Nothing contained in this section shall be deemed to impose any liability upon the town, its officers or employees, nor to relieve the owner of any private property from the duty to keep any tree, shrub or plant upon any street tree area on his or her property or under his or her control in such condition as to prevent it from constituting a hazard or an impediment to travel or vision upon any public roadway or alley within the town.
(A) Landscape plan requirement. A landscape plan shall be prepared by a landscape architect registered with the State of Indiana and submitted to the Plan Commission for approval at the same time other plans (i.e. architectural design, lighting, parking, signage, and site plans) are submitted. This plan shall be drawn to scale with the scale clearly indicated and a graphic scale for reference, and shall delineate all existing and proposed structures, parking areas, walks, ramps for the handicapped, terraces, driveways, signs, lighting standards, steps and other similar structures, and shall delineate the location, size, and description of all landscape materials, including any existing trees the owner wishes to apply towards the landscape requirements. Landscape treatments for plazas, roads, paths, service and parking areas shall be designed as an integral and coordinated part of the landscape plan for the entire lot. The landscape plan shall ensure that sight distances are not obstructed for drivers of motor vehicles.
(B) Landscaped areas. The following areas shall be landscaped as prescribed. The following landscaping standards are in addition to any buffering or screening requirements prescribed on the following pages.
(1) Public rights-of-way. No person shall plant a tree or otherwise allow a tree to grow within a dedicated public right-of-way with the exception of a designated street tree corridor as established from time to time by the town in accordance with the street design specifications of the McCordsville Subdivision Control Ordinance, as amended from time to time. In no instance shall a tree be planted or allowed to grow above underground utilities.
(2) Planting adjacent to free-standing, non-residential buildings. A planting area five feet wide shall be installed along all sides of buildings. Sidewalks may be permitted in these areas, but shall not occupy the entire area on any side of the building. These adjacent planting areas need not be rectangular in shape as long as the required amount of space is landscaped. Innovative and original designs are encouraged. The adjacent planting area at the rear of a structure may be excluded if that structure is located less than 40 feet from the rear property line and sufficient peripheral planting is included to compensate for its removal. Front elevations of all industrial buildings are required to plant a minimum of three shrubs, two ornamental trees, or a mix thereof approved by staff per 12 lineal feet of building perimeter, exclusive of loading docks.
(3) Plantings adjacent to free-standing, single-family residential buildings. Each single-family residential lot shall have the following minimum specifications:
(a) A minimum of one shade tree.
(b) A minimum of two ornamental trees, two evergreen trees, or one ornamental tree and one evergreen tree.
(c) A minimum of 12 shrubs, planted along the foundation of the primary building.
(d) A minimum of one deciduous tree, planted in the front yard.
(e) Any front-loading garage that protrudes a minimum of eight feet in front of the front elevation shall feature a minimum of eight shrubs along the foundation of side elevation (nearest the side-yard property line) of the garage.
(4) Interior parking lot plantings. All parking lots with more than ten spaces shall be landscaped as follows:
(a) Parking areas that are visible from any existing or planned public right-of- way or any existing or planned private street easement and/or abut any side or rear property line shall have a planted screen between the parking perimeter and the street yard, side yard, and/or rear yard. Screening must be at least three feet high with no gaps except for drive-aisles, sidewalks, and the like. Brick or stone walls not to exceed four feet in height may be used to substitute for shrubbery. Additionally, at least one tree for each 50 lineal feet shall be planted along the peripheral of such parking area.
(b) Planting areas shall be reasonably dispersed throughout the parking area. Not less than 5% of the parking lot shall be landscaped. Landscape buffers and landscaping adjacent to buildings and on the periphery of the parking lot shall not be included toward the interior parking lot planting requirements. Landscaping shall be specifically provided at the ends of parking rows and as a means of separating parking from major circulation aisles within parking lots. One shade tree per 2,400 square feet of surface area is required. One shrub per 500 square feet of surface area is required. No parking space shall be further than 60 feet from the trunk of a shade tree. Existing shade trees over 12 inches in caliper may be used to fulfill these requirements. Any parking area that exceeds the town's parking quantity regulations shall increase the interior landscaping areas by the same percentage, subject to the approval of the Zoning Administrator. Interior landscape areas may be consolidated, or intervals expanded in order to preserve existing trees.
