(a) Perimeter Parking Lot Landscaping. Perimeter parking lot landscaping is required in the instance that any portion of the parking surface is within twenty (20) feet of a public right-of-way or abuts any residentially zoned district. Landscaping shall be placed along any edge or surface that generally faces the right-of-way to screen the parking area from view of pedestrian and vehicular traffic. Perimeter parking lot landscaping provides for the enhancement and screening of parking lots and enhancement of the streetscape. The perimeter parking lot landscape yard must be improved as follows:
(1) The perimeter landscaping must be a minimum of ten (10) feet in depth when abutting a residential district and five (5) feet in depth when facing a public right-of-way. In both cases it must span the full length of the parking surface that either abuts a residentially zoned district or faces the public right-of-way.
(2) Parking Lot screening when abutting residential district. A single hedge row is required to be planted with one (1) shrub every forty-eight (48) inches on center, spaced linearly. The shrubs must measure a minimum of of thirty-six (36) inches at installation.
(3) Public Right-of-Way Parking Lot Screening. Any materials, including plantings or decorative materials used within the landscape to screen the area from the view of the public right-of-way shall not exceed six (6) in height. Plants shall be spaced evenly and consist of a combination of hedges, shrubs, perennials, and live ground cover. Perimeter landscape yards shall be designed to enhance the streetscape, yet not hinder the use or safe flow of pedestrian and vehicular traffic. Any remaining area between the landscape yard and the curb not dedicated for walkways, accessory uses, access lanes, or other approved uses shall be covered with turf or ground cover at a minimum.
(4) Alternatively, a low landscape wall or ornamental fencing the height of which provides effective screening may be used instead of shrubs. Where possible, plant materials must be installed between the public right-of-way and the wall to provide a softening effect on the wall.
(5) All perimeter parking lot landscaping areas must be protected on the side adjacent the parking lot with raised curb. Curb openings are required to allow water to infiltrate into the landscape areas as permitted by grading.
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(b) Interior Parking Lot Landscaping.
(1) For parking lots consisting of twenty (20) or more spaces, interior parking lot landscaping is required.
(2) One (1) parking lot island must be provided for every fifteen (15) parking spaces. As part of the landscape plan approval, parking lot island locations may be varied based on specific site requirements or design scheme, to be approved as part of the landscape plan, but the total number of islands must be no less than the amount required one (1) island for every fifteen (15) spaces. Where feasible, all rows of parking must terminate with a landscape island.
(3) Parking lot islands and peninsulas must be at least the length of the adjacent parking spaces and six (6) feet wide measured across.
(4) Landscaping shall not be installed as to interfere with the safe travels of both vehicular and pedestrian traffic, or to encroach upon proper sight-line clearances.
(5) Parking lot islands must be designed in order to employ sustainable storm water runoff. All islands and landscaped areas must be properly drained to ensure survivability.
(6) The following plantings are required in parking lot islands and landscaped areas:
A. Small shade trees or ornamental trees must be the primary plant materials used in parking lot islands and landscaped areas. Shrubs, hedges and other plant materials may be used to supplement the primary plantings but must not create sight line visibility concerns for automobiles and pedestrians.
B. The remaining area of a parking lot island must be covered with shrubs, turf, live groundcover, perennials or ornamental grasses. Mulch is required to fill in planting areas for early growth protection until the groundcover is established and covers the planting area. It is encouraged to mulch bare areas for three (3) to five (5) years, or until the plant material is fully established in the parking islands.
(Ord. 2015-9. Passed 8-25-15.)