All landscaping as defined by section 13.04.040 of this title shall be highly water efficient and designed to preserve and generally enhance desirable natural features (i.e., topography, waterways, existing vegetation, etc.), enhance architectural features of the building, strengthen vistas and provide shade for the project as well as its customers and employees. The following general standards apply to all required landscaping covered under this title, except for single-family homes on individual lots.
A. Perimeter Property Landscaping: The purpose of perimeter landscaping is to ensure the long term and consistent maintenance of highly water efficient landscaping along streets, to improve the visual quality of the streetscape, unify diverse architecture and carry out the long term goals of the City of Holladay promoting attractive streets and street beautification. Perimeter landscaping includes both landscaping in all required setback areas and any required buffer landscaping. Perimeter landscaping requirements are regulated by section 13.77.050 of this chapter. Further, distinct parking lot periphery and internal landscaping standards are found hereafter (see section 13.77.060).
B. Internal Property Landscaping Requirements/Recommendations: The purpose of the internal landscaping standards is not to restrict the use of locally adapted and sustainable landscaping but encourage design implementation to visually soften the mass of buildings and to visually separate building areas and development within the City. The following internal landscaping requirements and recommendations are intended to augment the perimeter landscaping requirements as required by section 13.77.050 of this chapter:
1. A minimum of one tree shall be required for every three hundred (300) square feet of the required internal landscaping area. Up to five percent (5%) of the required trees may be substituted by shrubs. Ten (10) shrubs with a minimum container size of five (5) gallons shall be required for each substituted tree.
2. The location of the internal landscaping area shall abut those building elevations which form the major public views of the project from abutting streets and property and to the users of the project, or within a plaza or courtyard between buildings or portions of buildings, or in a similar area which substantially conforms to the stated purpose of the required internal landscaping standards set forth herein and approved by the Planning Commission.
3. Landscaping around the base of a structure is recommended to visually “soften” the edge between the parking lot and building and to also discourage graffiti.
4. Building entries should be emphasized with special landscaping and/or paving in combination with lighting.
C. Berming: Berming at the edge of the building in conjunction with the landscaping may be used to soften and screen parking areas, reduce structure mass and height along street facades, and contain or direct stormwater runoff. Berms may not encroach into any clear view area of a street or driveway.
D. Hardscape Materials: Decorative paving materials such as bricks, pavers, flagstones, decorative gravels, artificial turf, and textured concrete may be utilized if they form a useful open space, add color or texture to the design, and comply with the purpose and intent of this section. Untextured concrete or lava rocks are not permissible hardscape materials. All impervious hardscape areas within a landscaped area must be considered as part of the overall impervious surface coverage allowance as required by other provisions of this title.
E. Landscaping Irrigation: Generally, landscaping emplaced in conjunction with newly or re-developing construction on site and in parking lot areas shall be irrigated with an efficiently designed drip sprinkler system which automatically adjusts to frequency and duration of irrigation events in response to changing weather conditions, i.e rain delay/shut off capabilities. Said system will be designed and maintained to limit waste and watershed onto adjoining public right(s) of way. (Ord. 2013-22, 9-5-2013; amd. Ord. 2015-02, 2-5-2015; Ord. 2021-27, 10-14-2021; Ord. 2022-14, 6-16-2022)