A. Purpose. The intent of this section is to:
1. Lessen the environmental impacts of the built environment on the city’s natural resources;
2. Establish healthy environmental conditions by providing shade, air purification, oxygen regeneration, groundwater recharge, less stormwater runoff, erosion control, and noise, glare, and heat abatement;
3. Provide visual buffering from streets, buffering of potentially incompatible land uses, and enhanced quality and appearance of a development site, and the city in general;
4. Where landscaping is required, the installed materials should include live vegetation in addition to rock or inorganic matter;
5. Encourage the use of low-impact development measures, including drought-tolerant plant material, water-conserving automatic irrigation systems, and pervious pavement materials.
B. Applicability. The provisions of this section shall apply to lots and parcels in any zone district that contain (i) more than 10,000 square feet of lot area, and (ii) a primary structure with a primary use other than a single family detached, single-family attached, 2-family residential, or live-work use, when the following conditions occur after the effective date of this Code:
1. A new primary structure is constructed;
2. The floor area in an existing primary structure is increased by more than 25%;
3. An existing primary structure is relocated on the lot or parcel;
4. The primary structure is renovated or redeveloped (including but not limited to reconstruction after fire, flood, or other damage), and the value of that renovation or redevelopment, as indicated by building permits, is more than 25% of the actual value of the property, as indicated by tax assessor’s records;
5. A new primary use parking lot containing 25 or more spaces is constructed; or
6. An existing primary use parking lot containing 25 or more spaces is redesigned or reconstructed with significant changes to the layout of parking spaces, driving aisles, and access drives.
C. General landscaping standards.
1. Landscape plan required. A landscaping plan meeting city requirements shall be submitted as part of all applications for development or redevelopment requiring a site plan/design review process under § 14.05.04H., unless the Zoning Administrator determines that landscaping required under this section can be demonstrated without the use of a landscaping plan. A landscaping plan may be combined with other required application materials.
2. Minimum required landscaping. Landscaping shall be installed to comply with the specific requirements for street trees, property edge buffering, and parking area landscaping standards in this section to meet the following minimum landscape requirements:
a. R-3, R-M, R-CHD, R-SGD, and R-UMS Zoning Districts. In multi-family residential zoning districts, a minimum of 20% of the total lot area shall be landscaped.
b. Mixed use zoning districts. In all mixed-use zoning districts, a minimum of 15% of the total land area shall be landscaped.
c. Special purpose zoning districts. In all special purpose zoning districts, a minimum of 10% of the total land area shall be landscaped.
d. Parking in common. Minimum landscape area requirements for properties within approved PIC plans shall be met by complying with landscape element of PIC plan.
3. Plant materials.
a. Plant materials shall be from the city’s approved water conserving plant list, or as otherwise approved through the site plan/design review process. All plant material shall be hardy to northwestern Arizona (USDA hardiness Zone 10a), free of disease and insects, and conform to the American Standard for Nursery Stock of the American Association of Nurserymen.
b. Except for plantings used for screening, no 1 species of tree or shrub may make up more than 50% of the total amount of landscape plantings.
c. Invasive species, as identified by the Arizona Department of Agriculture Plant Services Division and the Arizona Invasive Species Advisory Council, are prohibited.
d. At least 50% of all landscaped areas containing trees and shrubs shall be planted with ground cover, and remaining areas shall incorporate a minimum 2-inch layer of inert ground cover.
e. The use of artificial plant material is prohibited, unless approved by the Director based on considerations of similarity of appearance to live vegetation, durability appropriate for its anticipated use, and public safety.
4. Minimum plant sizes. When included as part of the required landscaping, trees shall be a minimum 24-inch container size, and shrubs shall be a minimum 5-gallon container size. The above dimensions apply to sizes at time of planting.
5. Plant material spacing. Except for the provisions of division F. below, plant materials shall not be placed closer than 4 feet from any fence line or property line. Where tree planting requirements are based on linear street frontage, areas occupied by driveways shall be included when calculating the number of trees required to be planted, and any trees that would otherwise be required in driveways shall be planted in other landscaped front yard areas unless prohibited by minimum spacing requirements for that species.
6. Landscape features. Landscaped areas may include architectural features that add visual interest and a public amenity to the site including rock groupings, sculptures, public art, water features and benches.
7. City right-of-way. Property owners are encouraged to install landscaping on portions of the public right-of-way located between the front property line and the vehicle travel lanes not occupied by sidewalks, above-ground utility structures, or curb and gutter structures. However, all planting or removal of trees or vegetation in city rights-of-way is subject to approval by the city.
