All required buffers, screens, berms and street lawns shall comply with the following standards in addition to all other applicable requirements of this section:
A. All plant materials shall be hardy to Cuyahoga County and free of disease and insects. Acceptable trees may be selected from the list of desirable species in Appendix A or as approved by the reviewing authority.
B. Landscaped areas shall be maintained in a neat, healthy and orderly condition following accepted horticultural practices. Withered, dying and/or dead plants and trees shall be replaced within a reasonable period of time, but not longer than one (1) growing season.
C. Artificial plant material shall not be used within any required landscaped area. This shall not preclude the use of stone, shredded bark, wood chips, pine needles or similar accent materials within planting beds.
D. All plant material, screens and berms shall be installed in such a manner so as not to alter drainage patterns on the site or adjacent properties or to obstruct vision for safety of ingress or egress.
E. All plant material shall be planted in a manner so as to not cause damage to utility lines (above and below ground) and public roadways.
F. Existing plant material which complies with the standards and intent of this ordinance and the provisions of this section may be credited toward meeting the landscape requirements. Scrub, dying, diseased or prohibited (per Appendix A) trees and shrubs shall be removed and shall not be counted toward any requirement of this section.
G. The overall landscape plan shall not contain more than 33% of any one plant species, unless determined to be appropriate by the reviewing authority.
H. Plant material shall conform to the standards found in the American Standard for Nursery Stock (ANSI Z60.1 - 2014) published by AmericanHort and conform to the minimum plant sizes at time of planting listed in Table 1139.09-1, unless a greater requirement is specified elsewhere in this ordinance. Larger sizes may be required by the reviewing authority, if determined to be necessary to maintain a natural appearance and achieve the intended purpose of the buffer, street lawn or screen based on the size of the development, its location and/or the character of the surrounding area.
I. All improved landscaped areas shall be serviced by an irrigation system. Plans for such irrigation system shall be reviewed by and subject to the recommendations of the Planning and Design Commission as to irrigation sufficiency.
J. Landscaping shall be installed prior to issuance of a Certificate of Occupancy, unless the owner demonstrates that unforeseen circumstances beyond his/her control prevented the installation. In such case, the Building Commissioner may issue a conditional Certificate of Occupancy provided that a specific time limit, not to exceed 120 days, is established for completing the landscaping.
(Ord. 2017-32. Passed 5-2-17.)
(Ord. 2017-32. Passed 5-2-17.)