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Proposed landscape materials should complement existing vegetation, all architectural features and general layout, and should be comprised of indigenous plant material. Landscaping design and materials shall consist of the following:
(a) Plants. All plant materials shall be living plants that conform to the standards of the American Association of Nurserymen and shall have passed any inspections required under State regulations. Artificial plants are prohibited in all landscaped areas in the Municipality required as per this chapter.
(b) Deciduous Trees. Deciduous trees used to meet these requirements shall have a minimum diameter of two (2) inches measured six inches above the ground. They shall be a species having an average mature crown spread of greater than fifteen (15) feet in Central Ohio and having trunk(s) which can be maintained with over five (5) feet of clear wood in areas which have visibility requirements, except at vehicular use area intersections where eight (8) foot clear wood requirements will control. Trees having an average mature spread of crown less than fifteen (15) feet may be substituted by grouping of the same so as to create the equivalent of a fifteen (15) foot crown spread. The Village shall maintain a list of trees prohibited in the Village.
(c) Evergreen Trees. Evergreen trees shall be a minimum of five (5) feet in height with a minimum spread of three feet at planting.
(d) Shrubs and Hedges. Shrubs and hedges shall be at least two (2) feet in average height when planted, and where required for screening, shall form a continuous, year-round solid visual screen within five years after planting.
(e) Ornamental Trees. Ornamental trees shall have a minimum diameter of at least one and a half (1 ½) inches measured six inches above ground level.
(f) Earth Mounds. Mounds cannot exceed four (4) feet in height. Mounds shall not exceed a slope ratio of 2:1. Mounds shall be provided with one (1) shrub per five (5) lineal feet. Seventy-five percent (75%) of the species planted must be evergreens not exceeding three (3) feet in height. Shrubs may be grouped together to provide interest provided the total number of required shrubs is used.
(g) Walls and Fencing. Walls and fencing used as screening cannot exceed four (4) feet in height. Walls shall be of a compatible material to the primary structure. Fencing shall be vinyl or wood. Landscaping shall be provided in clusters along the wall or fencing. Walls and fencing shall be provided with one (1) shrub per ten (10) lineal feet. Seventy-five percent (75%) of the species planted must be evergreens not exceeding three (3) feet in height. Shrubs may be grouped together to provide interest provided the total number of required shrubs is used.
(h) Maintenance. Property owner is responsible for maintaining the Landscape Plan as originally approved and for the replacement of plant materials that have died, been damaged, are diseased, or have been removed. Property owner shall maintain landscaped areas in a neat and orderly fashion, free from refuse and debris. The Zoning Administrator may approve the substitution of replacement plant material. Failure to meet the requirements of this section shall constitute violation of this Zoning Code and enforcement and penalty requirements of Chapter 1183 shall apply. (Ord. 42-16. Passed 6-13-16.)
Street trees have impacts on pollution, temperature, air quality, water quality, home energy use, and home property value. The installation of street trees is important to the urban environment and shall be coordinated by Obetz. To that end, the property owner shall pay into a Tree Fund whenever a property is developed, redeveloped, or the primary structure enlarged by more than 25%. This applies in all zoning districts as follows:
(a) Public Streets. On public streets, Obetz shall plant the street trees. The following fees apply and shall be paid when property owner applies for a building permit:
(i) Single Family Residential Unit - $450 per every house constructed with the exception of houses on corner lots; houses constructed on corner lots shall be charged $900.
(ii) All Other Types of Development - $10 per lineal foot of curb/street pavement frontage on public streets.
(b) Private Streets. Street trees shall be installed on all private streets within a development by the property owner. Trees must be installed within one (1) year following installation of the private street. Certificates of Occupancy for structures will not be issued until Street Trees are installed. Owner, builder, or developer, shall submit a Street Tree Planting Plan to the Zoning Administrator prior to planting trees. Trees shall be a species approved by the Village of Obetz in the Village's Street Tree Policy kept on file with the Zoning Administrator. Property owner is responsible for the maintenance of Street Trees on private streets.
(Ord. 42-16. Passed 6-13-16.)
The following tree care requirements shall apply to all trees within municipal-owned property or trees on private property that overhang into public rights-of-way or parks. For the purpose of this section, municipal-owned property shall include all public rights-of-way, parks, and other lands owned by the Municipality.
(a) Trimming Trees on Municipal Property. No person shall cut any tree on municipal property including any Street Tree.
(b) Tree Topping. No person shall as a normal practice, top any tree. Topping is defined as the severe cutting back of limbs to stubs larger than three (3) inches in diameter within the tree's crown to such a degree so as to remove the normal canopy or disfigure the tree. With an immature tree, removing more than twenty-five percent (25%) of the canopy will be considered topping.
(c) Height of Limbs Over Sidewalks and Streets. Every owner of any tree overhanging any street or public right of way within the Village shall prune the branches so that such branches shall not obstruct light from any street lamp or obstruct the view of any street intersection. There shall be a clear space of eight (8) feet above the sidewalk and fourteen (14) feet above the street.
(d) Utility Companies. Utility companies shall adhere to established guidelines as recommended by the National Arborists Association for line clearance work.
(e) Public Tree Care.
(1) To ensure that Street Trees thrive, property owners are responsible for the watering and mulching of Street Trees. The Village is responsible for the pruning, removal, and replacement of Street Trees.
(2) No person or contractor, unless working on behalf of the municipality, shall attach any rope, wire, nails, advertising poster, decoration, decorative lighting, or other contrivance to any tree on Municipally owned property. No person shall permit any fire to burn where such fire or heat therefrom, or heat from any source will injure any portion of any tree on Municipally owned property. No person or contractor, unless working on behalf of the municipality, shall use herbicides or other chemicals on any trees, shrubs or evergreens located on Municipally owned property.
(4) No person shall excavate any ditch, tunnel, trench, or lay any drive within ten (10) feet from the drip line of any tree, shrub, evergreen, or other plant material standing on any Municipally owned property.
(5) It shall be unlawful for any person or contractor, unless working on behalf of the municipality, to break, deface, injure, mutilate, kill, or destroy any tree, shrub, or evergreen on any Municipally owned property.
(Ord. 42-16. Passed 6-13-16.)
(a) Procedure. Landscaping Plans shall be submitted to the Zoning Administrator whenever the requirements of this Chapter affect the development or redevelopment of a site. Landscaping Plans can be submitted concurrently with other required applications.
(b) Plan Contents. The Landscaping Plan shall be prepared by a licensed design professional or landscape architect and shall meet the submittal requirements kept on file in the office of the Zoning Administrator. The Zoning Administrator may waive any items if not applicable to the project. A Tree Preservation Plan shall be included when trees with a dbh of 6" or more are located on the site and are not scheduled for removal.
(c) Criteria For Review. The submitted Landscaping Plan shall be reviewed to determine if proposed improvements comply with the requirements and standards of this chapter and commonly accepted landscaping and design standards. Landscaping Plans are approved by the Zoning Administrator and do not require action of the Planning and Zoning Commission unless the property owner is removing trees with a dbh of 6" or more and is requesting payment in lieu of tree replacement. (Ord. 42-16. Passed 6-13-16.)