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When landscape is required by this Article, the following design standards apply.
A. Minimum Planting Sizes. Minimum planting sizes are as follows. For the purposes of determining trunk size, the diameter/caliper is measured at six inches above ground level, unless otherwise specified in current ANSI accredited Horticultural Standards.
1. Evergreen trees must have a minimum height of six feet.
2. Shade trees must have a 1.5 inch caliper.
3. Single stem ornamental trees must have a 1.5 inch caliper.
4. Multiple stem ornamental trees must have a minimum height of eight feet.
5. Evergreen or deciduous shrubs must have a minimum height of 18 inches.
B. Species Diversity. Diversity among required plant material is required for visual interest and to reduce the risk of losing a large population of plants due to disease. Table 10-1: Plant Diversity Requirements indicates the percentage of diversity required based on the total quantity of species being used. (For example, if a development requires 45 shade trees, no more than 18 trees (40%) can be of one species, and there must be a minimum of five different species within the 45 trees.) When the calculation of plant diversity requirements results in a fraction, the fraction is rounded up.
C. Stormwater Management.
1. Bio-retention areas are encouraged and are considered to meet the landscaping requirements. If a stormwater management pond is proposed, it must be integrated into the overall development and serve as a visual amenity to the site.
2. Parking lot islands and landscape areas are encouraged to be designed to accommodate stormwater detention and infiltration.
(Ord. 885, passed 11-21-2023)
A parking lot perimeter landscape is required for all parking lots that abut a street. A perimeter landscape yard is also required where a parking lot abuts an adjacent public space such as a plaza, public seating area, or park in any district. The landscaped area must be improved as follows:
A. Perimeter landscape must be established along the edge of the parking lot abutting a street, plaza, public seating area, or park to create a visually attractive environment. The landscape treatment must run the full length of the parking lot perimeter between the lot line and the edge of the parking lot, with the exception of accessways. Perimeter landscape area must be a minimum of 15 feet in width.
B. Shrubs must be planted and spaced sufficiently to form a continuous linear hedgerow at plant maturity a minimum of three feet in height within three years and achieve a minimum of four feet in height. The minimum number of shrubs required is one shrub for every three linear feet. Alternatively, a mix of shrubs, perennials, native grasses, and other planting types that provide a continuous screening of a minimum of three feet in height within three years may be used.
C. A minimum of one shade tree must be provided for every 40 linear feet of perimeter landscape yard. Two ornamental trees may be substituted for one shade tree and must be spaced one ornamental tree every 20 feet. Trees may be spaced linearly on-center or grouped to complement an overall design concept.
D. 60% of the remaining landscape area outside of shrub and tree masses must be planted in live groundcover, perennials, or ornamental grasses. Mulch or other permeable landscape materials are required for any remaining area.
E. The following alternatives are allowed in place of the requirements of items B. through D. (one of the two):
1. A low pedestrian masonry, brick, or stone wall a minimum of four feet to a maximum of six feet in height may be used. A mix of shrubs, perennials, native grasses, and other planting types must be installed between the front lot line and the wall to provide a softening effect.
2. An ornamental fence that is a minimum of 50% open a minimum of four feet to a maximum of six feet in height may be used. Shrubs as required above must be planted but shade trees are not required. 60% of the landscape area outside of required shrub and any tree masses must be planted in live groundcover, perennials, or ornamental grasses. Permeable landscape materials are required for any remaining area.
(Ord. 885, passed 11-21-2023)
The purpose of parking lot interior landscape is to help delineate vehicular and pedestrian passageways, minimize the negative visual impact of large expanses of pavement, provide shade and reduce heat and glare, and accommodate stormwater management techniques. All parking lots of 15 or more spaces are required to install parking lot interior landscape as follows:
A. Where more than 15 parking stalls are provided in a row, one parking lot island must be provided between every 15 parking spaces. Parking lot island locations may be varied based on specific site requirements or design scheme, but the total number of islands must be no less than the amount required of one island for every 15 spaces.
B. Parking lot islands must be at least the same dimension as the parking stall. Double rows of parking must provide parking lot islands that are the same dimension as the double row.
C. A minimum of one shade tree must be provided in every parking lot island or landscape area. If a parking lot island extends the width of a double row, then two shade trees are required. In addition to the required shade trees, a minimum of 30% of the area of every parking lot island must be planted in shrubs, live groundcover, perennials, or ornamental grasses.
D. In addition to parking lot islands, additional landscape areas must be provided within the interior of parking lots when the parking area is 20,000 square feet or more in area, which includes parking stalls, islands, and area for vehicular circulation. The minimum total landscape area of a parking lot, including parking lot islands, must be 10% of the total parking lot area. Parking lot perimeter landscape is excluded from the calculation of total parking lot area square footage and is not counted toward required landscape area.
E. Clearly delineated crosswalks of paving, brick paver, bituminous brick pattern stamping, or painted striping must connect landscaped areas and parking lot islands to building entrances to improve safe passageway for pedestrians. Curb cuts must be included on landscaped areas or islands where such crosswalks are located.
