(A) Purpose.
(1) The landscape, walls, and screening section provides uniform standards for the installation of landscaping, walls, fences, screening and buffer areas, as well as guidelines for the protection, maintenance and management of these resources to promote and encourage sustainability, effectuate privacy, facilitate logical development and enhance property value.
(2) This section includes guidance on: where landscaping is required; the types and use of vegetation allowed; and the provision of screening and buffering to create an attractive appearance along public streets while screening unattractive uses.
(3) Landscaping materials, including ground cover, shrubs and trees, promote the control of erosion and the reduction of glare and dust, as well as visually softening buildings, parking lots and walls. Walls and screening devices allow for the separation of incompatible uses and for the buffering of intensive activities.
(B) Landscaping. This section is intended to contribute to the aesthetic character of the city through the provision of landscaping and retention of existing vegetation.
(1) Applicability. These requirements apply to all commercial uses, including multi-family, but does not apply to single-family residential or uses in the Industrial (IP) Zoning District. These regulations shall also apply to the required on and off-site improvements of a residential or commercial subdivision.
(2) Selection of plant materials. Due to concerns with water availability in our Northern Arizona Desert Climate, which is classified as an "Arid-Zone" by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Xeriscape landscaping is the ideal landscaping to be planted in our region which incorporates water-conserving design through proper plant selection, installation, and maintenance. The species and variety of plants selected to meet the landscape requirements of this section, shall correspond with the following xeriscape principles in Table 4.3-1 for planning, design, type of plants selected for our area, irrigation, soil improvements and maintenance:
Good Landscape Planning and Design | Careful consideration of a site's size and shape, soil type, topography, and building configuration is essential in developing a good landscape plan. The use of the space, the amount of sunlight, location of views, regional and microclimate conditions, and an assessment of landscape watering zones should all be taken into account in planning a xeriscape landscape. |
Use of Drought Tolerant and Low-Water Use Plants | Primarily drought tolerant and low water use plants shall be used. These plants can serve nearly every function. Some provide shade and texture, while others are appropriate for borders, accent areas, seasonal color, and year-round greenery. Native wildflowers and grasses are typically suitable for revegetating disturbed areas. |
Appropriate Lawn Areas | Lawns require a lot of water to stay green and healthy and shall only be located where they provide functional benefits. Lawns planted close to a building may provide a cooling effect. Lawns should not be planted in odd shaped areas that cannot be watered efficiently and they can often be planted with modern, low-water-use, drought- tolerant grasses. |
Efficient Irrigation | Install irrigation systems to provide an adequate amount of water at the proper time to the root zone. Each plant and vegetative type has its own water needs, and the planting arrangement and irrigation system should be designed to reflect those needs. Moisture sensors shall be installed on irrigation controls to measure real time soil moisture. Each water use zone should be on a different valve and stormwater runoff should be routed into each area to offset irrigation needs. |
Soil Improvement | Organic matter should be added to existing soils to increase water-holding capacity and provide beneficial nutrients to plants. In low water-use zones, loosening the soil may be all that is needed. |
Appropriate Maintenance | Xeriscape landscapes require low maintenance, but not no maintenance. To work, a xeriscape landscape must be monitored with a program of pruning, weed control, pest control, and irrigation system adjustments. |
(3) Site area landscaping.
(a) Any part of a commercial development, including multi-family that is not used for buildings, parking, driveways, sidewalks, or natural undisturbed open space shall be landscaped with xeriscape landscaping as designed by an Arizona Licensed Landscape Architect to meet the following minimum criteria, as approved by the Director.
(b) Required site area landscape planting criteria. The total quantity of required landscape materials shall be computed for all site landscape areas as follows (unless otherwise noted within this chapter):
1. Trees. A minimum of one tree per 500 square feet of landscape area. All xeriscape trees shall not be less than one 1-1/2 inches caliper at planting.
2. Shrubs. One shrub per 100 square feet of landscape area. All shrubs shall be a minimum of five gallons in size.
3. Groundcover. Xeriscape plants shall be a minimum of one gallon in size. One plant shall be provided per 200 square feet of landscape area.
4. Landscape topping materials. All landscaped areas shall be finished with a natural topping material which may include crushed aggregate (two inches minimum depth). Type, size and color of landscape topping material for projects shall be approved through the landscape plan review.
(c) The front yard of residential development in the R-1 and R-2 zoning districts shall be landscaped with vegetation and/or landscape topping material.
(4) Streetscape landscaping.
(a) The entire public street right-of-way between a street side property line and back of curb (excluding approved driveways, walkways or rights-of-way not under city control) shall be xeriscape landscaped in accordance with the requirements in division (3)(b) above.
