A. Site Landscaping:
1. Minimum Requirements: All open space areas of a lot which are not used or improved for required parking areas, drives or storage shall be landscaped with a combination of overstory trees, ornamental trees, shrubs, flowers, ground cover, decorative walks, or other similar site design materials in a quantity and placement suitable for the site. A reasonable attempt should be made to preserve as many existing trees as is practicable and to incorporate them into the development. For each existing significant tree retained, one overstory tree can be deducted from the minimum requirements.
2. B And I Districts: In all B and I districts, a landscaped yard shall be provided and maintained along all streets where such district faces an R, P or E zone or use across a street. The landscaping shall consist of grass or evergreen plantings. The yard shall be kept clear of all structures, storage and off street parking; and shall be at least twenty feet (20') in depth along all streets, measured from the street right of way. Except for driveways, the yard shall extend along the entire frontage of the lot and, in the case of a corner lot, along both streets. When the landscaped yard is between the street and an off street parking area, a wall, solid fence two and one-half (21/2) to three feet (3') high or screening consistent with subsection 10-15-9C of this chapter shall be provided.
3. Trees:
a. Number Of Plantings:
(1) The minimum number of overstory trees on any given site shall be as indicated below. These are minimum requirements that are typically supplemented with other understory trees, shrubs, flowers and ground covers deemed appropriate for a complete quality landscape treatment of a site.
(A)Commercial, industrial, and institutional site shall contain, at a minimum, the greater of:
(i)One tree per one thousand (1,000) square feet of gross building floor area; or
(ii)One tree per fifty (50) linear feet of site perimeter.
(B)Multi-family residential site shall contain, at a minimum, one tree per dwelling unit.
(2) An equivalent of up to fifty percent (50%) of the required number of overstory trees may be created through the use of overstory trees in combination with other landscape design elements at a ratio of six (6) shrubs to one overstory tree and/or two (2) ornamental trees to one overstory tree. In no case shall the number of overstory trees be less than fifty percent (50%) of the appropriate formula.
b. Minimum Sizes: Required trees shall be of the following minimum planting size:
(1) Deciduous trees: Two and one-half inches (2.5") in diameter as measured three feet (3') aboveground.
(2) Coniferous trees: Six feet (6') in height.
(3) Deciduous shrubs: Two feet (2') in height.
(4) Evergreen shrubs: Two feet (2') in height or two feet (2') in width, whichever applies.
(5) Ornamental trees: One and one-half inches (1.5") in diameter as measured three feet (3') aboveground.
c. Species:
(1) All trees used in site developments shall be indigenous to the appropriate hardiness zone and physical characteristics of the site.
(2) All deciduous trees proposed to satisfy the requirements shall be long lived, hardwood species.
(3) The complement of trees fulfilling the landscaping requirements shall be not less than twenty five percent (25%) deciduous and not less than twenty five percent (25%) coniferous.
4. Sodding And Ground Cover: All areas not otherwise improved in accordance with approved site plans shall be sodded. All sodding and ground cover shall be established within one year of issuance of a certificate of occupancy for the property.
5. Slopes And Berm:
a. Final slope grades shall not exceed three and one-half to one (3.5:1) unless terracing of retaining walls is approved.
b. Berming for parking lots and open space areas shall not exceed three to one (3:1).
6. Warranty For Landscape Materials: Proof of a two (2) year warranty for the landscape materials from the provider of the landscape materials, or an alternate guarantee found acceptable to the zoning administrator, shall be submitted to the city. Said warranty or alternate guarantee shall be submitted to the city prior to issuance of a certificate of occupancy for the property.
B. Parking Lot Landscaping:
1. Overstory Trees:
a. All parking lots are required to provide internal overstory tree plantings in an effort to shade parking surfaces and provide visual relief. Plantings are required at the following minimum schedule. The planting schedule is established to provide an acceptable number of plantings that may be planted in regular symmetrical patterns or irregular clusters or groupings.
(1) One tree per every ten (10) parking spaces.
(2) Every overstory tree planting shall be provided with a planting area of one hundred sixty two (162) square feet.
b. Proof of a two (2) year warranty for the overstory tree plantings from the provider of the overstory trees, or an alternate guarantee found acceptable to the zoning administrator, shall be submitted to the city. Said warranty or alternate guarantee shall be submitted to the city prior to final inspection and use of the parking lot.
2. Screening: See subsection 10-15-9A of this chapter. (Ord. 1098, 11-8-2004)