A. Goal/Objective: The following landscaping standards are intended to promote the creation of green space within the city in order to maintain and increase aesthetics, buffer off street parking areas, reduce drainage off site, filter noise and light, and encourage the planting of trees throughout the community.
B. General Applicability: A landscaping plan shall be submitted and approved prior to the issuance of building permits for developments in all zoning districts except MU-1 and for single and two-family development, subject to the standards below:
1. Change Of Land Use: Whenever a new land use is established or a property is converted to a new land use type, landscape requirements shall be applicable to the entire lot.
2. Existing developments:
a. Whenever an owner makes improvements or repairs to existing properties that increase the floor area by more than one thousand (1,000) square feet or ten percent (10%), whichever is greater, or the property is improved beyond fifty percent (50%) of the assessed value of the structure(s), landscaping and tree standards shall apply to the entire site.
b. Whenever a building(s) is constructed or structurally altered by one or more smaller additions, landscape requirements shall be applicable to the new construction and adjoining yard only.
3. New and expanded parking areas shall meet landscape requirements. Parking areas without permanent hard surfaces shall meet the requirements if surfaced or altered in any way.
4. Whenever storage of materials or equipment is commenced on a site that has not previously been used for that purpose, screening shall be provided according to the landscape regulations.
5. If a property will be developed in phases, a site plan for the entire property shall be provided with the initial phase; plant units, however, unless part of a required screen or buffer, may be installed as phases are developed.
6. Exemptions and exceptions shall be as follows: Special consideration will be given to site design, topography, unique relationships to adjacent properties and existing utilities in enforcing screening requirements. If the applicant can demonstrate that the public interest is better served through alternative landscape design, the zoning administrator may permit variation from these regulations.
C. Planting:
1. Plants shall be planted in permeable, green spaces of adequate size to ensure the health of the plantings. Plants used to fulfill requirements of this section shall meet the standards of the American Nursery And Landscape Association.
2. Plant Units Required:
a. Within all zoning districts except MU-1, LI, HI and single and two-family development, a minimum of three (3) plant units shall be provided for each one thousand (1,000) square feet of lot area or fraction thereof.
b. Within any LI or HI district, a minimum of one (1) plant unit shall be provided for each one thousand (1,000) square feet of lot area or fraction thereof.
c. For properties abutting a gateway, as defined by Title 10-17E. GO: Gateway Overlay District, the minimum plant units for each one thousand (1,000) square feet of lot area or fraction thereof shall be increased to four (4).
d. A minimum of forty (40) plant units shall be provided for anyproperty.
e. Plant unit equivalencies:
Type Of Plant Material | Minimum Size At Time Of Planting | Equivalent Plant Units |
Large, mature evergreen or deciduous tree | 6 - 8' in height | 10 |
Small, mature evergreen or deciduous tree | 3 - 6' in height | 5 |
Mature shrub | 2 - 3 feet in height | 2.5 |
Perennials | 1 gallon | 1 |
3. Boulevard Trees: All developments within the city shall provide boulevard trees in addition to and separate from plant unit requirements of this subsection and in conformance with the standards outlined below:
a. All boulevard trees planted will be a minimum of six to eight feet (6 ‘ 8') in height at the time of planting and of a variety and placement approved by the City Forester.
b. The number of trees planted on any lot will be equivalent to that lot's total linear footage along the public street right of way divided by thirty feet (30') provided the total number of trees may be reduced so as to not conflict with driveways, fire hydrants, utilities and easement location or other impediments.
(1) Boulevard tree requirements may be waived by the zoning administrator due to conflicts.
(2) If boulevard trees cannot be placed in the boulevard due to conflicts, the same number of required boulevard trees shall be located along the front property line of the development, or as approved by zoning administrator.
D. Maintenance And Replacement: Trees, shrubs, fences, walls and other landscape features depicted on plans approved by the city will be considered as elements of the project in the same manner as parking, building materials and other plan details. The landowner, or successor in interest, or agent, if any, will be jointly responsible for regularly maintaining all landscaping so that it presents a healthy, neat, and orderly appearance, including the removal of weed species as well as the repair or replacement of damaged or destroyed landscaping.
E. Traffic Visibility Standards: Traffic visibility standards within section 10-19-16 of this chapter shall apply. (Ord. 2006-5, 3-6-2005; Ord. 2024-03, 7-22-2024)