A. Applicability. The standards in this section shall apply to all commercial, industrial, and institutional developments.
B. Landscape coverage requirement. Shrubs, groundcover, and turf shall provide 100% coverage of those areas not occupied by structures, parking areas, storage, or trash enclosures at the time of issuance of a certificate of occupancy. Embellished pavement, fountains, and similar hardscape materials may in part be substituted for the required landscaping through the site plan and design review process or other discretionary review that applies.
C. Parkway planting and maintenance. Areas within the public right-of-way shall have landscaping installed by the developer/property owner. Parkways located between the curb and the sidewalk shall be a minimum of five feet wide unless altered by special engineering constraints, as determined by the City Engineer. Such area shall contain trees as per the street tree requirements specified in Section 10.32.120. Parkways may meander, thus reducing or increasing the minimum distance from the curb, subject to approval by the Director. The ground surface shall be planted with low spreading shrubs or groundcover to provide 100% coverage. Turf shall not be used unless specifically approved by the Director.
D. Parkway-adjacent planting and maintenance. Parkways located between the sidewalk and the edge of development shall meet the following requirements:
1. Such areas shall contain at least one 24-inch-box tree for every 30 linear feet of frontage. This calculation establishes the number of required trees; the trees are not required to be located linear or equally spaced. Although not specifically required, planting areas of variable widths are encouraged, particularly for projects with frontages exceeding 150 feet. Trees without invasive roots and root control barriers shall be required.
2. The ground surface shall contain shrubs, mulch, or ground cover to provide coverage within two years. Turf shall not be used in area narrower than five feet unless approved by the Director.
3. If a wall or fence separates the development from the street, planting vines or espalier shrubs shall be incorporated into the planting design.
E. Required landscaping for loading areas. Loading areas shall incorporate landscaping to provide screening if visible from the public right-of-way, adjacent uses, and pedestrians.
F. Required landscaping for trash enclosures. Trash enclosure areas visible from a public right-of-way shall contain a planting area around the perimeter of the enclosure wall except at access gates. The landscaping in the planting area shall consist of vertical plantings such as tall shrubs or hedges and vines on the enclosure walls. (Ord. 17-948 § 4, 2017)