(b) For US 89 and SR 98, a 15 foot wide xeriscape landscape area shall be established between the right-of-way line and any buildings, parking lots, walls or fences, or other improvements in association with any use in accordance with the requirements in division (3)(b) above.
(c) Required streetscape landscape planting criteria. The total quantity of required xeriscape landscape materials shall be as defined below:
1. Trees. A minimum of one xeriscape tree for every 50 feet of lineal frontage. Xeriscape trees shall not be less than 1½ inches caliper at planting.
2. Shrubs. Two shrubs shall be required for every 50 feet of lineal frontage. All shrubs shall be a minimum of five gallons in size.
3. Groundcover. Xeriscape plants shall be a minimum of one gallon in size. One plant shall be required for every 50 feet of lineal frontage.
4. Landscape topping materials. All landscaped areas shall be finished with a natural topping material which may include crushed aggregate (two inches minimum depth). Type, size and color of landscape topping material for projects shall be approved through the landscape plan review.
(d) Placement of required streetscape landscaping.
1. Xeriscape landscaping may be clustered and located within the public street right-of-way or partially within the adjacent ten feet of the site.
2. Vegetation shall not be placed in drainage ways.
3. Trees shall not be planted to interfere with any overhead or underground utility lines at initial planting or mature height and width.
4. Trees are not to be planted in any sight triangle. Shrubs planted in any sight triangle shall not exceed mature heights of more than 24 inches measured from finished grade.
5. Vegetation at maturity shall not be closer than three feet from any fire hydrant or utility pole.
6. Trees shall not be planted closer than five feet to the face of any curb.
(5) Parking lot/area landscape requirements. All parking areas shall be landscaped as follows:
(a) Landscape areas with raised concrete curbing shall define all parking lot edges, entrances, drives, aisles and the ends of all parking aisles.
(b) Landscape islands shall be installed at the end of each parking aisle that contains 12 or more parking spaces.
(c) Islands shall be landscaped in accordance with the following requirements:
1. Each landscaped island shall extend the entire length of the parking space and contain a minimum of 75 square feet of area, not including curbs, and shall measure a minimum of six feet in width at the mid-point.
2. Each landscape island shall include a minimum of one tree and landscape topping material per (B)(3)(b)4 above.
(6) Landscape maintenance.
(a) All landscape improvements installed in accordance with the requirements of this chapter for new or expanded developments and uses within on-site landscape areas as well as in the right-of-way, shall be maintained into perpetuity by the property owner or lessee.
(b) All landscape areas shall be provided with a permanent, fixed automatic irrigation system.
(c) Any vegetation that does not survive shall be replaced within 30 days.
(7) Landscape plan regulations.
(a) A "preliminary landscape plan" and a "final landscape plan" shall be prepared by an Arizona Licensed Landscape Architect and approved for all applicable development projects in accordance with the requirements set forth in this section.
(b) All changes in the landscaping of a site/development area after final landscape plan approval and landscape installation shall be approved by the Director or designee prior to issuing a certificate of occupancy.
(c) Prior to the issuance of a building permit, the Planning and Zoning Department shall review and approve the required plans (i.e. lighting, drainage, mechanical) which affect the placement and type of landscaping and walls within the site.
(d) Landscape plan preparation and approval.
1. Preliminary landscape plan. Two full size hard copies and one electronic PDF copy of a preliminary landscape plan shall be prepared and submitted along with the required development/site plan for review by the Director. The preliminary landscape plan may be shown on the development/site plan drawings. The components of the preliminary landscape plan shall include, (at minimum) a scaled plan indicating the general locations of all existing and proposed trees, shrub massings, and groundcovers. Actual botanical names are not required to be specified at this time. Property lines, north arrow, existing and proposed structures, streets, sidewalks, trails, major natural features, walls and fences, slopes, berms, basins, drainage structures, trash enclosures, sewer laterals, utility transformers, site furniture, concrete curbing, decorative paving, and other site elements that relate to or affect the overall landscape along with any notes describing the proposed method of irrigation. The preliminary landscape plan shall be reviewed and approved by the Director or designee as part of the development/site plan review, and may be approved with stipulated changes or additions. A building permit may be issued prior to final landscape plan approval; however, certificate of occupancy will not be issued until the final landscape plan is approved, and all required landscaping and irrigation system components have been installed. A temporary certificate of occupancy may not be approved until all landscaping and irrigation system components have been installed, inspected and approved.
