A. A landscape plan shall be submitted to the Plan Commission for its approval at the same time other plans (such as architectural design, lighting, parking, signage, and site plans) are submitted. This plan shall be drawn to scale and shall delineate all existing and proposed structures, parking areas, walks, ramps for the handicapped, terraces, driveways, signs, lighting standards, steps and other similar structures, and shall delineate the location, size, and description of all landscape materials. Landscape treatments for plazas, roads, paths, service and parking areas shall be designed as an integral and coordinated part of the landscape plan for the entire lot.
B. Areas to be Landscaped.
1. Buffering Between Land Uses.
a. Developments that have non-residential and residential uses abutting one another shall provide a landscape buffer 20 feet wide planted with five trees and 55 shrubs per 100 linear feet of transitional yard between the non-residential and residential uses. It shall be the responsibility of the new land use creating the incompatibility to construct and maintain the landscape buffer.
b. Developed lots or lots with unexpired permits at the time of adoption of this ordinance are exempt from this requirement.
c. Undeveloped properties, expansions of more than 40 percent of existing floor area, and rezoned property are subject to the provisions of this section.
d. Landscape buffers shall not overlap into required planting along rights-of-way.
e. The width of the required buffer and the number of shrubs may be reduced by half with the construction of an opaque wall of fence. The fence or wall shall be opaque (solid) and constructed of material compatible with the principle building in composition and color. The wall shall have a minimum height of five feet and a maximum height of seven feet.
1. Screening of Loading and Storage Areas. Screening shall be by opaque wall or fence six to eight feet in height. One-third of the surface area of the wall or fence must be screened from the right-of-way with plants within two years of the certificate of occupancy. Screening shall be evergreen, have a minimum height of 30 inches when installed, and planted at a maximum spacing of four feet on center.
2. Planting Adjacent to Free-Standing Non-Residential Buildings. A planting area five feet wide shall be installed along all sides of buildings. Sidewalks may be permitted in these areas, but shall not occupy the entire area on any side of the building. These adjacent planting areas need not be rectangular in shape as long as the required amount of space is landscaped. Innovative and original designs are encouraged. The adjacent planting area at the rear of a structure may be excluded if that structure is located less than 40 feet from the rear property line and sufficient peripheral planting is included to compensate for its removal.
3. Supplemental Tree Plantings. All lots, including common areas, within major subdivisions shall be planted with supplementary trees if less than the required number of trees exists on the lot after construction is complete. Required street yard trees are additional to the following table.
Lot Size | Supplemental Shade Trees |
‹ 12,000 sq. ft. | 1 |
12,001 to 20,000 sq. ft. | 2 |
20,001 to 30,000 sq. ft. | 3 |
30,001 to 1 acre | 4 |
› 1 acres | 5 per acre |
For design flexibility, one shade tree may be substituted for two ornamental trees or two evergreen trees for up to 50 percent of the required supplemental trees. Existing trees 6 to 12 inches in caliper may be used to fulfill the supplemental tree planting requirements. Existing trees over 12 inches in caliper may reduce by one the required number of supplemental trees.
6. Planting within Parking Lots.
a. Parking lots with more than 10 spaces shall be landscaped.
b. Parking areas within 50 feet of a right-of-way shall have a planted screen between the parking perimeter and the street yard. Screening must be at least three feet high with no gaps greater than four feet. (Exceptions: car sales lots and driveways.) Walls not to exceed four feet in height may be used to substitute for vegetation.
c. Planting areas shall be reasonably dispersed throughout the parking area. Not less than five percent of the parking lot shall be landscaped. Landscape buffers and landscaping adjacent to buildings and on the periphery of the parking lot shall not be included toward the interior parking lot planting requirements. Landscaping shall be specifically provided at the ends of parking rows and as a means of separating parking from major circulation aisles within parking lots. One shade tree per 2,400 square feet of surface area is required. One shrub per 500 square feet of surface area is required. No parking space shall be further than 60 feet from the trunk of a shade tree. Existing shade trees over 12 inches in caliper may be used to fulfill these requirements.
d. Peripheral Planting. A peripheral landscaping strip four feet wide shall be installed along the side of any parking area that abuts any side or rear property line separating the parcel from any residential uses or districts. At least one tree for each 50 lineal feet shall be planted in any such peripheral landscape strip.
7. Planting along Rights-of-Way. Street trees shall be planted parallel with the street between the curb and sidewalk. In commercial areas where there is no parkway, the trees shall be planted in tree wells. The tree species shall be the same for a street. Spacing shall be determined by tree type with a minimum spacing of 10 feet on center and a maximum spacing of 40 feet on center. Street trees shall be seedless hardwood shade trees. Species should be selected based upon hardiness, durability, root systems that do not damage sidewalks, and leaf and fruit litter that will not clog storm drain inlets. The following species shall not be used for street trees:
Silver Maples | Sweetgums |
Pin Oaks | Cottonwoods |
Locust varieties with thorns |
C. Landscaping Standards.
1. The interior dimensions, specifications, and design of any planting area shall be sufficient to protect the trees and shrubs planted and provide for their proper growth.
2. The primary plant materials used in and around parking areas shall be trees that provide shade at maturity. Shrubs and other plantings may be used to compliment tree landscaping, but shall not be the sole contribution to the landscaping.
3. Plant materials should be appropriate to local growing and climatic conditions. Whenever appropriate, existing trees greater than 12 inches in caliper should be conserved and integrated into the landscape plan. Plant materials shall be selected for their purpose, structure, texture, hardiness, and appearance.
4. The landscape plan shall ensure that sight distances are not obstructed for drivers of motor vehicles.
5. Where natural or existing topographic patterns contribute to beauty and utility of a development, they shall be preserved and protected. Modification to topography shall be permitted where it contributes to the design.
6. Plant materials shall conform to the requirements described in the latest edition of the American Standard Nursery Stock, which is published by the American Association of Nurserymen. Shade trees shall have a minimum caliper of 2 inches. Ornamental trees shall have a minimum caliper of 1½ inches.
7. Existing trees 4 inches or greater in caliper that have good form and will be protected in place may count toward the landscape requirements.
D. Landscaping Installation and Maintenance.
1. Installation. All landscaping required by the approved landscaping plan shall be installed prior to the issuance of a building occupancy permit if said permit is issued during a planting season, or within six months of the date an occupancy permit is issued during a non-planting season.
2. Maintenance. It shall be the responsibility of the owners and their agencies to insure proper maintenance of the landscaping, in accordance with the standards set by this Ordinance and as indicated on the landscaping plan which has been approved by the Plan Commission. This is to include, but is not limited to, replacing dead plantings with identical varieties or a suitable substitute and keeping the area free of refuse and debris.
3. Changes after Approval. No landscaping that has been approved by the Area Plan Commission may later be altered, eliminated, or sacrificed without first obtaining further Plan Commission approval.
4. Inspection. The Area Plan Commission, or their duly appointed representative, shall have the authority to visit any lot within the Town of New Palestine to inspect the landscaping and check it against the approved plan on file.