§ 159.183 DESIGN STANDARDS AND GUIDELINES.
   Landscape plans described above shall be prepared and reviewed based on the following design standards and guidelines. Design standards are objectively measurable design requirements that can be definitively evaluated for compliance. Design guidelines are not precisely measurable but compliance can be determined through the evaluation process of site plan review.
   (A)   Design Guidelines.
      (1)   Plant Materials. Plant materials used in conformance with the provisions of this section shall be of good quality, disease and pest free at planting, and of a species normally grown in Central Indiana, and capable of withstanding the extremes of individual site microclimates. Plant material shall be selected for interest in its structure, texture, color, and for its ultimate growth. A variety of compatible species should be included in the planting plan for a specific site or development. The use of drought-tolerant plant material is preferred. The use of salt-tolerant plant material is preferred for landscaping in or near the rights-of-way.
         (a)   The primary landscaping materials used in and around private parking areas shall be trees that provide shade at maturity. Shrubs, groundcover, and other planting materials may be used to compliment tree landscaping, as described above but shall not be the sole contribution to the landscaping.
         (b)   The primary landscaping materials used in the landscape buffer yards and adjacent to the buildings shall be shade trees, ornamental trees, shrubs, and groundcovers and other planting materials.
         (c)   The primary landscaping materials used in LID Stormwater BMP's shall be trees, shrubs, and herbaceous vegetation that are able to tolerate and thrive at various depths and lengths of inundation. Refer to Appendix H-3 "Stormwater Technical Standards Manual".
      (2)   Softening of Walls and Fences. Plant materials should be placed intermittently against long expanses of building walls, fences, and other barriers to create a softening effect.
      (3)   Clearance. Trees shall be planted so that when they reach maturity, there will be a minimum of ten feet of clearance between the tree trunks and structures, buildings, overhangs, walls, fences, and/or other trees.
      (4)   Scale and Nature of Landscaping Material. The scale and nature of landscaping materials shall be appropriate to the size of the structures. Large scaled buildings, for example, should generally be complemented by larger scaled plants. Form, texture, color, pattern of growth, and adaptability to local conditions shall be considered when selecting plant materials.
      (5)   Evergreens. Evergreens should be incorporated into the landscape treatment of a site, particularly in those areas where screening and buffering are required.
      (6)   Planting Beds. Planting beds should be mulched but mulch shall not be used as a substitute for plant materials.
      (7)   Preservation of Existing Plant Materials. Existing plant material should be incorporated into the landscaping treatment of a site. The preservation of natural features and landscaping is a criterion for subdivision and planned development review. (See § 159.191 for additional requirements).
      (8)   Protection of Plant Materials.
         (a)   The interior dimensions, specifications, and design of any planting area or planting median proposed to be constructed shall be sufficient to protect the landscaping materials planted therein and to provide for proper growth.
         (b)   Clearance of trees and vegetation during the land development process shall be limited to that necessary for and directly related to the construction of improvements specifically authorized by the improvement location permit.
         (c)   In locations where plants will be susceptible to injury by pedestrian or motor traffic, they shall be protected by appropriate curbs, tree guards or other devices.
         (d)   Landscaping installed adjacent to parking areas shall require that all plant materials are set back from the edge of the pavement/concrete a sufficient distance so that parked vehicles do not overhang the landscape area and destroy or damage the plant materials.
      (9)   Designing for Safety. Landscaping shall not be approved which would inhibit or make more difficult the use of emergency vehicles, and all approved landscaping plans will give consideration to safety precautions which will protect both vehicular and the pedestrian public. Landscaping modifications will also be considered for public buildings, including schools, to allow for greater visibility and allow for natural surveillance around the building structure. Plantings in landscaping areas shall not obstruct line-of-sight or vision corner clearance areas. To maintain site lines trees shall be planted a minimum of 20 feet from the curb of intersecting streets, five feet from a driveway, and ten feet from a street light or street regulatory or warning signs. Adequate provisions for snow storage shall be considered by the Director of Planning and Development or his or her designee.
      (10)   Detention/Retention Basins and Ponds. Detention/ retention basins and ponds shall be landscaped. Such landscaping should include shade and ornamental trees, evergreens, shrubs, hedges, turf, groundcover, and other plant materials. To enhance the stormwater quality benefits of detention/retention basins and ponds, native plants shall be used to filter and trap harmful sediments and pollutants before they reach the basin or pond. Refer to Appendix H-3 "Stormwater Technical Standards Manual".
