(A) Intent.
(1) The requirements set forth in this section are intended to qualify and supplement the district regulations. Landscaping requirements shall be provided for an improved aesthetic quality of development, a visual barrier to partially or completely screen the view of structures or activities or as an acoustic screen to aid in absorbing or deflecting noise.
(2) Landscape plans and requirements shall apply to all developments:
(a) In the R-4, O, CBD, OP, BP, PUD and all “B” zoning districts;
(b) In “M” zoning districts fronting an arterial street (front and corner side yard only);
(c) Requiring a development plan;
(d) Requiring parking lot landscaping; and
(e) When specified by this chapter.
(B) Landscape plan.
(1) A landscape plan must be submitted to the Planning and Zoning Office for approval. The plan may be submitted and approved following the issuance of a zoning clearance/building permit, however, a specified date for submission shall be agreed upon in writing at the time the zoning clearance permit is issued. Staff may also require that a bond be filed for all required landscape improvements. This plan shall be drawn to scale and include the following information:
(a) Property owner’s name, address and telephone number;
(b) Landscape designer’s and/or contractor’s name, address and telephone number, if such has been hired;
(c) Existing and proposed structures;
(d) Parking areas and driveways;
(e) Walkways;
(f) Location of existing trees or wooded areas (showing trees over 8 caliper inches diameter at breast height (d.b.h.); tree groupings may be shown as a mass with a general range of tree sizes); (Plan shall indicate those existing trees or wooded areas that will be preserved.)
(g) General type (evergreen, deciduous, shade or ornamental tree, shrub, hedge, groundcover and the like), location, size at planting or placement and number of all plant material to be installed; and
(h) Type and location of all other landscape materials, both natural and man-made.
(2) The planning staff may request other information as may be deemed necessary for review and approval of the landscape plan.
(C) Areas to be landscaped.
(1) (a) All areas within the development portion of a lot not occupied by buildings, parking and other paved areas and permanent water features shall be landscaped and maintained. Within a front or corner side yard, landscaping shall consist of any combination of canopy and/or ornamental trees, shrubs and ground cover with:
1. At least 1 canopy or ornamental tree per 4,000 square feet of yard area for the first 25,000 square feet; and
2. One additional canopy or ornamental tree per 6,000 square feet of yard area above 25,000 square feet.
(b) Within “M” zoning districts these requirements shall be limited to those yards fronting on arterial streets.
(c) Those streets designated as arterial streets shall include the functional classification map housed at the Department of Public Works and Utilities: Baldwin Street, Beardsley Avenue, Beham Avenue, Bristol Street, Bypass Road, California Road, Cassopolis Street, County Road 1, County Road 3, County Road 4, County Road 5, County Road 6, County Road 7, County Road 9, County Road 10, County Road 11, County Road 12, County Road 13, County Road 15, County Road 17, County Road 20, Edwardsburg Avenue, Elkhart Avenue, Franklin Street, Goshen Avenue, Jackson Boulevard, Jefferson Street, Johnson Street, Hammond Avenue, Harrison Street, High Street, Hively Avenue, Indiana Avenue, Jeanwood Drive, John Weaver Parkway, Johnson Street, Lexington Avenue, Lusher Avenue, Main Street, MacDonald Street, Marion Street, Michigan Street, Middlebury Street, Middleton Run Road, Mishawaka Road, Mishawaka Street, Nappanee Street, Oakland Avenue, Old US 20, Osolo Road, Prairie Street, Richmond Street, Second Street, State Road 19, State Road 120, Sterling Avenue, Third Street, Tipton Street, Toledo Road, Vistula Street, Washington Street and Waterfall Drive.
(2) Areas as described in the zoning district regulations.
(3) Parking areas shall be screened according to § 151.231(C)(1) of this chapter.
(4) Roadway right-of-ways shall be landscaped with grass and trees as per city standards. No walls, fences, signs or hedges shall be permitted in a right-of-way without the approval of the Board of Public Works. Landscaping shall not impede visual clearance according to § 151.229 of this chapter.
(5) Retention ponds located in front yards or other areas visible to the public, either from within the site or from the street, shall be free-form (curvilinear) in shape and incorporated into the overall landscape design for the site. Architectural shapes consistent with the site and building design may be used with the approval of the planning staff.
(6) All dumpsters visible from public right-of-ways or an adjacent property shall be screened on at least three sides with an opaque wall or fence that is architecturally compatible with the primary facility on the property consisting of the same material and color scheme as is found on the majority of the exterior of the primary structure on the property. In addition, gates shall be provided if dumpsters are visible from the public right-of-way, an adjacent property, or areas of the site open to the public. Gates shall consist of an opaque material, and shall not be constructed of chain link with tinted slats or other weaved material.
(7) Storage areas for materials, equipment and vehicles shall be located behind the front or corner side building facade. All storage areas located on properties containing business uses(s) that are visible from the property line shall be screened. The screening material shall be 100% opaque and shall include fencing, retaining walls, plant material or a combination thereof. In addition, loading docks and mechanical equipment shall be screened from public view.
(D) Landscape materials. Landscaping materials selected shall be appropriate to local growing and climatic conditions. Wherever possible, existing trees should be conserved and integrated into the landscaping plan. Landscape materials may be used in any combination unless otherwise specified and include the following:
(1) Plant material.
