removed, any tree or part thereof which is in an unsafe condition or which by reasons of its nature is injurious to sewers, electric power lines, gas lines, water lines, or other public improvements, or is affected with any injurious fungus, insect or other pest. This section does not prohibit the planting of street trees by adjacent property owners providing that the permission of the City Forester or Landscape Planner or designee has been granted.
(3) The city shall have the right to enter private property to access trees adjacent to public areas for the purposes of proper pruning, after reasonable prior notice has been given to the property owner. To insure that street trees thrive, homeowners are encouraged to confer with the City Forester and water the trees as needed.
(K) Dead or diseased tree removal on private property. The city shall have the right to cause the removal of any dead or diseased tree(s) located on private property within the city and/or cause the removal of branches of trees located on private property within the city which overhang public property, when such trees constitute a hazard to life and property, or harbor an epiphytotic disease which constitutes a potential threat to other trees within the city. The City Manager or an appropriate designee shall notify, in writing, the owners of such trees. Removal shall be done by such owners at their own expense within 60 days after the date of service of written notice, unless a longer period is agreed to in writing by the City Manager or a designee, to allow time to attempt to treat and cure a salvageable diseased tree. In the event of failure of owners to comply with such provisions, the city shall have the authority to remove any such tree(s) and charge the cost of removal to the owner's property tax notice.
(L) Removal of stumps. All stumps of street and park trees shall be removed 12 inches below the surface of the ground. Stumps shall be removed or ground at the site. All residual material shall be removed from the site at the time the tree is removed and the site shall be restored as approved in the public tree.
(M) Arborist license and bond. It shall be unlawful for any person or contractor to act as an arborist in the business or occupation of pruning, treating, or removing street or park trees within the city without first applying for and securing an arborist license. The license fee shall be $25 annually in advance; provided, however, that no license shall be required of any public service or utility company or city employee doing such work on an emergency basis. Before any license shall be issued, each applicant shall first file evidence of possession of liability insurance in the minimum amounts of $50,000 for bodily injury and $100,000 property damage indemnifying the city or any person injured or damaged resulting from the pursuit of such endeavors as herein described. (Ord. 08-91, passed 7-15-91)
(Ord. 46-97, passed 5-5-97; Am. Ord. 59-03, passed 11-3-03; Am. Ord. 05-23, passed 3-27-23)
The landscaping materials shall consist of the following and are described in more detail in the plant list on file at the municipal building. The proposed landscape materials should complement the form of the existing trees and plantings, as well as the development's general design and architecture. The type of shade or sun should be considered in selecting plant materials.
(A) Walls and fences. To comply with the existing wall and fence ordinance, for any proposed new building, residential or otherwise, where stone fencing exists, such stone fencing shall be retained and improved as part of the approved landscaping.
(B) Earth mounds. Earth mounds shall be physical barriers which block or screen the view similar to a hedge, fence or wall. Mounds shall be constructed with proper and adequate plant material to prevent erosion. A difference in elevation between areas requiring screening does not constitute an existing earth mound and shall not be considered as fulfilling any screening requirement. Where mounds are to be mowed, the maximum permitted slope is 3:1.
(C) Plants. Artificial plants are prohibited. All plant materials shall be living plants and shall meet the following requirements:
(1) Quality. Plant materials used in conformance with provisions of this chapter shall be nursery grown in accordance with good horticultural practices, grown under climatic conditions similar to those in Central Ohio, shall conform to the standards of the American Association of Nurserymen and shall have passed any inspections required under state regulations. In addition, trees shall be free of disease, insects and/or damage, and shall be correctly labeled indicating genus, species and cultivar. All trees must be transported to/in Dublin from the nursery or holding area in a covered fashion to protect the tree from wind damage.
(2) Deciduous trees. Trees which normally shed their leaves in the fall, shall be species having an average mature crown spread of greater then 15 feet in central Ohio and having trunks which can be maintained with over five feet of clear wood in areas which have visibility requirements, except at vehicular use area intersections where eight foot clear wood requirements shall control. Trees having an average mature spread of crown less than 15 feet may be substituted by grouping of the same as to create the equivalent of a 15 foot crown spread. A minimum of ten feet overall height or a minimum caliper, trunk diameter measured six inches above ground for trees up to four inches caliper of at least one and three-fourths inches immediately after planting shall be required. Trees of species whose roots are known to cause damage to public roadways or other public works shall not be planted closer than 15 feet to such public works, unless the tree root system is completely contained within a barrier for which the minimum interior containing dimensions shall be five feet square and five feet deep and for which the construction requirements shall be four inch thick, reinforced concrete.
(3) Prohibited trees. Shall be those currently listed in Appendix E of the Dublin Planning and Zoning Code.
(4) Evergreen trees. Evergreen trees shall be a minimum of five feet high with a minimum caliper of one and one-half inches immediately after planting.
(6) Vines. Shall be at least 12 or 15 inches high at planting, and are generally used in conjunction with walls or fences.
(7) Grass or ground cover. Grass of the fescue (Gramineae) or bluegrass (Poaceae) family shall be planted in species normally grown as permanent lawns in Central Ohio, and may be sodded or seeded; except in swales or other areas subject to erosion, where solid sod, erosion reducing net, or suitable mulch shall be used, nurse-grass seed shall be sown for immediate protection until complete coverage otherwise is achieved. Grass sod shall be clean and free of weeks and noxious pests or diseases. Ground cover shall be planted in such a manner as to present a finished appearance and 75% of complete coverage after complete growing seasons, with a maximum of eight inches on center. In certain cases, ground cover also may consist of rocks, pebbles, sand and similar approved materials.
(D) Maintenance and installation. All landscaping materials shall be installed in accordance with accepted, good construction and planting procedures. The owner of the property shall be responsible for the continued proper maintenance of all landscaping materials, and shall keep them in a proper, neat and orderly appearance, free from refuse and debris at all times. All unhealthy or dead plant material shall be replaced within one year, or by the next planting period, whichever comes first; while other defective landscape material shall be replaced or repaired within three months. Violation of these installation and maintenance provisions shall be grounds for the Planning Division to refuse zoning compliance or institute legal proceedings.
(Ord. 13-81, passed 5-18-81)
(E) Pruning and growth inhibitors. Landscaping materials used to fulfill code requirements, or conditions of approval, as authorized by City Council, Planning and Zoning Commission, Board of Zoning Appeals, Architectural Review Board or other appropriate body may not be pruned or otherwise treated so as to reduce overall height or level of opacity required. Landscape materials are intended to grow, spread and mature over time; and pruning and other inhibiting measures including removal may only be practiced to insure the public safety, to maintain a neat and attractive appearance and to preserve the relative health of the material involved. The use of growth inhibitors is not permitted to be used on any plant material used to fulfill code requirements or conditions of approval.
(Ord. 88-89, passed 11-6-89)
(F) Any individual found violating § 153.135 shall be guilty of a misdemeanor of the second degree per tree or other planting.
(Ord. 46-97, passed 5-5-97)
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