The Commission must use the following design guidelines to evaluate proposed landscaping plans:
a. Landscape improvements should integrate the project to the site and surrounding context, with particular sensitivity to the natural topography, watercourses, and existing vegetation. Preservation of the existing landscape material and land forms should be taken into account, particularly where mature trees are a part of the site. Depending on the context, landscaping should either offer a visual and physical connection or separation between land uses.
b. Landscaping design should have a natural aesthetic while having proportion, balance, unity, variety of species, and variety of color throughout the seasons, and consist of associations of plants with similar climate, water, soil, sun exposure and maintenance needs.
c. The best professional practices of the American Society of Landscape Architects and Indiana Nursery & Landscape Association are mandatory and incorporated into this ordinance. In addition, guidelines proposed and referenced through the Sustainable Sites Initiative should be utilized.
d. Landscaping should provide drifts and massing of plants with varying texture, color, and forms to offset the mass of a building and to provide a visual relief to the straight lines of building architecture, parking lots and other man-made features.
e. Landscaping should reduce the intrusion of headlights and other glare and provide a safety barrier between vehicles and pedestrians. Landscape planting design must be designed to accommodate snow removal by providing appropriate setbacks and storage space.
f. Landscaping should screen the view of utilities or mechanical equipment. Existing site features within a required landscape zone which do not function to meet the standards of the required landscape zone must be screened from the view of other properties or removed, as determined during review of a site plan or landscape plan.
g. If landscaping is used to screen service yards, utility meters and hardware, overhead doors, mechanical equipment, dumpster enclosures, and/or other potentially unattractive places from public view, landscape materials must be planted in a natural type configuration and be equally effective in all seasons.
h. Landscaping should shade seating, walking, and outdoor activity areas, shield buildings from winter wind and summer sun so as to conserve energy and should not interfere with clear access to the sun where solar energy collection is anticipated.
i. Landscaping should provide a natural habitat for birds and other animal life and should preserve existing natural vegetation and other natural features (unless prohibited by building use and other agency restrictions).
j. Landscapes should be designed to encourage the minimum use of water, inorganic fertilizers, herbicides, and pesticides in the development and long-term maintenance of landscapes.
k. Irrigation systems may be required for certain landscaped areas, as determined by a landscape architect. The need for sprinkler irrigation systems is determined by the type of plant material and the condition/growing medium that they are installed in. All irrigation systems must be designed to minimize the use of water.
l. The Town Engineer must review all earth berm locations to determine how the berms relate to drainage and public utilities. Berms may not exceed a maximum slope of 3:1.
m. An appropriate sight triangle must be maintained at all intersections and entryways to negate the impact of visual obstructions.
n. Nothing may be planted or installed within an underground or overhead utility easement or any other easement without the consent of the Town and/or the appropriate utility.
(Ord. No. 2021-30, § 1, 11-10-21)