A. Perimeter:
1. Front Setback Areas:
a. Landscaping in these areas shall consist of three (3) trees, and five (5) 5-gallon and ten (10) 1-gallon shrubs per one hundred (100) linear feet of frontage. The trees and shrubs shall either be clustered or spread out at regular intervals. The remaining area shall be planted with living ground cover in order for the front setback area to meet a minimum fifty percent (50%) of landscape bed coverage at the time of planting. Landscaping shall consist of a water efficient design with watering zones having plants and similar water needs. All unpaved areas not utilized for parking or access shall be landscaped in a similar manner,
b. The entire area between the curb and the building or parking setback line shall be landscaped and irrigated, except for any access driveway in said area,
c. In no case shall the front landscaped area be less than ten feet (10') behind the back side of sidewalk or street right of way line, except in the TOD, M-U and MCCD districts,
d. All commercial, manufacturing and multi-family residential development fronting public or private streets shall plant trees in conformance with species and spacing specified in the applicable streetscape plan,
e. Where a park strip is provided, the park strip shall be planted with low growth which may include ground cover and shrubs not exceeding three feet (3') in height, and/or high branching trees (branching shall begin not less than 6 feet above the soil surface). Park strip areas shall also meet the minimum landscape bed coverage of fifty percent (50%) at time of planting,
f. Ground cover is required to provide fifty percent (50%) bed coverage at time of planting. Coverage calculations shall be included in the formal landscaping plan. Ground cover includes grasses, shrubs and other low growing vegetation, but does not include trees. Evergreen trees may be counted as ground cover if branches reach the ground.
2. Abutting Properties: Where multi-family residential, commercial or manufacturing uses abut legal conforming single-family residential or where commercial or manufacturing abut legal conforming multi-family residential uses, a masonry wall, measuring six feet (6') high plus a minimum ten foot (10') wide landscaped buffer consisting of trees and water efficient plant material as required by this section shall be placed between the property line and any paved area.
B. Interior:
1. Nonparking Areas: All unpaved areas not utilized for parking or storage, shall be landscaped utilizing drought tolerant ground cover, shrub and tree materials, and/or grass.
2. Parking Areas: For parking lots with fifty (50) or more parking stalls, the following standards apply:
a. Distance To Landscape Area: All parking spaces shall be within seventy five feet (75') of a landscape area. Parking islands may be used to meet this standard.
b. Parking Islands:
(1) Parking islands shall be a minimum of one hundred sixty two (162) square feet in area, not including the curbing required by subsection C of this section.
(2) Parking islands shall be at least nine feet (9') wide including the curbing required by subsection C of this section.
(3) One tree and four (4) shrubs shall be required for each parking island installed.
c. Ground Cover Required: Ground cover is required to have fifty percent (50%) coverage at time of planting. Coverage calculations shall be included in the formal landscaping plan. Ground cover includes grasses, shrubs and other low growing vegetation but does not include trees. Evergreen trees may be counted as ground cover if branches reach the ground.
d. Trees; Required Size: Trees required for installation within interior parking areas shall be no less than two inch (2") caliper size at time of planting.
e. Trees; Location: Trees planted within interior landscape areas shall be located at least three feet (3') away from curb.
f. Shrubs; Size: Shrubs shall be no less in size than what is customarily accommodated within a one gallon size container, in accordance with industry standards.
C. Concrete Curbing:
1. Where required landscaping is located by driveways, parking areas, aisle space, docking areas or other similar usage in multiple-family, commercial and manufacturing districts, the landscaping must be enclosed by a six inch (6") poured concrete curb wall;
D. Accommodation Of Bus Benches And Shelters:
1. A bus bench or shelter may be placed in the landscape setback area required by this chapter if:
a. The bench or shelter does not violate the sight distance restrictions applicable to fences and similar structures applicable to the same property under chapter 17.64 of this title,
b. The remaining area of the landscape area complies with this chapter, such as the concrete curbing, planting and irrigation requirements, and
c. The proposed bench or shelter meets any other conditions the community development director deems appropriate;
2. This subsection D does not require a property owner or occupant to allow placement of a bench or shelter in the landscape setback;
3. This subsection D does not grant or confer upon any person any right to place a bus bench or shelter without permission of the property owner or occupant;
4. If the bench or shelter is permanently removed from a landscape setback area, the landscaping and related concrete curbing and irrigation shall be installed or restored as required by this chapter. (Ord. 14-01: Ord. 13-03)