(A) New developments shall be designed with quality site landscaping, creation of landscape buffers and screening, require parking lot landscaping and street trees and encourage innovative approaches to reducing run-off, increasing filtration and managing storm water. Community objectives include:
(1) Create a welcoming environment for residents and visitors;
(2) Design new development to be respectful of adjacent parkland and other natural resources; and
(3) Protect the river with improved storm water run-off management, slowing runoff rates and increasing filtration to reduce land erosion and enhance river water quality.
(B) The following standards shall apply to construction within the River Overlay District and are required to meet community objectives for site landscaping and storm water management.
(1) A quality landscape plan shall be developed for the site that addresses any site issues for the site, such as screening and parking lot landscaping. Appropriate landscaping for year round buffering shall be utilized with a mix of conifers along with deciduous plantings.
(2) Plant materials shall be combined to produce a mix of scale of plant materials appropriate to the effect desired. A combination of over-story trees along with under-story ornamental trees, shrubs, and plantings is required.
(3) Use of native species and varieties of adaptable non-native species are encouraged.
(4) A storm water management plan is required for any additional impervious surface coverage and increased runoff rates or pollutant loading in order to protect the river with improved storm water run-off management, slowing run off rates and increasing filtration to reduce erosion and enhance river water quality.
(5) The use of innovative approaches to run-off, such as the use of rain gardens, vegetated strips, underground storage, and pervious pavement are encouraged and may be required to meet storm water management objectives.
(6) Environmentally sensitive site design and green building construction that reduces runoff from structures, such as green roofs, is encouraged.
(2004 Code, § 157.05) (Ord. 08-0500, passed 5-13-2008)