(c) Median landscape island. A landscaped median island shall be provided every six single parking rows. The median island shall be a minimum of six feet wide (back of curb to back of curb). The median island may also serve as the location for a sidewalk connecting the parking and use/building served by the parking area. In such a case, the sidewalk must be a minimum of six feet wide, and the median island expanded to a width of 11 feet. Landscaping shall consist of a mixture of grass and mulched planting beds. A mixture of trees, shrubs, ornamental grass, and perennial flowers shall be planted, subject to the approval of the Zoning Administrator. Median islands may be consolidated, or intervals expanded in order to preserve existing trees. Flexibility shall be granted for accessibility/maneuvering of large commercial vehicles.
(C) Landscaping requirements.
(1) Placement. The interior dimensions, specifications, and design of any planting area shall be sufficient to protect the trees and shrubs planted and provide for their proper growth.
(2) Plant materials.
(a) The primary plant materials used in and around parking areas shall be shade trees that provide shade at maturity. Ornamental shrubs and other plantings may be used to compliment tree landscaping, but shall not be the sole contribution to the landscaping.
(b) Plant materials should be appropriate to local growing and climatic conditions. Whenever appropriate, existing trees greater than 12 inches in caliper should be conserved and integrated into the landscape plan. Plant materials shall be selected for their purpose, structure, texture, hardiness, and appearance.
(c) Plant materials shall comply with the requirements described in the latest edition of the American Standard Nursery Stock, which is published by the American Association of Nurserymen.
(3) Plant specifications.
(a) Shade trees shall have a minimum caliper of two and one-half inches. Shade tree selections can be made from Hard Maples, Oak, Skyline Locust, and Linden trees.
(b) Ornamental trees shall have a minimum caliper of one and one-half inches.
(c) Ornamental shrubs shall have a minimum height of at least 24 inches as measured from the base of the trunk, and a minimum spread of at least 18 inches as measured by the average width diameter of the shrub foliage.
(4) Ground cover.
(a) All plantings will be mulched in with a natural material.
(b) For lots 15,000 square feet or less, the front yards and side yards to the building back corners of all single family residential homes shall be entirely sodded. The remainder of the yard may be sodded or seeded. All seeded areas shall be covered with straw or seeded by an equivalent or better method.
(c) Front yards of all non-residential buildings shall be entirely sodded. Any side yards to the building back corners will be sodded at least 20 feet from the building foundation, if these side areas are to be landscaped with turf. The remainder of the yard shall be seeded and covered with straw or seeded by an equivalent or better method.
(5) Prohibited plant materials. As a matter of best practice and in accordance with state and federal regulations plants that are classified as being illegal in the State of Indiana or as a federal noxious weed are hereby prohibited from being planted on public or private property in the jurisdiction of the town.
(D) Supplemental tree plantings provisions. All lots, including common areas, within subdivisions shall be planted with supplementary shade trees if less than the required number of trees exists on the lot after construction is complete. For design flexibility, one shade tree may be substituted for two ornamental trees or two evergreen trees for up to 50% of the required supplemental trees. Existing deciduous trees at least eight inches in caliper may be used to fulfill the supplemental tree planting requirements. Existing deciduous trees over 12 inches in caliper may reduce by one the required number of supplemental trees. Existing evergreen trees over eight feet in height may also be used to fulfill supplemental tree planting requirements.