8. Flexibility for redevelopment. Where the requirements of this section are applied to a redevelopment or reconstruction project, rather than a new development, the Zoning Administrator may authorize a reduction of minimum off-street parking requirements established in § 14.04.02C. by up to 10%, if necessary, to accommodate street frontage landscaping required by division D. below or parking area landscaping required by division E. below.
9. Installation and performance bond. Landscaping shall be installed prior to issuance of the certificate of occupancy, unless a security equal to 100% of the anticipated cost of landscaping is filed with the city, assuring installation within 6 months after occupancy. Security may consist of a performance bond payable to the city, cash, certified check, or other assurance of completion approved by the City Attorney. If the installation of the landscaping is not completed within the 6 month period, the security may be used by the city to complete the landscape installation.
D. Street frontage landscaping. The street frontage of a property subject to this section shall meet the following landscaping requirements:
1. Required depth. Street yard landscaping strips within private yards adjacent to city rights-of-way shall be at least 10 feet in width.
2. Street trees and shrubs. Street trees and shrubs shall be planted along a property’s street frontage in accordance with the following:
a. One tree per 40 feet of linear street frontage, planted on center, and in alignment with any similar street frontage landscaping on adjacent lots, or if that is not possible or adjacent lots do not contain front yard landscaping, then within 10 feet of the front property line.
b. One shrub per 25 feet of linear frontage.
c. No more than 50% of required trees shall be from 1 tree species.
d. Street trees may be clustered and placed at uneven intervals, to increase visual appeal or to avoid utility or site obstructions, with approval from the Zoning Administrator during the site plan/design review process.
E. Parking area landscaping.
1. Purpose. The purpose of this section to provide landscaping areas internal to parking lots to break up large expanses of pavement, provide shaded areas, delineate pedestrian walkways and vehicular drive aisles to improve visitor safety, and improve the overall appearance of the site.
2. Minimum required area. Ten percent of the interior parking area occupied by parking spaces and interior vehicle circulation aisles (but not including access driveways between the public street and the edge of the parking area) shall be landscaped. Landscaping required to meet the requirements of division D. above, or division F. below shall not be used to satisfy this requirement.
3. Location and design. Internal landscape areas shall be designed in accordance with the following standards, as depicted in Figures 4.04-2 to 4.04-4.
a. A landscape area shall be located between every 15 parking spaces at a minimum.
b. A landscape area shall be a minimum of 8 feet in width.
c. One tree is required for every 300 square feet of internal landscape area.
d. A landscape area shall be designed lower than the paved area so that stormwater from the paved parking areas can flow into the landscape areas, unless a different result is required by the adopted city Stormwater Management Plan.
e. A landscape area shall be curbed to protect the landscape materials, and this curbing shall include breaks to permit stormwater to enter the landscaped areas.
4. Pedestrian walkways.
a. Location.
i. Each surface parking area containing 100 or more parking spaces, any of which are located more than 300 feet from the front façade of the building shall contain at least 1 walkway that enables a pedestrians to travel from the farthest row of parking to the primary building entrance without crossing any parking spaces or drive aisles.
ii. Additional walkways shall be included and spaced 200 feet apart to ensure that no parking space in the farthest row of the parking lot is more than 200 feet from any walkway.
iii. If there is a public sidewalk along the street frontage located within 50 feet of any required walkway, the walkway shall connect to that sidewalk.
b. Design. The required walkway shall be at least 5 feet wide; shall be located in a landscaped island and shall run perpendicular to the primary building, to the greatest extent practicable. If the walkway is located in a landscaped island, the width of the island shall be increased by 5 feet to accommodate the walkway without reducing the amount of landscaped area.
F. Property edge buffering.
1. Buffering required. Where a property contains at least 10,000 square feet of area, more than 1,500 square feet of paved area, or any vehicle loading/ unloading areas, buffering shall be installed as required by Table 4.04-2.
a. To use this table, identify the applicant’s zone district and proposed land use across the top of the table, and then read down the appropriate column. Then identify the adjacent property zoning and use along the horizontal lines. The box at the intersection of the column representing the applicant’s proposal and the adjacent property zone and use identifies the screening and buffering requirement for the applicant.
b. Transitional screening shall not be required for community gardens.
