All new commercial development on vacant property, all redevelopment of existing commercial properties wherein the existing structure(s) is to be razed and a new commercial structure(s) built, all additions to existing commercial structures and all landscaping of existing commercial properties shall, in addition to complying with all other applicable provisions of this Code, comply with the following criteria:
(a) Rooftop-mounted heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) equipment and vents must be screened from view along all sides of a building as judged from ground level from a maximum distance of 1,000 feet. Rooftop screening shall incorporate elements from the exterior design of the building, including shape and materials. Alternate screening devices will be considered if appropriate to the overall design of the building.
(b) All roof vents, flues or other items projecting above the roof are to be located on the side of the building least visible from the public rights-of-way, provided that life-safety codes and building codes are not violated by said location.
(c) Dumpster enclosures shall be attached to the rear of the building or at a remote site location in the rear or side yard. They are to be of the same primary material used elsewhere on the exterior of the building and shall be screened by landscaping.
(d) Exterior building materials shall consist of either masonry or wood, with the exception that up to thirty-five percent of the building's exterior (subject to Building Code requirements) may be comprised of non-traditional materials such as, but not limited to, dry-vit, vinyl and aluminum siding.
(e) Impervious surfaces on any commercial site shall be limited to no more than eighty-five percent of the total site unless additional paving is required to meet Village parking, loading and/or ingress-egress requirements. If additional paving is required to meet parking, loading and/or ingress-egress requirements, such additional paving shall be limited to the minimum necessary to meet such requirements.
(f) Exterior lighting and signage shall be in compliance with the outdoor lighting requirements as set forth in Chapter 1476 of this Code and the sign requirements as set forth in Chapter 1480 of this Code.
(Ord. 2022-16. Passed 6-27-22.)
(1) Turf grass areas (lawns). Turf grass areas (lawn) shall be limited to a maximum of fifty percent of the total landscaped area on the site; the remaining landscaped areas shall be planted with a ratio of native species to non-native species of not less than two square feet of native species to every one square foot of non-native species. The definition of "native species" shall be the list of native plant species as set forth in the "Village of Palos Park Native Plant Species List," a true and accurate copy of which is attached to original Ordinance 2000-40, passed November 27, 2000, as Exhibit A, and incorporated herein by reference, as amended from time to time. The Village Clerk shall maintain copies of the current "Village of Palos Park Native Plant Species List" for review by, and distribution to, all applicants for certification herein, as well as the general public. Any plant species not found on said list shall constitute a "non-native" species for purposes of this Code. Artificial plants are not to be used within the landscaped areas or on the building. Use of artificial mulches in lieu of natural (organic) mulches is prohibited. Proper drainage is required for all planting areas to ensure the establishment of good root systems and healthy growth.
(2) Parking lot landscaping.
A. Interior landscaping. Concrete curbed parking lot landscaping areas (landscape islands) shall be located at the end of each parking row and provided within the parking lot to divide a parking row so that no more than twenty adjacent parking spaces are located in any length of a single parking row without a landscaping area.
B. Area of landscape island. Landscape islands shall be a minimum of 130 square feet in area and a minimum of eight feet in width, as measured from back of curb to back of curb.
C. Type of landscape material. One shade tree of a minimum of two and one-half inches in diameter, as measured six inches above the established ground level, shall be provided for each 130 square feet of landscape island, or portion thereof. In addition to said shade tree requirement, a minimum of fifty percent of every landscape island shall be planted with live plant material, such as shrubs, ground cover or turf grass (lawn), with said plant materials selected so as to attain a maximum height of not more than thirty inches at maturity. The remaining area of the landscape island shall be covered with natural (organic) mulch.
D. Visibility. To ensure proper visibility within the parking lot, shrubs shall be no greater than thirty inches in height and the branches of trees shall start no less than six feet above the pavement level.
E. Protection. In locations where plant material will be susceptible to injury by pedestrian or motor traffic, said plant materials shall be protected by appropriate curbs, tree guards or other devices.
F. Prohibited vegetation. Thorny trees and bushes are prohibited within the parking lot.
(3) Landscaping and screening. All commercial property shall be effectively screened from residential properties which the commercial property abuts, or that are next to and/or directly across from the commercial property's front yard, by a berm, plantings or combination thereof. Plantings under this paragraph shall consist of a densely planted compact hedge of coniferous trees, or plant material of similar density, along all sides of the property abutting adjacent property. Such berm or plantings shall be at least four feet in height.
(4) Landscape buffer. All off-street parking areas open to the sky shall, where they abut a residential property line and/or are located directly across from residential front yards, be separated from said property line by a landscape buffer located a minimum fifteen feet from the property line. The criteria for plantings in said landscape buffer shall be the same as provided in this subsection (g).
(5) Trees. Trees shall be planted along all sides of a commercial property, including all parkways within Village public rights-of-way that abut the property. Trees shall not be required under existing overhead public utilities. Trees shall have a trunk diameter, measured six inches above the ground, of not less than two and one-half inches, and shall be spaced not more than thirty feet apart. Chinese elm, box elder, willow, poplar and similar fast-growing brittle wood species are prohibited.
(6) Sprinkler systems. All landscaped areas are required to have underground sprinkler systems that will irrigate all turf grass (lawn) and plant materials within said landscaped areas.
(7) Installation prior to issuance of occupancy permit. Landscaping and screening shall be completely installed prior to the issuance of any temporary or final occupancy permit. When weather conditions do not allow for completion of landscaping and screening, a letter of credit in the amount of 110 percent of the engineer's estimate for completion of said landscaping and screening must be tendered to the Village to obtain a temporary occupancy permit. A final occupancy permit will be issued only after all landscaping and screening is installed.
(8) Maintenance. All landscape materials shall be maintained in good condition so as to present a healthy appearance, and shall be kept free of refuse and debris. Plant materials shall be replaced when dead or dying.
(Ord. 2000-40. Passed 11-27-00; Ord. 2001-15. Passed 3-12-01; Ord. 2001-30. Passed 7-23-01.)