Table 3: Supplemental Tree Plantings Provisions
Supplemental Tree Plantings
| |
Lot Size | Shade Trees
|
qty. | |
< 12,000 sq. ft. | 1 |
12,001 to 20,000 sq. ft. | 2 |
20,001 to 1 acre | 3 |
> 1 acre | 3 per acre |
(E) Preservation of topographic patterns and existing trees. Where natural or existing topographic patterns contribute to the beauty and/or utility of a development, they shall be preserved and protected. Modification to topography shall be permitted where it contributes to the design. Existing trees eight inches or greater in caliper that have good form and will be protected in place may count toward the landscape requirements.
(F) Installation and maintenance.
(1) Installation. All landscaping required by the approved landscaping plan shall be installed prior to the issuance of a building occupancy permit if said permit is issued during a planting season, or within six months of the date an occupancy permit is issued if issued during a non-planting season.
(2) Maintenance.
(a) It shall be the responsibility of the owners and their agencies to insure proper maintenance of the landscaping, in accordance with the standards set by this chapter and as indicated on the landscaping plan which has been approved by the Plan Commission. This includes, but is not necessarily limited to, replacing dead plantings with identical varieties or a suitable substitute, and keeping the area free of refuse and debris.
(b) It shall be the duty and responsibility of every person owning or occupying any real property within the town to keep all trees and plants on their respective property trimmed in such a manner that there is a clearance of at least 14 feet above any street or alley, and a clearance of at least seven feet over any sidewalk. It shall also be the duty and responsibility of every person owning or occupying any real property within the town to keep all trees on their respective property trimmed in such a manner that they do not obstruct the view of any traffic sign or device for vehicular or non-vehicular traffic in the direction controlled by that traffic sign or device.
(c) The practice of topping or other especially destructive maintenance practices such as severely trimming trees is strictly forbidden. For the purposes of administering and enforcing this chapter, the phrase severely trimmed shall include cutting of the branches or trunk of a tree in a manner which will substantially reduce the overall size of the tree area so as to destroy the existing symmetrical appearance or natural shape of the tree in a manner which results in the removal of main lateral branches leaving the trunk of the tree in a stub appearance.
(d) All trees shall be trimmed so as to comply with the ANSI A300 standards, as amended from time to time.
(3) Changes after approval. No landscaping that has been approved by the Plan Commission may later be altered, eliminated, or sacrificed, without first obtaining further Plan Commission approval.
(4) Inspection. The Administrative Officer, or his or her designee, shall have the authority to visit any lot within the Commission's jurisdiction to inspect the landscaping and check it against the approved plan on file.
(G) Diseased or hazardous trees and plans. The town shall have the exclusive authority to destroy any plants in or on public streets, alleyways, places or parks if infected by disease or injurious insects, or if in the judgment of the Public Works Commissioner, or his or her designee, represents a dangerous condition or hazard to the public. Such destruction may also be effected when necessary for the protection of other flora or in any other case when the public safety, health, or welfare is or may be adversely affected, as determined by the Public Works Commissioner, or his or her designee.
(H) All landscape installations shall review the McCordsville Preferred Planting Guide. This guide is not exhaustive and inclusive of all appropriate selections; therefore, proposals for additions and/or substitutions to the guide may be submitted to the Zoning Administrator for consideration. However, any species which is listed as invasive or having poor characteristics shall be avoided and will not be counted towards any landscape requirements.
(I) All industrial zoned lots shall incorporate a minimum 20 foot wide perimeter landscape area along all perimeter road frontages. This perimeter landscape area shall include mounding and landscape plantings. Mounding shall be undulating, with at least 50% of the length of the mounding a minimum of three feet higher than average adjacent grade of the property. The required landscape material shall be no less than five trees and ten shrubs per 100 lineal feet. Plantings shall feature a mix of evergreen and deciduous plantings.
(Ord. 121410, passed 1-11-2011; Ord. 111114, passed 11-11-2014; Ord. 010819, passed 2-12-2019; Ord. 111020C, passed 12-8-2020)