APPLICANT’S ZONE AND USE | R-A, R-E, OR R-1 ZONE | OTHER RESID. ZONE | MIXE D-USE ZONE | SPECIAL PURPOSE ZONE | ||||||
APPLICANT’S ZONE AND USE | R-A, R-E, OR R-1 ZONE | OTHER RESID. ZONE | MIXE D-USE ZONE | SPECIAL PURPOSE ZONE | ||||||
Adjacent District & Use | Adjacent Zone District
| Structure Type
| Res. | Non- Res. | Res. | Non- Res. | All | Other 1-2 Stories | Other 3+ Stories | Industri al |
R-A, R-E, R-1 | Residential | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | |
Non-Residential | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | |||
Other Resid. Zone | Residential | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | |
Non-Residential | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | |||
Mixed-Use Zone | All | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | |
Special Purpose Zone | Other 1-2 Stories | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | |
Other 3+ Stories | 3 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3 | ||
Industrial | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 0 | ||
Level 0 does not require a landscape buffer or screen. Level 1 requires a 4-foot wide landscape buffer and a 6-foot tall screening device. Level 2 requires a 6-foot wide landscape buffer and a 6-foot tall screening device. Level 3 requires a 6-foot wide landscape buffer and a 8-foot tall screening device. | ||||||||||
2. Location and design.
a. Landscape buffer.
i. The required landscape buffer shall be installed on the applicant’s side of the screening device.
ii. The landscape buffer shall include the following plant mix:
(A) One tree with a minimum 24-inch container size for each 200 square feet of buffer area, and
(B) Three shrubs of minimum 5 gallon size for each 200 square feet of buffer area.
b. Screening device.
i. The screen shall be located along the property line of the applicant’s lot, and shall not extend into the established setback of the adjoining lot.
ii. The screen shall be designed to achieve at least 80% opacity and shall be constructed of wood, masonry, brick, stone, wrought iron, compact hedging, an earth berm, or some combination of those materials. Chain link fencing is prohibited.
iii. The combined height of the screening methods in this division F.2.b. and division F.2.a. above shall not be less than 6 feet.
G. Screening.
1. Fences, walls, and hedges. Fences, walls, and hedges are permitted in any required setback yard or along the edge of any yard in accordance with the following standards, except as provided under § 14.04.03D., relating to corner lots.
a. Height.
b. Articulation and design.
i. No wall or fence facing a collector or arterial street or adjacent to an interstate highway shall extend continuously for more than 100 feet without articulation as described below.
ii. No wall or fence facing any other type of public street shall extend continuously more than 50 feet without at least the following types of articulation:
(A) The use of columns or pilasters; or
(B) Changes in material or texture; or
(C) Offsets in alignments (projections or recessions) or at least 1 horizontal foot; or
(D) The installation of similar features approved by the Zoning Administrator as creating at least the same degree of visual variation to passing drivers, bicyclists, and pedestrians.
iii. Fences, walls, and hedges may be placed up to the property line, and any outstanding posts or supporting rails shall face inward toward the property being fenced.
c. Wall and fence materials. Walls and fences shall be designed to reflect and enhance the surrounding built and natural environment and shall be constructed with any 1 or more of the following materials:
i. Integrally-colored, split-face, or ground-face concrete masonry units (CMU);
ii. Concrete masonry units that have been painted, stuccoed, or faced with another permitted material;
iii. Stone (natural or simulated);
iv. Brick;
v. Wrought-iron or other decorative metal; or
vi. Wood (painted or stained); or
vii. Compact hedging.
2. Screening; mechanical equipment.
a. Applicability. The standards of this section shall apply to all electrical and gas-powered mechanical equipment, ductwork and major plumbing lines used to heat, cool, or ventilate; and power systems for the building or site upon which the equipment is located. However, these standards shall not apply to roof and/or wall-mounted antennas and vent openings, ground or roof mounted solar, wind, or geothermal energy devices, rain barrels, composting equipment, or franchise utility boxes.
b. Single and 2-family screening.
i. Roof-mounted mechanical equipment, except solar energy systems and air conditioning units, is prohibited on single-family and 2-family residential dwellings.
ii. On residential lots, ground mounted mechanical equipment shall be located behind the building line of the house and screened from public view by a screening device, or landscaping.
c. Multi-family, mixed-use, commercial, and industrial screening. For all developments other than single-family detached, single-family attached, or 2-family residential, mechanical equipment shall be screened in accordance with the following standards:
i. Roof-mounted mechanical equipment shall be screened by a parapet wall or similar feature that is an integral part of the building’s architectural design. The parapet wall or similar feature shall be of a height equal to or greater than the height of the mechanical equipment being screened.
ii. Ground-mounted mechanical equipment shall be screened from view by landscaping or by a decorative wall that is compatible with the architecture and landscaping of the development site. The wall shall be of a height at least equal to or greater than the height of the mechanical equipment being screened.