      (11)   LID Stormwater BMP's. LID Stormwater BMP's shall be landscaped. Areas included in rain gardens or vegetated sites including features created to meet Stormwater Management Requirements Ordinance No. 24-5-06 and any amendments thereto shall be counted toward any interior site or parking lot landscaping, and if vegetated to meet the requirements for landscaped buffers shall count towards those buffer requirements.
      (12)   Domestic Turf Grasses. Domestic turf grasses should be used in areas with little or no slope to prevent the runoff or irrigation water.
      (13)   Energy Conservation. Plant material placement will be designed to reduce the energy consumption needs of the development.
         (a)   Deciduous trees should be placed on the south and west sides of buildings to provide shade from the summer sun.
         (b)   Evergreen and other plant materials should be concentrated on the north side of buildings to dissipate the effect of winter winds.
      (14)   Height of Landscaping.
         (a)   Where proposed landscaping or screening is to abut a public road or parking area, the measured height of materials used shall be based on the grade of the abutting road or parking area and the top of the material used.
         (b)   Where a proposed landscape or screening area is to abut an adjoining neighbor’s property line, the measured height of materials used shall be based on the grade of the abutting property line and the top the material used.
      (15)   Noise Reduction. Properties adjacent to highly traveled roads, and/or commercial or industrial uses shall arrange landscaping to reduce the intensity of noise by reflecting, deflecting, or absorbing sound. Earth berms, walls, fences and/or plantings providing physical separation are examples of techniques to reduce or absorb noise.
   (B)   Design Standards.
      (1)   Selection. Permitted plant materials are outlined in Table 12.0.4.E and the following: All plants shall conform to the American Standard for Nursery Stock (ANSI Z60.1) size and width specifications.
         (a)   Trees.
            1.   Canopy Trees. Unless otherwise noted, all canopy trees proposed to be used in accordance with this classification shall be a minimum of 12 feet in height and have a minimum trunk caliper of two and one-half inches at the time of planting 12 inches above the grade. The trees should be of a variety which will attain an average mature spread greater than 35 feet. Canopy trees that are multi-stemmed must be a minimum of 12 feet in height, and have a minimum of three stems at the time of planting.
            2.   Understory Trees. All understory trees proposed to be used in accordance with this classification shall be a minimum of eight feet in height and have a minimum trunk caliper of one and one-half inches at the time of planting. They should be of a variety that will attain an average mature height of greater than 15 feet. Understory trees that are multi-stemmed must be a minimum of eight feet in height and have a minimum of three stems at the time of planting.
            3.   Evergreen Trees. All evergreen trees proposed to be used in accordance with this classification shall be a minimum of six feet in height at the time of planting. They should be of a variety that will attain an average mature height of greater than 15 feet.
            4.   Evergreen Understory Trees. All evergreen understory trees proposed to be used in accordance with this classification shall be a minimum of six feet in height at the time of planting. They should be of a variety that will attain an average mature height of equal to or less than 15 feet.
         (b)   Shrubs and Grasses.
            1.   Evergreen Shrubs. Unless otherwise noted, all shrubs to be used in accordance with this classification shall have a minimum height of 18 inches at the time of planting and a maximum height of four feet at maturity. Shrubs used to form hedges shall be of a non-deciduous species and shall be spaced not more than 36 inches apart so as to form a continuous visual screen and a minimum of 36 inches in height above grade.
            2.   Deciduous Shrubs. Unless otherwise noted, all shrubs to be used in accordance with this classification shall have a minimum height of 18 inches at the time of planting and a maximum height of four feet at maturity.
            3.   Ornamental Grasses. All ornamental grasses used in accordance with this classification shall be a minimum height of 24 inches at the time of planting and a maximum height of four feet at maturity. Ornamental grasses may be used to supplement shrub plantings within perimeter parking landscape areas and interior parking islands but shall not constitute more than 20% of the plantings in these areas. Normal maintenance of ornamental grasses constitutes trimming back the grasses to no more than four inches in height in the spring of each year.
         (c)   Native Prairie Grasses and/or Wildflowers. Due to circumstances where maintaining large areas of turf grasses is impractical or difficult, establishing an area of native prairie grasses or wildflowers, may be permitted at the discretion of the Director of Planning and Development, under the following conditions:
            1.   Must be set back from the property lines by a minimum of five feet. The setback is not required where the defined landscape area abuts another similar private or public landscape area.
            2.   Must be a minimum of 15 feet from any building foundation.
            3.   Must be maintained at least once per year through mowing or, burning if appropriate, and permits are obtained through the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) and the Noblesville Fire Department.
 
