The following general standards shall apply to all landscaping requirements in this subchapter.
(A) Design. Unless otherwise specified, the exact placement of required plants and structures shall be the decision of the developer. The type of plants used shall be limited to those on the approved “species list” which shall be published and revised from time to time by the Land Use Administrator. Required landscaping shall be designed in such a manner as to impart its aesthetic character when viewed from any area accessible to the public or from adjacent properties.
(B) Plant material. Plant materials used for installation shall conform to the standards established by the American Association of Nurserymen in the “American Standard for Nursery Stock,” for each type (i.e., canopy tree, shrub, etc.) with minimum size as appropriate for the minimum caliper size designated in the approved species list. Grass sod, when made a part of a buffer, must be healthy, clean, and reasonably free of weeds, noxious pests, or diseases.
(C) Installation. All landscaping/screening shall be installed in a sound, workmanlike manner and according to accepted good planting procedures with the quantity and quality of plant materials as described. All elements of landscaping shall be installed so as to meet all other applicable ordinances and code requirements.
(D) Maintenance. The owner, occupant, tenant, and the respective agent of each, if any, shall be jointly and severally responsible for the maintenance of all buffers and landscaping. Buffers and landscaping shall be maintained in a good condition to present a healthy, neat, and orderly appearance at least equal to the original installation and shall be kept free from refuse and debris. Dead vegetation and landscaping material shall be promptly replaced with healthy, living plantings. Evergreen hedges shall be trimmed annually or as needed to provide a full visual screen and, in any event, shall not be allowed to exceed eight feet in height without written approval of the Land Use Administrator.
(E) Walls and fences. Any walls used for screening or as part of a buffer shall be constructed in a durable fashion of brick, stone, or other masonry materials. When concrete block is utilized, it shall be finished with stucco on both sides. Wood posts and planks or metal or other materials specifically designed as fencing materials may be approved by the Land Use Administrator for use in a Type C Buffer. Other materials may also be considered through the alternative buffer and screening process described in § 152.172. No more than 10% of the surface of a fence or wall shall be left open, and the finished side of the fence or wall shall face the abutting property. A chain link fence may not be used to satisfy the requirements of this subchapter.
(F) Overhead utilities. Landscaping plans, including plant spacing and species selection shall be such that landscaping required under this subchapter does not conflict with overhead utilities.
(G) Species diversity. When the total number of trees required under the provisions of this subchapter equals 20 or more, then no single tree species shall comprise more than 25% of the trees planted on the development site.
(Ord. passed 10-1-07)