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§ 515-509. Landscaping and shade trees.
   A.   The Planning Commission or its representative may require a subdivider to submit a separate landscape plan showing the number, location, size and species of all shrubbery that shall be planted on the lot with the preliminary or final plan. Where such shrubbery is deemed insufficient, the Planning Commission may require that additional landscaping be added.
   B.   Protective screen planting or fences shall be placed by the developer at locations as required by the Planning Commission or its representatives.
   C.   Shade trees along the street line shall be planted by the developer in such number and manner as shall be deemed necessary by the Planning Commission. Such shade tree planting shall be subject to the requirements of Chapter 555, Part 1, Shade Trees.
   D.   The following list of trees may be utilized to meet the standards and specifications for landscaping, shade trees and buffer yards based upon the existing physical and natural conditions of the site. The City of Reading Arborist and/or other professional consultants designated by the City of Reading should be consulted during the plan review process, as not all trees on the list of approved species, as referenced below, are appropriate for all areas within the City of Reading:
      (1)   Tentative trees species shall be indicated on the preliminary plan and shall be of a species approved by the City of Reading Arborist and Planning Commission. In particular, approved shade trees include the following:
         Acer tataricum - Tatarian Maple
         Amelanchier x grandifolia - Serviceberry
         Carpinus betulus Emerald Avenue - Emerald Ave European Hornbeam
         Carpinus betulus Fastigiata - Columnar Hornbeam
         Carpinus caroliniana - American Hornbeam
         Cercis Canadensis - Eastern Redbud
         Cladrastis lutea - Yellowwood
         Cornus mas Golden Glory - Cornelian Cherry
         Crataegus laevigata Crimson Cloud - English Hawthorn
         Crataegus viridts Winter King - Green Hawthorn
         Ginkgo biloba Autumn Gold - Male Maidenhair Tree
         Ginkgo biloba Princeton Sentry - Columnar Maidenhair Tree
         Gleditsia triacanthos inermis Imperial - Honeylocust
         Gleditsia triacanthos inermis Shademaster - Honeylocust
         Gleditsia triacanthos inermis Skyline - Honeylocust
         Metasequoia glyptostroboides - Dawn Redwood
         Nyssa sylvatica - Blackgum
         Ostrya virginiana - Hop Hornbeam
         Parrotia persica - Persian Parrotia
         Platanus x acerifolia Bloodgood - Planetree
         Platanus x acerifolia Exclamation - Planetree
         Primus serrulata Kwanzan - Kwanzan Japanese Cherry
         Prunus subhirtella Autumnalis - Autumn Flowering Cherry
         Prunus x Okame - Okame Japanese Cherry
         Prunus x Snow Goose - Snow Goose Japanese Cherry
         Prunus x yedoensis Yoshino - Yoshino Japanese Cherry
         Quercus imbricaria - Shingle Oak
         Quercus x Kindred Spirit - Columnar Oak
         Quercus x Regal Prince - Columnar Oak
         Styrax japonica - Japanese Snowbell
         Syringa reticulata Ivory Silk - Japanese Tree Lilac
         Tilia cordata Greenspire - Littleleaf Linden
         Tilia tomentosa Sterling Silver ~ Silver Linden
         Ulmus americana Princeton - American Elm
         Ulmus parvifolia Alice - Lacebark Elm
         Zelkova serrata Green Vase - Japanese Zelkova
         Zelkova serrata Musashino - Columnar Zelkova
   (2)   In addition to the list of approved shade trees, the following trees are recommended for planting in suburban or open areas within the City of Reading:
         Acer rubrum Armstrong - Columnar Red Maple
         Acer rubrum Armstong Gold Columnar Red Maple
         Aesculus x carnea Fort McNair - Red Flowering Horsechestnut
         Celtis occidentalis - Hackberry
         Cercidiphyllum japonicum - Katsura
         Cornus x Rutgers Celestial - White Dogwood
         Cornus x Rutgers Hyperion - White Dogwood
         Cornus x Rutgers Stellar Pink - Pink Dogwood
         Fagus sylvatica Fastigiata - Columnar European Beech
         Fagus sylvatica Dawyck Purple - Columnar Purple European Beech
         Fagus sylvatica Red Obelisk - Columnar Purple European Beech
         Halesia Carolina - Carolina Silverbell
         Koelreuteria paniculata - Golden Raintree
         Liquidambar styraciflua Cherokee (seedless) - Sweetgum
         Liquidambar styraciflua Happidaze (seedless) - Sweetgum
         Liquidambar styraciflua Slender Silhouette - Columnar Sweetgum
         Liriodendron tulipifera Arnold - Columnar Tulip Poplar
         Malus Donald Wyman - White Crabapple
         Malus Prairifire - Red Crabapple
         Malus Royal Raindrops - Pink Crabapple
         Malus Sugar Tyme - White Crabapple
         Prunus virginiana Canada Red - Chokecherry
         Quercus alba - White Oak
         Quercus bicolor - Swamp White Oak
         Quercus macrocarpa - Bur Oak
         Quercus rubra Northern - Red Oak
         Taxodium distichum - Bald Cypress
         Tilia americana Redmond - American Linden
   E.   Landscaping, shade trees and/or buffer yards shall be considered on a property or development site provided that: the selected species do not create an adverse impact within a street or utility right-of-way; the selected species do not create an adverse impact with stormwater management facilities, sanitary sewage disposal facilities or water supply facilities; the selected species do not create an adverse impact on the existing trees or woodlands on the property; the selected species are considered necessary to provide a landscaping screen or buffer yard; the selected species are required to mitigate any adverse noise or lighting impacts; the selected species are required to comply with the land use and zoning requirements established by the City of Reading; and/or the Planning Commission determines that landscaping, shade trees or buffer yards are necessary.
[Amended 3-22-2021 by Ord. No. 22-2021]