(Ord. 885, passe d 11- 21- 2023 )
A. Areas of any lot that are not covered by structures or pavement must be planted with live landscaping.
B. For non-residential uses, the total landscaping requirement for building sites must consist of one tree for each 3,000 square feet of lot area. Existing trees and trees required for plantings as per this Article are counted toward this requirement. Where building sites limit planting, the placement of trees in parkways or paved areas is encouraged.
(Ord. 885, passed 11-21-2023)
A. Buffer Yards.
1. O/R and TC Districts.
a. Where the interior side or rear lot line abuts a residential district: 100 feet.
b. Where the front or corner side lot line is located across the street from a residential district - this applies when at least 80% or more of the frontage directly across the street and between two consecutive intersecting streets is in a residential district: 100 feet.
2. H District.
a. Where the interior side or rear lot line abuts a residential district: 50 feet or the applicable interior side or rear minimum setback for the abutting residential district, whichever is greater.
b. Where the front or corner side lot line is located across the street from a residential district - this applies when at least 80% or more of the frontage directly across the street and between two consecutive intersecting streets is in a residential district: 50 feet or the applicable interior side or rear minimum setback for the abutting residential district, whichever is greater.
c. Where the front or corner side lot line is a continuation of a residential district's front or corner side lot line (no intersecting street): 50 feet or the applicable interior side or rear minimum setback for the abutting residential district, whichever is greater.
B. Rear and Interior Side Setback Buffer Yard. The required buffer yard in rear and interior side setbacks must be planted as required by this section. These are all new planting requirements.
1. Zone A. Zone A comprises the first 25 feet of the buffer yard, measured perpendicularly from the rear or interior side lot line. Requirements for plantings within zone A are as follows:
a. All areas outside of delineated planting beds must be seeded or sodded, except where natural vegetation is acceptable as approved by the Zoning Administrator.
b. One shade tree must be planted for every 20 linear feet of buffer yard length. As part of site plan approval, trees may be spaced at various intervals based upon specific site features or an overall design schema, but the total number of trees planted must be no less than one per 20 linear feet of buffer yard length. Existing trees in the buffer yard may count toward the buffer yard tree requirement. This credit is a 1:1 ratio (one existing tree for one required tree) regardless of the size of the existing tree.
c. One evergreen tree must be planted for every 30 feet of buffer yard length. As part of site plan approval, trees may be spaced at various intervals based upon specific site features or an overall design schema, but the total number of trees planted must be no less than one per 30 linear feet of buffer yard length. Existing trees in the buffer yard may count toward the buffer yard tree requirement. This credit is a 1:1 ratio (one existing tree for one required tree) regardless of the size of the existing tree.
d. One evergreen shrub must be planted for every three linear feet of buffer yard length. Required shrubs must be staggered, planted in two or more rows to provide depth and visual interest, and to lessen the visual gaps between required tree plantings. As part of site plan approval, shrubs may be spaced at various intervals based upon specific site features or an overall design schema, but the total number of shrubs planted must be no less than one per three linear feet of buffer yard length.
e. A solid fence or wall, constructed of wood, brick, masonry, or stone a minimum of six feet and a maximum of eight feet in height must be erected at the lot line for 100% of the buffer yard length, with the exception of required ingress/egress points. If constructed on a berm, the height of the berm is included, and the maximum height of a fence and berm combined is eight feet.
f. Required plant material may not be located closer than five feet from the fence line.
2. Zone B. Zone B comprises the remainder of the required buffer yard outside of zone A. Requirements for plantings within zone B are as follows:
a. All areas outside of delineated planting beds must be seeded or sodded, except where natural vegetation is acceptable as approved by the Zoning Administrator.
b. One shade tree is required per 3,000 square feet of buffer yard area within zone B. Ornamental trees may be substituted for shade trees at a ratio of 1.5 ornamental trees per one shade tree.
c. One deciduous or evergreen shrub is required per 300 square feet of buffer yard area within zone B.
d. In lieu of requ ired shru bs, as part of site plan review, alter native plan tings incl uding nati ve land scape treat ments such as prairie, meadow, or wildflower communities may be approved. Such alternative plantings must occupy 40% of the area of zone B.
C. Front and Corner Side Setback Buffer Yard. The required buffer yard in front and corner side setbacks must be planted as required by this section. These are all new planting requirements.
1. All areas outside of delineated planting beds must be seeded or sodded, except where natural vegetation is acceptable as approved by the Zoning Administrator.
2. One shade tree is required per 2,000 square feet of buffer yard area. Ornamental trees may be substituted for shade trees at a ratio of 1.5 ornamental trees per one shade tree.
3. One deciduous or evergreen shrub is required per 150 square feet of buffer yard area.
4. In lieu of required shrubs, as part of site plan review, alternative plantings including native landscape treatments such as prairie, meadow, or wildflower communities may be approved. Such alternative plantings must occupy 60% of the buffer yard area.
(Ord. 885, passed 11-21-2023)