(a) The intent of this section is to set forth minimum standards for landscaping. Landscaped areas are intended to maintain or improve air quality, stabilize soils, increase groundwater infiltration, decrease wind velocity, reduce noise, and create zones of privacy.
(b) For site plans requiring Planning Commission review, buffer strips shall be required where an industrial use abuts any other nonindustrial use or where any parking lot exceeding fifteen parking spaces abuts residential, public, or religious use. Where a landscape buffer strip or greenbelt is required, the following minimum landscape requirements shall be observed.
(1) Two trees plus one additional tree for each twenty-five feet in length of the buffer strip measured along the outer periphery of the required landscape area.
(2) One shrub for every twenty feet in length of the buffer strip measured along the outer periphery of the required landscape area.
(3) All plantings in the buffer strip shall be maintained in a neat and orderly manner. Dead plant materials shall be replaced within a reasonable period of time but no longer than one growing season.
(c) Landscaping shall be located so it does not obstruct the vision of drivers or pedestrians entering or leaving a site.
(d) Parking area landscaping.
(1) All parking areas more than 5,000 square feet in area, except those parking areas for industrial uses which are located in the rear yard, shall be landscaped with one canopy and one evergreen tree for every ten parking spaces, with a minimum of two trees shall be planted, adjacent to the parking area.
(2) Landscape islands or peninsulas shall be installed at the end of those parking rows which are more than twenty spaces long. Within such rows a landscaped island shall be installed every twenty spaces.
(3) Landscape islands or peninsulas at the end of parking rows shall be a minimum of ten feet in width by the length of the parking space or spaces, with an appropriate curb radius. Islands within parking rows shall be a minimum of six feet wide by the length of the parking space or spaces. Islands shall be separated from the parking area by a rolled or stand-up curb.
(4) Each island or peninsula within a parking area shall contain a minimum of one canopy tree.
(5) Landscaping in and adjacent to parking areas shall be of a height and location which will not block the vision of drivers or pedestrians.
(e) Landscape modifications. The landscape requirements of this section may be modified by the Planning Commission or Zoning Administrator in consideration of existing trees on site, proposed building setbacks, existing and proposed uses on adjacent lands, topographical elevations on a site and on adjacent lands. In deciding whether to modify the landscape regulations of this section the Planning Commission or Zoning Administrator shall determine that the intent of the regulations will still be met if modifications are allowed.
(Ord. 182. Passed 5-12-98.)