(A) Applicability.
(1) New parking lots. All new parking lots with four or more spaces must comply with this section as illustrated in Figure 324-7.
Figure 324-7: Parking Lot Landscaping
(2) Non- conformities. An existing parking lot with four or more spaces non-conforming to this section must be brought into conformance to the extent possible when required by § 155.424.030 (Non-Conforming Site Features).
(B) Landscape materials. Except as otherwise specified in this section, 50% of required landscape area must be covered with groundcover, shrubs, turf or other types of plants at maturity. The remaining area may be covered by mulch, bark chip, crushed rock, pebbles, stone and similar non-plant materials.
(C) Interior parking lot landscaping.
(1) Amount of landscaping.
(a) All portions of a parking lot not occupied by a parking space, drive aisle, pedestrian way or trash collection and storage area must be landscaped.
(b) A minimum of one tree that reaches a mature height of at least 20 feet must be planted within the parking lot at a minimum ratio of one tree for each 15 parking spaces.
(c) When the calculation of required trees results in less than one tree (i.e., parking lots with fewer than 15 spaces), a minimum of one tree must be provided.
(D) Location of landscaping.
(1) Where space permits, a landscaped island, at least four feet in all interior dimensions, and containing at least one tree, must be provided at each end of each interior row of automobile parking stalls and between every eight consecutive automobile parking stalls. Horizontal curb surfaces may not be included in the landscaped island area calculation. Trees in landscape islands may count towards the required number of trees hereunder.
(2) Parking lots with more than 50 spaces must provide a concentration of landscape elements at primary parking lot entrances, such as trees, shrubs, flowering plants and enhanced paving.
(3) Landscaping must be located and designed so that pedestrians are not required to cross landscaped areas to reach building entrances from parked cars. This may be achieved through the orientation of the landscaped fingers and islands, and by providing dedicated pedestrian access through landscaped areas where needed.
(E) Perimeter parking lot landscaping.
(1) Adjacent to streets.
(a) Parking areas adjacent to a street must include a landscaped planting strip between the street and parking area at least four feet wide with at least 50% of the plant material attaining a minimum plant height at maturity of 36 inches. See § 155.324.060(K) (Screening) for when a low-profile wall or fence is required along the perimeter of a parking lot in addition to landscaping.
(b) Plantings and screening materials may include a combination of plant materials, earth berms, solid decorative masonry walls, raised planters, or other screening devices that are determined by the Director to meet the intent of this requirement.
(c) Trees must be provided within the planting strip at a rate of at least one tree for each 30 feet of street frontage with a minimum distance of not more than 60 feet between each tree. Tree species must reach a mature height of at least 20 feet. Planting strip tree requirements are in addition to required interior parking lot trees.
(d) Landscaping must comply with intersection and driveway vision clearance requirements in § 155.308.040 (Vision Clearance Area).
(2) Stormwater runoff. When required, parking lot drainage plans will be reviewed by the Public Works Director and must comply with all applicable Low Impact Development (LID) standards.
(F) Alternative landscape designs.
(1) The Director may approve an administrative adjustment to allow alternative landscape design that deviates from the requirement in this section.
(2) To approve an administrative adjustment for an alternative landscape design, the Director must make the findings in § 155.412.030(F) (Findings for Approval) and find that adjustments to landscape design requirements are warranted to provide relief for existing site constraints or to achieve a superior aesthetic or environmental design.
(Ord. 885-C.S., passed 5-21-19; Am. Ord. 902 C.-S., passed 8-18-20; Am. Ord. 916-C.S., passed 7-6-21; Am. Ord. 951-C.S., passed 10-17-23)