2. Final landscape plan. Two full size hard copies and one electronic PDF copy of a final landscape plan, irrigation plan and lighting plan shall be submitted along with all other required site improvement and building plans at the time of application for a building permit. The lighting plan shall be prepared by a technically competent lighting professional. The final landscape plan shall be prepared by an Arizona Licensed Landscape Architect and contain the final calculations, data, and specific details and all other information that were required and identified on the preliminary landscape plan. The final landscape plan shall contain a specific schedule of all trees and shrubs identified by common and botanical name, and shall clearly indicate the quantity and size of each tree and shrub to be installed. The final landscape plan shall be in conformance with the approved preliminary plan and any stipulated changes or additions, and shall be approved by the Director or designee prior to the issuance of a building permit.
3. Upon approval, both sets of the landscape plan will be dated and stamped "Approved" and one original, signed plan will be transmitted to the applicant to remain on the jobsite during construction, and one will be retained on file with the Planning and Zoning Department.
(C) Fences, walls and screening. Standards set forth in this section protect the visual quality of the public realm by establishing screening requirements for various land use and development conditions.
(1) Applicability. Unless otherwise stated within this chapter, fences and/or walls shall be installed and maintained in compliance with this section.
(2) General fence and wall regulations.
(a) All general perimeter and on-site fences and walls shall adhere to the city adopted building codes and be constructed of long-lasting materials, such as vinyl, wood, masonry, stone, decorative metal, and be architecturally integrated with the building design. Chain-link type fencing with screens or insertable slats are prohibited as a fence or wall throughout the city, with the following exceptions. Within the RE Residential, Industrial and Airport Zoning Districts, chain link fences may be allowed with the approval of the Director.
(b) It is the property owner's responsibility to ensure that every portion of the fence or wall be located on their property. Otherwise, there are no fence or wall setback requirements from property lines, except as otherwise specified in this chapter.
(c) Barbed wire and Constantine wire fences shall be prohibited in all zoning districts except barbed wire may be allowed in the SC and IP District and for temporary construction sites, provided that the barbed wire is located more than six feet above grade. Temporary barbed wire fencing shall be removed from the site before a certificate of occupancy will be issued.
(D) General wall and fence height standards.
(1) Fences or walls located between the front yard property and building setback lines shall not exceed four feet in height.
(2) In areas behind a required front yard building setback line and within the required rear and side yards, including walls for single-family dwellings, the maximum height of walls shall be six feet, as measured from finished grade, except where a taller wall is necessary for screening purposes, as approved by the Director. Where there exist two abutting lots with different finished grades, the wall height shall be limited to six feet on the high side and eight feet on the low side. Modifications of these requirements shall require a written request to be approved by the Director.
(3) Walls exceeding six feet in height, or retaining walls extending more than four feet in height measured from finished grade, shall require a building permit and the submittal of structural calculations prepared by a Arizona Licensed Structural Engineer, unless specified otherwise in this chapter. Nonretaining and retaining concrete block walls shall adhere to the city adopted building codes.
(4) Corners. No walls, buildings, structures or other obstructions in excess of two feet in height (measured from the top of the street curb at each end of the site triangle) shall be placed on any corner lot within the sight triangle. There shall be an exception for any existing trees to remain within the sight triangle, but they shall be pruned and maintained to be free from obstructions to a height of seven feet to allow for open visibility for vehicles as measured from finished grade.
(E) Parking lot screens. All on-site parking areas fronting onto any street, where headlights from the parked vehicles could deleteriously affect the visibility of passing vehicles shall be screened according to the provisions as set forth herein. This standard can be met through the use of a continuous three foot six-inch-high landscape screen meeting the opacity of a solid wall, or a continuous solid wall, or a combination of the two. Walls shall be designed to undulate to avoid straight segments in excess of 100 feet. Open areas for pedestrian access shall be required as needed along the length of the screen/wall as required and approved by the Director.
(F) Refuse area screens. All trash, rubbish or garbage, including recyclable materials in common storage areas, except within the IP District, shall be completely enclosed by a solid six foot wall or fence with a view obstructing gate and be located on a concrete slab. Refuse collection areas shall be readily accessible to collection vehicles, without substantially encumbering adjacent parking and vehicular access. For commercial uses, such RV parks and multi-family dwellings, the enclosure shall be softened with landscaping on any side visible from the front of the property or a public or private street.
(G) Loading area screens. All loading, delivery and service bays shall be screened from public view by a building, a decorative screen wall a minimum eight feet in height, a solid opaque evergreen landscape screen or any combination thereof.
(H) Mechanical equipment screens. All mechanical equipment, either ground or roof-mounted, shall be screened from view from people walking by the property on the street or sidewalk. Rooftop units shall be screened with a parapet wall the entire length of the building that blends with the building's architecture.
(Ord. 648-18, passed 11-28-2018; Ord. 661-19, passed 10-9-2019; Ord. 703-23, passed 3-22-2023)