A. Purpose: The purpose of this section is to:
1. Provide a visual buffer and physical separation between land uses of varying intensities;
2. Reduce unwanted light, glare, and noise;
3. Enhance the visual appeal of Hayden;
4. Retain existing natural vegetation; and
5. Implement the goals and policies of the Comprehensive Plan.
The requirements of this section shall apply to new development; expansions of or alterations to existing uses; changes of use; and as required by other title of this code.
B. Prior to issuance of a building permit, a landscape and irrigation plan shall be submitted to the Community Development Department for review and approval by the City. The plan may be combined with the parking plan, civil plan, or architectural plan.
C. Maintenance: The continuing maintenance of any improvement required for compliance with any development or use standard of this title shall be required. This provision applies to:
1. Off-street parking and loading areas;
2. Improvements required for on-site stormwater treatment systems (grass swales);
3. Landscaped areas, including any required buffers; and
4 Any other improvement required for compliance with this title.
5. The maintenance of landscaped areas includes irrigation, maintenance of the irrigation system, and weed and pest control.
Any trees and shrubs used in the landscaping and screening of a zone or use shall be maintained in a healthy growing condition. The owner of the property shall bear primary responsibility for maintenance of landscaping. Dead or dying trees and shrubs shall be replaced within six months and the planting area shall be maintained reasonably free of weeds and trash.
If stormwater treatment areas (grass swales) are used in part to fulfill the requirements of this section, the property owner shall bear primary responsibility for maintenance. All grassed areas shall be kept trim and maintained reasonably free of weeds and trash. Dead or dying grass shall be replaced within 30 days.
The City of Hayden is authorized to notify the owner or the owner’s agent if any installed landscaping as required in this section is not being adequately maintained, and the specific nature of the failure to maintain. The City shall send the property owner or the respective agent two written notices, each with a 15 day response period. The notices shall specify the date by which the said maintenance must be accomplished and shall be addressed to the property owner or agent’s last known address. No response from the property owner or the respective agent shall constitute a violation of this title and City Council may take appropriate action.
D. General Requirements:
1. Sight Distance Triangle Adjacent to Public Rights-Of-Way and Points of Access: No landscaping, structures, or other items shall impair vision at a corner as required by section 6-1-4 of this Code or a point of access. In these areas, all landscaping shall be planted and maintained at a height no greater than three feet above the centerline street grade. Trees may be permitted if the trunks are kept free of branches below 10' above the centerline street grade.
Preservation of Existing Trees: All trees on a site shall be retained to the maximum extent possible. Credit may be given for incorporating existing trees into the design if it meets the intent of this section, survives through the first year, and is continually maintained in a healthy condition. Exceptions:
a. When the tree(s) will be hazardous or may otherwise damage the structure, streets, or sewer, water or utility lines.
b. When the tree(s) will not likely survive the impacts of the construction due to its condition, age, disease, increased or decreased exposure, or location outside of a natural grouping.
E. Landscape Types: The City of Hayden has four primary landscape types to address a variety of buffering requirements related to noise, light, glare, and incompatible uses; while still addressing a goal of preserving existing vegetation and enhancing the visual aesthetics of the project area. In general, each type has a tree component, a shrub component, and a ground cover component as shown in the Standard Drawings as adopted by the City of Hayden and defined below:
Landscaping Type | Width of Landscaping | Description or Purpose |
Type I | 20' | Buffers between incompatible uses that create a noise and sight obscuring barrier. |
Type II | 10' | Buffers to create a visual separation between similar uses. |
Type III | 5' | Transparent buffers to provide visual relief between compatible uses and to soften the appearance of parking areas. |
Type IV | 10' | Buffers to create a visual separation between the property and the adjacent street |
F. Buffer Width Reduction: The width requirements of each landscape type may be reduced when a berm or fence is included in the buffer. The width reduction may be up to twice the height of the berm, but with a maximum permitted width reduction of 10' and the berm cannot be narrower than five feet in width as measured at the base. The combined maximum height of the berm and fence or wall shall not exceed six feet, unless allowed by a conditional use permit.
G. The following table sets forth the type of required landscaping to be installed by the proposed use and according to the standard drawings approved by the City:
Zoning/Use of Proposed Site | Abutting Land Zoned As | Landscaping Type |
Zoning/Use of Proposed Site | Abutting Land Zoned As | Landscaping Type |
Commercial (C) | Residential - R1 or MR | Type I |
Light Industrial (LI) | Residential - RS, R1 or MR | Type I |
Agriculture (A), Mixed Use (MU), & Commercial (C) | Type II | |
Mixed Use (MU) - Residential Only | Residential - RS, R1, or MR | Type II |
Commercial (C) or Light Industrial (LI) | Type I | |
Mixed Use (MU) - Commercial Only | Residential - R1 or MR | Type I |
Mixed Use (MU) - Mixed | All zones except Agriculture (A) | Type II |
Residential Suburban (RS) | All zones | Type III |
Parking Perimeter | All zones | Type III |
Planned Unit Development | All zones | Type II |
Public Street Frontage | All Zones | Type IV |
H. Plant Sizes and Spacing for Installation: Plants shall be sized and spaced to achieve the desired buffer within 2 years of planting and shall be maintained to continue the desired buffer as a requirement of any approved plan. Generally speaking, deciduous trees shall be two inches in caliper, multi-stemmed trees and evergreen trees shall be six feet in height, small shrubs shall be 12" and all other shrubs shall be 18" in height at the time of planting.
I. Consolidation Of Landscaping Types and/or Stormwater Swales: To reduce the overall land requirements for green space, combining required types of landscaping, and/or combining stormwater infiltration areas (grass swales) with landscape areas, as required by this section, may be permitted in compliance with the provisions of Best Management Practices (BMPs) adopted pursuant to this title. Applications for exception and modifications from the standards of this chapter may be applied for using the process and standards established in subsection 11-1-7 of this title.
J. Irrigation of Landscaping and/or Stormwater Swales: All landscaped areas including buffer strips and drainage infiltration facilities shall be provided with an automated irrigation system. Routine maintenance of joint stormwater areas on private property shall be the responsibility of the individual owner. Structural or functional maintenance of joint stormwater areas shall be the responsibility of the homeowner’s association. (Ord. 619, 4-13-2021)