All planting materials and other landscape treatments must meet or exceed the standards and requirements as set forth in divisions (A) through (D) of this section.
(A) Preservation of native vegetation. A minimum of 10% of existing native vegetative communities shall be preserved. If an applicant is unable to meet his requirement a commensurate amount of native, xeric species shall be planted in lieu of preservation.
(B) A minimum of 40% of each required planting material must be of the XERISCAPE tm variety (high drought tolerance) which are marked with an asterisk(*) on the approved species lists in division (D) of this section. If the applicant is unable to meet this requirement the use of reuse treated wastewater or stormwater for irrigation purposes shall be required.
(C) Nuisance and exotic plant species. All nuisances and invasive exotic vegetation shall be removed where feasible and appropriate, and replaced with native plant species. Nuisance species shall include but not be limited to those species listed in § 157.16.
(D) Quality. Plant materials used in conformance with the provisions of this section shall equal or exceed the Florida No. 1, as given in the most current addition “Grades and Standards for Nursery Plants,” Florida State Department of Agriculture, and amendments thereto.
(1) Trees. Required tree plantings shall be measured by height, defined as the top of the crown to the base of the trunk at the ground surface after plantings; caliper, defined as the radius of the trunk measured one foot above the ground surface after planting; and crown spread, defined as the radius of the circumference of the tree limbs and branches.
(a) Canopy trees shall have a minimum height of 15 feet, a minimum caliper of 3½ inches, and a minimum crown spread of four feet.
(b) Understory trees shall have a minimum height of eight feet, a minimum caliper of two inches, a minimum crown spread of four feet.
(2) Shrubs and hedges. Hedge plantings and shrubs shall be a minimum of two feet in height immediately upon planting, and reach an average height of 30 inches within one year after planting. Hedges shall be of non-deciduous species, and planted and maintained so as to form a continuous unbroken solid visual screen within a maximum of one year after planting. Minimum plant spacing shall be 30 inches on center.
(3) Ground cover. Ground cover used in lieu of grass shall be planted in a manner as to present a finished appearance and reasonably complete coverage within three months after planting.
(4) Lawn grass. Grass shall be a species normally grown as permanent lawns in the city. Grass seed shall be clean and reasonably free of weeds and noxious pests or diseases. Grass seed shall be delivered to the job site in containers with State Department of Agriculture tags attached indicating the seed grower’s compliance with the Department’s quality control program.
(5) Berm. When a berm is used to form a visual screen in lieu of or in conjunction with a hedge or wall, the berm shall not exceed a slope of three feet measured horizontally to one foot measured vertically, and shall be completely covered with shrubs, grass, or other living ground cover.
(6) Wall. When a brick wall is used for a visual screen, the wall shall conform to the architectural style and materials of surrounding properties. If the finished grading elevations between a proposed development and the adjacent property vary to such a degree that the screening effect of the wall is diminished to the detriment of the adjacent property, the height requirement of the wall may be increased above six foot by the city.
(7) Mulch. A layer of mulch to a minimum depth of three (3) inches shall be required in plant beds. Gravel, river rock, shell and similar materials may be used as landscape mulch. Mulch rings shall extend to at least three (3) feet around freestanding trees and shrubs. Mulches shall be kept at least twelve (12) inches away from any portion of a building or structure and six (6) inches away from stems of plants or trunks of trees. Plastic sheeting and other impervious materials shall not be used under mulched areas.
(E) Safety and protection.
(1) Curbing or wheel stops shall be used to protect landscaped areas.
(2) If vehicles overhang the landscaped area, tree trunks and shrubs shall be planted three feet from the edge of the parking space to avoid damage by vehicles.
(3) Street and highway sight distances established by the State Department of Transportation “Manual of Uniform Minimum Standards for Design, Construction, and Maintenance” shall be observed for all street intersections or driveways and streets. Within these sight distances, no landscape material exceeding two and one-half feet in height shall be permitted. Trees shall be permitted when traffic visibility is not obstructed.
(F) Approved species. The landscaping requirements of this chapter may be achieved by using recommendations from the most current University of Florida “Florida Friendly Landscape™” Publication - https://ffl.ifas.ufl.edu/
Other species may also be used if approved in advance by the city as being equivalent in function and quality.
Note: Three palm trees (minimum 15 in height and six (6) inch diameter measured one foot above the ground at the time of planting) are equivalent to one canopy tree. Two understory trees meeting the minimum planting standards are equivalent to one canopy tree.
Understory trees: Trees which normally grow to a mature height of 15-35 feet.
Note: Two palm trees (minimum 15 feet in height and six-inch diameter measured one foot above the ground at the time of planting) are equivalent to one understory tree.
(Ord. 1601, passed 12-20-18)