§ 17.8.415 GENERAL STANDARDS.

   A.   Non-invasive native vegetation is encouraged to be used for all landscaping except within 100 feet of a natural resource area. In such situations, native vegetation is required.

   B.   Installation of bio-swales or preservation of wetlands should be located where possible in landscaped areas.

   C.   Required landscaping adjacent to public rights-of-way. A strip of land at least five feet in width located between the abutting right-of-way and the off-street parking area or vehicle use area which is exposed to an abutting right-of-way, except in required vision clearance areas.

   D.   Perimeter landscaping relating to abutting properties. On the site of a building or structure or open lot  use providing an off-street parking area or other vehicular use area, where such areas will not be entirely screened visually by an intervening building or structure from abutting property, a five-foot landscaped strip shall be between the common lot line and the off-street parking area or other vehicular use area exposed to abutting property. Landscaped areas should include where possible water quality features such as bio-swales or wetlands , trees , grass, shrubs and other plant material so as to cover the landscape area.

   E.   Parking area interior landscaping. Landscaped areas shall be appropriately distributed to break up large expanses of pavement, improve the appearance and climate of the site , improve safety and delineate pedestrian walkways and traffic lanes. Except for industrial development within industrial zones, the following interior landscaping shall be met.

      1.   Percentage approach. For the purpose of this section, INTERIOR PARKING LOT AREA is defined as the hard surface parking area (parking stalls and aisles ). Such area does not include loading and unloading zones or perimeter landscaping around the lot . Where perimeter landscaping intrudes into the parking lot four or more feet, that area is included in both the interior parking lot area and interior parking lot landscaping.

Figure 8-7: Parking Lot Landscaping

      2.   A required landscaped area shall have a minimum interior dimension of six feet and be no less than 48 square feet in area.

      3.   At least 8% of the Interior Parking Lot Area shall be landscaped. Landscaped areas may include water quality features such as bio-swales or wetlands , trees , grass, shrubs and other plant material so as to cover the landscape area.

      4.   One tree shall be required for every 1,600 square feet of interior parking lot area as defined in subsection 1. above. Trees shall have a minimum two-inch caliper and six-foot branch height at time of planting.

      5.   Interior parking area landscaping and trees must be dispersed throughout the parking area. Some trees may be grouped, but the groups must be dispersed. Required trees may be planted within five feet of the edges of the parking area.

      6.   Perimeter landscaping area may not substitute for interior landscaping. However, interior landscaping may join perimeter landscaping as long as it extends four feet or more into the parking area from the perimeter landscape line.

(Ord. 2009-01, passed 3-9-2009; Ord. 2013-3, passed 5-22-2013)