(A) Detached single-family and two-family residential.
(1) Four trees per residential lot.
(2) Establish grass or groundcover within 6 months after the issuance of certificate of occupancy.
(B) Other than detached single-family and two-family residential.
(1) All open areas of a lot surrounding or within a principal or accessory use which are not used or improved for required parking areas, drives, or storage shall be landscaped with a combination of overstory trees, understory trees, shrubs, flowers, and groundcover materials within 1 year following the date of building occupancy.
(2) The minimum number of overstory trees shall not be less than the perimeter of the lot divided by 30. The minimum number of understory trees and shrubs shall not be less than the perimeter of the lot divided by 10.
(3) The city may require additional landscaping as necessary to provide adequate screening or to provide a complete quality landscape treatment of the site.
(4) In instances where healthy plant materials of acceptable species exist on-site prior to its development, the application of the standards in this subchapter may be adjusted by the city to allow credit for the material, provided that the adjustment is consistent with the intent of this chapter. The city may permit the seeding of areas reserved for future expansion of the development if consistent with the intent of this chapter.
(5) The city may waive some of the landscaping requirements of this chapter for developments in all zoning districts.
(C) Unless waived by the city, a Woodland Preservation Plan shall be submitted as per § 153.297 to assess the best possible layout to preserve significant trees and woodlands and to enhance the efforts to minimize damage to significant trees and woodlands. The applicant shall meet with city staff prior to submission of the development application or prior to application for the grading permit, whichever is sooner, to determine the most feasible and practical placement of buildings, parking, driveways, streets, storage, and other physical features in order that the least number of significant trees and woodlands are destroyed or damaged.
(D) All new overstory trees shall be balled and burlapped or removed from the growing site by a tree spade. Deciduous trees shall have a minimum caliper of 2-1/2 inches. Coniferous trees shall be a minimum of 6 feet in height. Ornamental trees shall have a minimum caliper of 1-1/2 inches.
(E) All site areas not covered by buildings, sidewalks, parking lots, driveways, patios, or similar hard surface materials shall be covered with sod or an equivalent groundcover approved by the city. This requirement shall not apply to site areas preserved in a natural state.
(F) In order to provide for adequate maintenance of landscaped areas, an underground sprinkler system shall be provided as part of each new development, except areas to be preserved in a natural state and private areas of detached one and two-family dwellings, and additions to existing structures that are equal to or less than the floor area of the existing structure.
(G) No more than 50% of the required number of trees shall be composed of 1 species. Due to various ecological and maintenance related concerns, no required tree shall be any of the following:
(1) A species of the genus (elm), except those bred to be immune to Dutch Elm Disease;
(2) Common Buckthorn;
(3) Russian Olive;
(4) Black Locust;
(5) Box-elder;
(6) Ash.
(7) Additional trees may be restricted from specific locations due to ecological and maintenance related issues. It is the responsibility of the landowner and/or applicant to confirm with the city whether or not a specific tree species is appropriate.
(Ord. 537, passed 11-8-2004; Am. Ord. 549, passed 5-22-2006; Am. Ord. 596, passed 2-8-2010)