(a) Trees or existing wooded areas. Minimum sizes are:
1. Deciduous canopy trees: 2-1/2” d.b.h.
2. Ornamental trees: 2” d.b.h.
3. Evergreen trees: 6’ in height.
(b) Shrubs or hedges; (Shrubs shall have a minimum height of 24 inches unless otherwise specified.)
(c) Ground cover, including grass; and
(d) Vines.
(2) Other landscape materials.
(a) Boulders, rocks or mulch (including stone, pebbles, sand or bark) limited to walks, paths, seating areas, planting beds and around individual plants; (When used in planting beds or around individual trees shall not exceed 20% of the total square footage of the landscaped area.)
(b) Berms;
(c) Lakes, ponds, streams or fountains\;
(d) Ornamental fences or masonry walls, architecturally compatible with surrounding development; and
(e) Patios, decks, trellises and other similar landscape features.
(3) Prohibited species.
Large Shade Trees | ||
Botanic Name | Common Name | Primary issue/Concern |
Large Shade Trees | ||
Botanic Name | Common Name | Primary issue/Concern |
Acer negundo | Box Elder | Susceptible to Asian Longhorn Beetle |
Acer nigrum | Black Maple | Susceptible to Asian Longhorn Beetle |
Acer platanoides | Norway Maple | Susceptible to Asian Longhorn Beetle, general decline |
Acer saccharinum | Silver Maple | Susceptible to Asian Longhorn Beetle, weak branches |
Aesculus flava | Yellow Buckeye | Susceptible to Asian Longhorn Beetle |
Aesculus glabra | Ohio Buckeye | Susceptible to Asian Longhorn Beetle |
Aesculus hippocastanum1 | Common Horsechestnut | Susceptible to Asian Longhorn Beetle |
Ailanthus altissima | Tree of Heaven | DNR invasive list |
Betula papyrifera | Paper Birch | Susceptible to Asian Longhorn Beetle |
Betula populifolia | Grey Birch | Susceptible to Asian Longhorn Beetle |
Chionanthus retusus | White Fringetree | Susceptible to Emerald Ash Borer |
Chionanthus virginicus | Chinese Fringetree | Susceptible to Emerald Ash Borer |
Diospyros virginiana | Persimmon | Messy fruit |
Elaegnus angustifolia | Russian Olive | Invasive |
Elaegnus umbellata | Autumn Olive | DNR invasive list |
Fraxinus spp. | White, Green, Black Ash | Susceptible to Emerald Ash Borer |
Ginkgo biloba2 | Ginkgo | Messy fruit |
Lonicera spp. | Honeysuckle | Invasive |
Maclura pomifera | Osage orange/Hedge apple | Large fruit |
Malus spp.3 | Apples | Messy fruit |
Morus spp. | Mulberry | Messy fruit, invasive |
Populus deltoides | Cottonwood | Large leaf litter, pollen allergy |
Pyrus spp. | Pears (including ornamentals) | Messy fruit, weak branches |
Rhamnus cathartica | Common Buckthorn | Invasive |
Rhamnus frangula | European Buckthorn | Invasive |
Robinia spp. | Black locust | Invasive |
Salix alba | White Willow | Susceptible to Asian Longhorn Beetle |
Salix alba x matsudana | Hybrid Austree | Fast growing, weak limbs |
Salix babylonica | Weeping Willow | Susceptible to Asian Longhorn Beetle |
Salix nigra | Black Willow | Susceptible to Asian Longhorn Beetle |
Tilia cordata | Littleleaf Linden | Susceptible to Japanese Beetles |
Ulmus spp.4 | Elms | Susceptible to Dutch Elm Disease; Asian Longhorn Beetle |
Shrubs | ||
Botanic Name | Common Name | Primary Issue/Concern |
Euonymus alatus | Burning Bush | Invasive |
Berberis vulgaris | European Barberry | Invasive, thorny |
Berberis thunbergii | Japanese Barberry | Invasive, thorny |
1 Excluding Aesculus x carnea 'Briotii' 2 Including all female varieties; excluding male varieties such as G. biloba 'Colonnade', 'Halka', 'The President', 'Autumn Gold', and 'Princeton Sentry' 3 Excluding crabapples or ornamental types that don't produce large fruit 4 Excluding hybrids and cultivars with excellent resistance to Dutch Elm Disease and phloem necrosis | ||
(E) Landscaping installation and maintenance.
(1) All landscaped areas shall be maintained to the standard to which they were designed and installed. Areas shall be maintained free of trash and weeds and shall not deteriorate into an unsafe condition.
(2) Whenever landscape screening is required adjacent to parking areas or driveways, such landscaping shall be protected by bumper blocks, posts or curbing to avoid damage to landscaping by vehicles.
(3) All approved landscaping plans shall be installed during the first planting season after the start of any construction in the development, unless otherwise required by the Planning and Zoning Office.
(F) Figures. Pursuant to Ord. 4762, passed 8-1-2003 the following figures are hereby incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein:
(1) Figure 26A; and
(2) Figure 26B.
(1979 Code, § 151.186) (Ord. 4370, passed 7-20-1998; Am. Ord. 4683, passed 7-1-2002; Am. Ord. 4762, passed 8-1-2003; Am. Ord. 5618, passed 9-11-2017) Penalty, see §
151.999