All required landscaping and greenbelts shall comply with the following requirements, in addition to all other applicable requirements of this chapter:
(A) Minimum plant material standards.
(1) All plant materials shall be hardy, free of disease and insects, and indigenous to Hamilton County.
(2) Artificial plant material shall not be used within any required landscaped area. This shall not preclude the use of stone, shredded bark, wood chips, lava rock or similar accent materials within planting beds.
(3) All plant material shall be installed in a manner that does not alter drainage patterns on site or adjacent properties, or obstruct vision for safety of ingress or egress.
(4) No substitution of plant species or sizes shall be allowed unless approved by the Zoning Administrator in writing.
(5) All plant material shall be planted in a manner that will not cause damage to utility lines (above and below ground) and public roadways.
(6) Existing plant material which complies with the standards and intent of this chapter may be credited toward meeting the landscape requirements.
(7) The overall landscape plan shall not contain more than 33% of any one plant species.
(8) Plant material shall not be placed closer than four feet to any fence or property line.
(9) Where trees are placed in two or more rows, planting shall be staggered in rows.
(B) Minimum standards for berms.
(1) If berms are constructed, they shall be constructed to maintain a side slope not to exceed a one foot rise to a three foot run ratio. When topography or other site conditions prevent construction of berms at this ratio, retaining walls or terracing may be permitted. If a berm is constructed with a retaining wall or by terracing, the earthen slope shall face the exterior of the site.
(2) Bermed areas not containing planting beds shall be covered with grass or other living ground cover maintained in a healthy condition.
(3) Berms shall be constructed so drainage patterns on site or toward adjacent properties will not be altered and vision will not be obstructed for safety of ingress and egress.
(4) If berms are used for any part of a screen or greenbelt, all required plant material shall be placed on the top and side slope facing the exterior property line.
(C) Rain gardens. Rain gardens are encouraged as part of a site development and may be approved within a required greenbelt. If provided, rain gardens shall be prepared according to the following guidelines:
(1) The purpose of the rain garden is to absorb rain water and to improve the attractiveness of the site.
(2) The size of the rain garden shall be appropriate for the soils located on the site.
(3) Soils used in the rain garden shall be appropriately prepared and amended following any compaction that may have occurred during construction.
(4) The rain garden shall be graded to assure that rain water entering the garden will spread out over a large flat area and will soak into the soil.
(5) To minimize hazards to pedestrians, the rain garden shall be graded so that at its deepest it is approximately six inches.
(6) The rain garden is planted with native perennial flowers, grasses and sedges.
(7) The rain garden shall be maintained with minimal or no fertilizers; no herbicides or pesticides will be used.
(Res. 21-1165, passed 7-20-21)