   Table 12.0.4.B.
   Additional Permitted Landscape Materials
Trees
Permitted — See § 159.183(B)(1)(a)
Shrubs and Grasses
Permitted — See § 159.183(B)(1)(b)
Evergreen Groundcover
Permitted if less than 30 inches in height at maturity
Flowers
Permitted but cannot exceed 50% of planting area and shall not exceed 36 inches in height at maturity
Turf
Permitted
 
 
   Table 12.0.4.B.
   Additional Permitted Landscape Materials
Bark and Mulch
Permitted but cannot exceed 75% of the planting area and in combination with vegetation
Rocks, Stone, and Gravel
Permitted for building base landscaping material only. Landscaping rock and stone are permitted provided it meets a 3/4 inch or 1-1/2 inch in size and shall meet INDOT course aggregate sizes five through 8.
Other Impervious Materials (brick pavers, concrete pavers, decorative concrete)
Permitted in planting areas under 24 inches wide in lieu of plants. Asphalt is prohibited.
 
         (d)   Prohibited Landscape Materials. Prohibited landscape materials include rock, gravel, stone used in internal and perimeter parking lot areas and landscape buffer yards; asphalt, thorn-bearing plant species and the ‘Juniper’ plant species. Flowering species such as roses may be authorized by the Director of Planning and Development.
      (2)   Clustering of Trees. Where trees are required based on a linear footage calculation, it may be possible for these trees to be planted in clusters as opposed to being evenly spaced in a line. In the case where clustering is used, no tree shall be located any closer than ten feet, or any further than 50 feet from the next closest required tree. Any such clustering plan must be approved by the Director of Planning and Development prior to installation of the landscaping.
      (3)   Staggering Requirement for Trees and Shrubs. When required for perimeter parking landscaping and buffering, trees and shrubs may be required to be planted in staggered rows to provide the effective diagonal planting of the plants.
         (a)   Tree Staggering. These rows should be planted in a manner to provide for equal spacing both in width and depth between each plant.
 
         (b)   Shrub Staggering. Shrubs should be planted in an alternating pattern formed by two rows, two feet apart on center, each of which is made up of shrubs six feet on center.
 
      (4)   Undulating Planting Beds. Where applicable, it is desirable to create undulating planting beds to provide more landscape interest, as opposed to trees and shrubs being evenly spaced in a straight line.
      (5)   Mixing Plant Species. When more than 20 shrubs and ten trees are required on a site to meet these regulations, a mix of species shall be provided. The following table indicates the maximum quantity of trees and shrubs of the same species and genus that may be planted. In addition, shrubs should generally be divided equally between deciduous and evergreen varieties.
 
