One (1) of the following street landscaping options is required on land abutting public streets or where otherwise referenced.
(a) Greenbelt.
(1) Minimum width of ten (10) feet. The Commission may permit the width of the greenbelt to be reduced in cases where existing conditions do not permit a ten (10) foot width and in the Central Business District (CBD) (e.g., in a terrace or tree lawn of a public right-of-way), where it is desirable to maintain a shallow front setback in keeping with the character of the CBD. In such cases, the greenbelt requirement may be met through the provision of street trees or the provision of landscaping as required below.
(2) At least one (1) deciduous tree and four (4) shrubs per each forty (40) lineal feet of street frontage. Location of the trees and shrubbery is discretionary. In the CBD, additional canopy trees may be provided in lieu of the requirement for shrubs at the rate of one (1) additional canopy tree for every four (4) shrubs.
(3) The greenbelt area shall contain grass, vegetation ground cover, mulch, or crushed stone on a weed barrier, and be curbed or edged.
(4) Where headlights from parked vehicles will shine into the roadway, the Commission may require the use of a totally obscuring hedge with a minimum height of twenty-four (24) inches and a maximum height of thirty-six (36) inches.
(b) Berm.
(1) Minimum height of two (2) feet with a crest at least three (3) feet in width. The height of the berm may meander if the intent of this Chapter is met and an appropriate screen is provided.
(2) The exterior face of the berm shall be constructed as an earthen slope, with a slope not to exceed one (1) foot of vertical rise to three (3) feet of horizontal distance (1:3). The interior face of the berm may be constructed as an earthen slope or retained by means of a wall, terrace, or other means acceptable to the Commission.
(3) At least one (1) deciduous tree shall be provided for each thirty (30) feet of lineal berm length.
(4) At least one (1) minimum shrub shall be provided for each one-hundred (100) square feet of berm surface area, as calculated from a plan view.
(5) Berm slopes shall be protected from erosion by sodding or seeding. If the slopes are seeded, they shall be protected until the seed germinates and a permanent lawn is established by a straw mulch, hydro-mulching, or netting specifically designed to control erosion.
(c) Buffer Strip.
(1) Minimum width of ten (10) feet.
(2) All trees shall be evergreens.
(3) The buffer planting area shall contain grass, vegetation ground cover, mulch, or crushed stone on a seed barrier, and be curbed or edged as necessary.
(Ord. 1166. Passed 9-24-01.)