3. Screening of service, loading, and storage areas. For all developments other than single-family detached, single-family attached, or 2-family residential, outside service, loading, and storage areas shall be buffered from adjacent properties in accordance with division F. above and located and screened as follows:
a. Placement.
i. All service areas shall be placed at the rear, on the side of, or inside buildings.
ii. No service area shall be visible from a public right-of-way or from adjacent residential areas.
iii. Service areas and access drives shall be located so they do not interfere with the normal activities of building occupants or visitors on driveways, walkways, in parking areas, or at entries.
b. Outside storage areas and loading docks. All storage areas, service areas, and loading docks not screened by an intervening building shall be screened from view from any public street right-of-way in accordance with the following standards. These standards are in addition to any property edge buffer requirements identified in Table 4.04-2.
i. The screen shall be constructed of wood, masonry, brick, stone, wrought iron, compact hedging, an earth berm, or some combination of those materials, in conjunction with trees and other landscaping; and/or landscaping that shall block all views of the equipment. Chain link fencing is prohibited except as follows:
(A) Gates may be sight obscured with chain link or wrought iron with plastic lath or netting and shall be compatible color to adjacent screen walls.
(B) Chain link or wrought iron sight obscured with plastic lath or netting may be used as screening on LI District or I District zoned property.
ii. The screen shall be 100% opaque if the service or storage area is adjacent to a residential land use and 60% opaque in all other instances.
iii. Screening shall be a minimum height of 6 feet to screen truck berths, loading docks, areas designated for permanent parking, or storage of heavy vehicles and equipment or materials. Landscaping used for screening purposes shall be 6 feet in height within 18 months of planting.
iv. Screening shall be long enough to screen the maximum size trailer that can be accommodated on site.
c. Refuse enclosure and screening. All refuse facilities, including new refuse facilities placed on an existing developed site, shall be designed and installed in accordance with the following:
i. The refuse enclosure shall be large enough to accommodate both a trash dumpster and a recycling dumpster, and shall meet the requirements of Figure 4.04-5.
ii. The refuse enclosure shall be completely screened from view of public streets and adjoining nonindustrial zoned property by meeting the requirements of other sections of this Code.
iii. The refuse enclosure shall meet the standards shown on the illustration below.
4. Screening of parking areas. For all development other than 1 single-family or 1 2-f amily residential project, parking spaces facing a right-of-way shall be screened by a minimum 3-foot tall screen using materials described in § 14.04.04.G.1.c.
H. Alternatives and adjustments.
1. The Zoning Administrator may approve alternative types or designs of landscaping, buffering and screening requirements, unless specifically prohibited for that type of property, building, or use in this Code, if the Zoning Administrator determines that the alternatives provide at least equivalent quality, visual appeal, screening and cooling, effectiveness, durability, hardiness, and performance to the specific requirements of divisions A. through G. above.
2. Where the requirements of this section are applied to a redevelopment or reconstruction project, rather than a new development, the Zoning Administrator may authorize a reduction of minimum off-street parking requirements established in § 14.04.02C., by up to 10%, if necessary to accommodate street frontage landscaping required by division D. above or the parking area landscaping required by division E. above.
3. The Zoning Administrator may modify the property edge buffering standards of division F. and/or the fence, wall, and edge standards of division G.1. above by up to 10% (increase or decrease in width and height) if necessary to provide adequate buffering of impacts or to respond to specific site conditions.
4. The Zoning Administrator may modify the property edge buffering standards of division F. above and/or the fence, wall, and hedge standards of division G.1. above by more than 10% if the Zoning Administrator determines that the design, height, location of uses, massing, and landscaping of the applicant’s project mitigates potential adverse impacts on surrounding properties.
5. The Zoning Administrator may modify the mechanical equipment screening standards of division G.2. above, which may include but shall not be limited to increased landscaping, grouping the equipment on specific portions of a site, and painting or otherwise camouflaging the equipment, if the Zoning Administrator determines that the alternative will provide equal or better buffering of the equipment from public view.
(Ord. 24-1323, passed 1-9-2024; Ord. 18-1203, passed 8-14-2018; Ord. 17-1188, § 1, passed 11-14-2017; Ord. 16-1153, passed 6-14-16; Ord. 16-1141, passed 2-23-2016)