   Table 12.0.B.4.6
   Mixing Plant Species
Total
Trees
Planted
on Site
Total
Shrubs
Planted
on Site
Minimum
Number of Species Required
Maximum Percentage of any Single Species
10 to 30
20 to 200
2
70%
30 to 100
200 to 400
3
50%
> 100
> 400
4
30%
 
      (6)   Berms. Berms shall maintain a maximum height of six feet and a minimum height of three feet. The berm shall be required to maintain a 3 to 1 slope. The top of such berms shall be located as closely as possible to the property line of the use. The landscaping required in this case shall be equal in number to the landscaping number otherwise required for buffering of the use. In terms of height, the landscaping plus the berm shall be required to meet the height standard that would otherwise be required for the buffering of the use.
      (7)   Fences or Walls. Decorative fences or walls shall be permitted, in addition to required landscaping, between a nonresidential development and adjacent residential structures or along the frontage of residential subdivisions. This standard does not apply to individual single-family or two-family residences. Fences or walls shall comply with the following:
         (a)   Fences and walls shall be solid, opaque, and constructed of wood or masonry.
         (b)   No fence shall be located inside of any required front yard setback unless granted a variance from the Board of Zoning Appeals or a waiver from the Plan Commission and/or Council.
         (c)   In order to break the visual monotony of a masonry or wood fence or wall, at least one shrub or vine shall be planted abutting the wall for every ten feet of wall length, but not necessarily evenly spaced ten feet apart.
         (d)   The required shrubs/vines shall be installed outside of the fence/wall, and the fence/wall shall be erected a minimum of four feet inside the property line to allow for the planting and maintenance of the shrubs/vines.
         (e)   In lieu of the vine or shrubbery requirements above, the Director of Planning and Development shall be authorized to approve a masonry wall having significant design variation evenly spaced at internals of not more than 20 feet.
      (8)   Duplicate Planting Requirements. It is not the intent of this chapter to generate multiple rows of trees and shrubs resulting from implementation of this chapter together with street tree requirements and/or other landscaping treatments. In these instances, the most restrictive standard shall be used. In some instances, where the building or parking lot setback from the right-of-way is greater than 20 feet, street trees may still be required in addition to other landscaping requirements, per the discretion of the Director of Planning and Development.
      (9)   Application Variations.
         (a)   Central Core Map (Appendix G). Due to the more compact layout of the Central Core Map, normal landscaping requirements may be impractical, therefore modified parking lot and landscaping buffer requirements are outlined in the associated tables in §§ 159.184 and 159.185.
         (b)   Corporate Campus Planned Development District (CCPD). See § 159.107 for landscaping requirements.
         (c)   Federal Hill Planned Development District (FeHiPD). See § 159.109 for landscaping requirements.
         (d)   Village Center Planned Development District (VCPD). See § 159.109 for landscaping requirements.
         (e)   All Other Areas. Landscaping standards as set forth within this chapter, apply to all areas within the Noblesville Planning Jurisdiction outside of the Central Core Map, Corporate Campus Planned Development District, Federal Hill Planned Development District, and the Village Center Planned Development District as described above.
      (10)   Installation Prior to Certificate of Occupancy. All landscaping required by the approved landscaping plan shall be installed prior to issuance of the final certificate of occupancy unless approved by the Director of Planning and Development for weather related reasons or unique circumstances. Where landscaping cannot be installed, a surety bond must be posted with the city covering 110% of the estimated installation costs including the plant materials.
(Ord. 64-11-08, passed 12-9-08; Am. Ord. 31-9-10, passed 9-28-10; Am. Ord. 32-10-11, passed 11-15-11; Am. Ord. 10-03-13, passed 4-9-13; Am. Ord. 22-06-13, passed 7-9-13; Am. Ord. 25-04-15, passed 5-12-15; Am. Ord. 25-07-17, passed 8-15-17)