A. Applicability.
1. Any new construction or reconstruction of a parking lot must comply with the requirements of this Section.
2. Expansion of an existing parking lot must comply with the requirements of this Section for all newly created parking and access areas.
3. Where the expansion increases the amount of parking less than twenty five (25) percent of the existing parking provided, then only the newly created parking and access areas shall comply with the requirements of this Section.
B. Parking Area Buffer Standards. The following standards shall apply to the landscaping of off-street parking and vehicle use area (parking area) buffers:
1. Location. Where any parking area abuts a right-of-way or another development, the parking area must be screened in accordance to these standards.
a. A parking area shall be defined as any surface area used for off-street parking, storage or display of vehicles, areas for loading and unloading goods, and service areas and drive-throughs.
b. Parking area buffers shall be credited toward the perimeter buffer requirement along the portion of the lot line parallel to the to the parking lot perimeter buffer. If the perimeter buffer is equal or more intense than the parking area buffer, the required components of the parking area buffer are not required. See Figure 8.3.6 for an illustrative example of parking area buffers.
2. Buffer Type. A parking area buffer shall be in the form of Buffer Type 1 (unless exempted per Section 8.3.6.8.3), as provided in Table 8.3.1, and require the additional standards below:
a. Fences/Walls. If the required perimeter buffer does not require a fence or wall, any parking area buffer adjacent to residential use shall include a fence/wall of at least four (4) feet in height at the perimeter of the property. Fences/walls shall meet the standards provided in Section 8.3.10.
b. Shrubs. Required shrubs shall be grouped with a required tree, and there shall be no gaps greater than ten (10) feet between required shrubs.
c. Plant Material. All required plant material shall be uniformly distributed along the perimeter of the parking area.
3. Exemptions.
a. Driveways for single family or two family dwellings shall not be considered parking areas for purposes of this Section.
C. Terminal Islands. The following standard shall apply to all terminal islands:
1. Each row of parking spaces shall end with terminal islands to separate parking from adjacent drive lanes. See Figure 8.3.7 for an illustrative example of a terminal island.
2. Each terminal island shall measure at least eight (8) feet in width by eighteen (18) feet in length, measured from the inside of the curb.
3. Within terminal islands, one (1) large or medium canopy tree shall be required for every one-hundred-and-fifty (150) square feet (or fraction above one half thereof), with a minimum of one (1) large or medium canopy tree (as provided in Table 8.3.3) required per terminal island.
4. Terminal islands shall be landscaped with shrubs, accent plants, ornamental grasses, and ground cover, excluding sod, which is planted to provide one hundred (100) percent coverage within two (2) years.
5. Landscaping in islands adjacent to parking spaces shall be set back a minimum of two (2) feet behind the back of the curb to provide for pedestrian access to parked vehicles.
6. Parking lots or portions of parking lots not visible from the streets excluding alleys, shall not be required to install terminal islands.
D. Interior Islands. The following standard shall apply to all interior islands:
1. If interior islands are utilized in the parking area configuration, each interior island shall measure at least eight (8) feet in width by eighteen (18) feet in length, measured from the inside of the curb. See Figure 8.3.7 for an illustrative example of an interior island.
2. The Director may reduce the required width by up to three (3) feet (minimum width five (5) feet) where existing site constraints (e.g. small site) make compliance impracticable or where such reduction will allow preservation of existing trees.
3. Interior islands less than five (5) feet in width, measured from the inside of the curb, shall not be credited towards interior landscaping unless a design alternative is granted. Within interior islands, one (1) large or medium canopy tree shall be required for every one-hundred-and-fifty (150) square feet (or fraction above one half thereof), with a minimum of one (1) large or medium canopy tree required per interior island.
4. Landscaping in islands adjacent to parking spaces shall be set back a minimum of two (2) feet behind the back of the curb to provide for pedestrian access to parked vehicles.
E. Divider Medians. The following standard shall apply to all divider medians:
1. Landscaped divider medians shall form a continuous landscaped strip between abutting rows of parking areas or access drives. See Figure 8.3.7 for an illustrative example of a divider median.
2. The minimum width of a divider median shall be a minimum seven (7) feet, measured from the inside of the curb.
3. One (1) large or medium canopy tree or two (2) small under-story trees shall be required for each thirty (30) linear feet of divider median (or fraction above one half thereof).
4. Shrubs shall be planted in divider medians which separate parking areas from access drives to form a continuous hedge the full length of the divider median.
5. Pedestrian scale lighting must be provided within divider median(s) and shall not exceed a maximum height of fifteen (15) feet.
F. Tree Placement. Trees shall not be located adjacent to free-standing sign faces or below wall sign faces where the tree will create a visual obstruction at the time of planting or in the future.
Note: a Divider Median is recommended between each parking area, however is not required)
(Am. Ord. O-2022-70, passed 11-8-22)