(A) Preservation of native trees, water conservation and site orientation incentives.
(1) Where dense stands of mature trees, (all trees over six inches in diameter measured four and one-half feet above the ground, and spaced no more than 20 feet apart) are preserved over 35% or more of the property proposed for development or expansion, no additional landscaping materials will be required, provided that a portion of the preserved mature trees are located in the front and street side yards in a manner as to present the image of natural open space expressed in § 154-03-001(A), the purpose and applicability section. Such determination shall be made by the Zoning Administrator and in no case shall there be less than ten feet in width of landscaped area along any street frontage.
(2) Other incentives that may be used for the preservation of mature native trees, if appropriate for achieving the screening and landscaping of parking lots, and approved by the Zoning Administrator, are as follows:
(a) Up to 10% of the required standard parking spaces may be reduced to 8' X 16' for compact cars and so labeled, for parking lots of 20 spaces or more;
(b) The number of required parking spaces may be reduced up to 10% for parking lots of 20 spaces or more; or
(c) The developer may select option (a) or (b) as shown above with the approval of the Zoning Administrator, and shall comply with the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act and other parking lot regulations of this Code.
(3) If existing trees, six inches or more in diameter measured at four and one-half feet above the ground, are removed from the area outside of the building envelope, at least one tree of 15 gallon size shall be planted on-site or off-site in an approved public location.
(4) Where necessary to preserve important existing natural features and prominent stands of mature native trees, the Zoning Administrator may approve minor modifications from the building setbacks required by the Code, but in no case shall there be less than ten feet of landscaped setback along any street frontage.
(5) For multi-family, manufactured home and recreational vehicle parks, or other grouped residential developments, densities may be traded from portions of the development site which contain dense, mature trees and native vegetation and which will be preserved, to portions of the development site which are void of these natural, prominent features.
(6) Where buildings are sited at the front area of the lot with parking and driveways at the sides and rear of the lot to create easy access for emergency vehicles around the sides and rear of the building, the building front setback may be reduced by 50% as long as a minimum of ten feet of landscaped area is installed or preserved between the building and its property line and landscaping is provided in the street right-of way areas.
(B) Tree and plant conservation plan. The purpose of this guideline is to provide a means for selecting trees and plants that may be protected in place, salvaged or mitigated in order to conserve this living resource. It is imperative that the native vegetation in the town be preserved to the greatest extent practicable and in the case of tree removal, efforts should be made to mitigate unnecessary loss of native vegetation.
(1) Applicability. The provisions of this section shall apply to all new subdivisions, and lots designated for commercial or industrial use, except for building envelopes on residential lots that are identified on approved final plats.
(2) Plant selection procedure. Conduct an inventory of estimated live native trees of greater than six inch diameter at the four and one-half feet level to be removed from the site outside of building envelopes, and list these by species or common name, type, general location and count and include the following:
(a) Identify any species found that are protected pursuant to the Arizona Native Plant Law (A.R.S. §§ 3-901, et seq.), and species protected by the Federal Endangered Species Act;
(b) Note species that provide significant aesthetic or historical qualities.
(c) Identify plants that constitute a hazard, such as brush fire potential or disease.
(d) Identify invasive species that may have a negative effect on the native plants.
(e) Identify plants that may provide a resource value, such as lumber.
(3) Tree conservation plan.
(a) Identify the amount and location of trees greater than six inches in diameter at four and one-half feet height outside the building envelope that are scheduled to be protected in place, salvaged, or destroyed.
(b) Describe plans for disposition of trees and plants, with scheduling.
(c) Describe the sale or donation of plants to public or private agencies or individuals for salvage and landscaping.
(d) Prepare a mitigation plan for compensation of loss of significant vegetation, including erosion control, aesthetics and other considerations.
(e) Identify plants to be destroyed or removed to reduce a hazard or nuisance.
(f) Identify use of plant materials for other resource uses, such as lumber or wood chips.
(g) Prepare a course of action to implement the plan.
(Ord. 466, passed 2-22-96)