A. Plantings Required Prior To Occupancy:
1. All plantings required by this article must be installed prior to occupancy or commencement of a use, except as allowed in subsection A2 of this section.
2. If the plantings cannot be installed prior to occupancy or commencement of a use due to seasonal conditions that may reduce survivability, the building official may issue a temporary certificate of occupancy and grant a delay of installation until the seasonal calendar dates of June 1 or November 1, whichever occurs first, and the property owner must place in an escrow account, established with the city, an amount which will cover one hundred ten percent (110%) of the estimated cost of plants and installation.
B. Planting Sizes:
1. Deciduous Trees: At the time of planting, deciduous trees must have a single stem and have a minimum trunk diameter of one and one-half inches (1.5") measured at a point six inches (6") above ground level or above the top of burlap wrapping. It must demonstrate the growth capabilities, branching formation and crown balance that are indigenous to the particular variety. The tree must be straight of trunk with the main leader intact and must be healthy and free of disease and pests.
2. Coniferous Trees: At the time of planting, coniferous trees must have a minimum height of three feet (3') measured from the planted level to the top of the tree. The needle color and branching habits must be normal for the species, and the overall appearance must be indicative of previous care in pruning and development. The tree must be healthy and free of disease and pests.
C. Siting Requirements:
1. Trees must be located in a manner that, at maturity, will avoid interference with the construction, maintenance and operation of public and private utilities and services aboveground or belowground.
2. The minimum planting area required for large trees is two hundred fifty six (256) square feet. The minimum planting area required for small trees is one hundred twenty (120) square feet.
3. At the time of planting, trees and plantings must be separated from other structures and features on a site in order to minimize conflicts as plants mature. Table 5E-1 below specifies the minimum spacing between plantings and various features of a site. However, the minimum distances between trees, between trees and shrubs, and between shrubs may be reduced by twenty five percent (25%) to permit design flexibility or to create denser screening where desired.
Large Tree | Small Tree | Shrub | |
Large tree | 30 | 24 | 4 |
Small tree | 24 | 16 | 3 |
Shrub | 4 | 3 | See chapter 5, article F of this title2 |
Building | 14 | 8 | 2 |
Sidewalk | 41 | 41 | 31 |
Curb/pavement | 41 | 41 | 21 |
Notes to table 5E-1:
1. The minimum distance between plantings and sidewalks or pavement also applies to the anticipated location of a future sidewalk or paved surface.
2. See spacing requirements listed in chapter 5, article F, "Screening And Buffering Standards", of this title.
(Ord. 05-4186, 12-15-2005)