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The Board of Aldermen finds that:
(A) Planting has an important impact on better control of flood problems, soil erosion, air and noise pollution and making the town a healthier, safer and more aesthetically pleasing place in which to live and work;
(B) Planting is an invaluable physical, aesthetic and psychological element of the urban setting, making urban life more comfortable by providing shade and cooling;
(C) Planting can serve as screening which can provide an impression of separation of spaces and a greater sense of privacy from visual or physical intrusion;
(D) Planting has an important role in filtering wastewater passing through the ground from the surface to groundwater tables and lower aquifers;
(E) For the reasons indicated in division (B) above, planting has an important impact on the desirability of land and consequently on property values; and
(F) The provisions of this part are necessary to safeguard the public health, safety and welfare.
(Ord. passed 4-9-2013; Ord. 2021-03, passed 6-8-2021)
(A)
A planting plan on all commercial, office and institutional, industrial, multi-family, planned unit developments and non-residential uses in a residential district shall be required according to the following minimum specifications:
(1) Of developments less than one acre, 20% of the total lot area shall be planted;
(2) Of developments of one acre or more, 25% of the total lot area shall be planted;
(3) Of developments of two acres or more, 20% of the total lot area shall be planted; and
(4) Of developments of three acres or more, 15% of the total lot area shall be planted.
(B) Planting plans shall be prepared by a landscape architect licensed in the state or persons with a minimum of three years' experience in the preparation of planting plans for commercial developments. Planting plans shall be drawn at the same scale as the site plan or larger. Said planting plan may be found on the site plan.
(C) All areas that call for grass planting on a planting plan shall be planted in accordance with generally accepted practices.
(D) Parking areas in all commercial, office and institutional, industrial, multi-family, non-residential uses in a residential district and planned unit developments which have ten or more parking spaces shall be planted as follows.
(1) (a) For every ten spaces provided, one planting area of not less than nine feet by 18 feet shall be required. This area shall either be spaced between each ten parking spaces or otherwise randomly combined or spaced within the parking area to provide a planting area which shall be planted consistent with good design standards as provided in this subchapter.
(b) The intent of this division (D)(1) is to provide uniform planting of trees and other plant material within a parking area, rather than have all required planting space combined into one area or along the perimeter of the parking lot.
(4) Shrubbery, hedges and other live plant material may be used to complement the tree planting, but shall not be substituted for the tree.
(5) Landscape plantings used in parking areas as required in this division (D) and § 153.256 of this chapter may be used in satisfying the planting requirements of division (A) above.
(E) The owners, their heirs and assigns shall be responsible for protecting and maintaining all planting in a healthy growing condition, replacing it when necessary, and keeping it free of refuse and debris.
(F) All planting plans shall provide the following general information.
(1) Approximate locations of all required plant material to be planted on the site.
(2) Information on the quantity and caliper of all trees to be planted or retained on the site.
(G) The Chief Building Inspector may not issue a permanent certificate of occupancy for an approved site-specific development plan or part thereof, until all required seeding, trees and plant material have been placed in accordance with the approved planting plan. A temporary certificate of occupancy may be issued for a period of up to 180 days under extenuating circumstances that would affect the seeding or planting of the site or until the proper planting season is reached to complete the planting requirements. The Zoning Administrator may require the developer to provide an irrevocable letter of credit to the town to cover the costs of planting prior to the Building Inspector's issuance of a temporary certificate of occupancy.
(Ord. passed 4-9-2013; Ord. 2021-03, passed 6-8-2021)
GUIDE FOR LANDSCAPING
(A)
Section 153.253 provides for the retention and protection of regulated trees when land is developed.
(B) To improve the chances of survival of existing trees, the following guidelines have been established:
(1) Protect trees with fencing and armoring during the entire construction period in accordance with § 153.290;
(2) Avoid compaction of the soil around existing trees due to heavy equipment. Do not pile dirt or other building materials and equipment in the critical root zone of the tree;
(3) Keep fires or other sources of extreme heat well clear of existing trees; and
(4) Injured trees must be thoroughly watered during the ensuing growing year.
(Ord. passed 4-9-2013; Ord. 2021-03, passed 6-8-2021)
(B) The trees recommended in § 153.290 represent the best combinations of these characteristics:
(1) Hardiness;
(2) Resistance to extreme temperatures;
(3) Resistance to drought;
(4) Resistance to storm damage;
(5) Resistance to air pollution;
(6) Resistance to insects and disease;
(7) Ability to survive physical damage from human activity;
(8) Foliage and branching;
(9) Wide-spreading habit; and
(10) Relatively dense foliage for maximum shading.
(Ord. passed 4-9-2013; Ord. 2021-03, passed 6-8-2021)
(A) The trees recommended in § 153.290 have minimal maintenance requirements. However, all trees must receive a certain degree of care, especially during and immediately after planting.
(B) To protect an investment in new trees, the developer should ensure that the following guidelines are followed when planting:
(1) The best times for planting are early spring and early fall. Trees planted in the summer run the risk of dehydration.
(2) Plant all trees at least three and one-half feet from the end of head-in parking spaces to prevent damage from car overhangs.
(3) Provide a no work zone around the tree to prevent damage to the plant and compaction of the soil.
(4) In digging a tree pit, excavate to a depth that approximates the height of the root ball. The top of the root ball should be level with or slightly above grade.
(5) The width of the tree pit should be no less than twice the diameter of the root ball.
(6) The bottom of the tree pit should be undisturbed soil.
(7) Spread at least three inches of mulch over the entire excavation in order to retain moisture and keep down weeds. This layer of mulch should be pulled away from the trunk of the tree to prevent rot.
(Ord. passed 4-9-2013; Ord. 2021-03, passed 6-8-2021)
(A) Shrubs planted for screening purposes should be given a proper culture and sufficient room in which to grow. Many of the guidelines for tree planting listed in § 153.288 also apply to shrubs. However, because specific requirements vary considerably between shrub types, this subchapter does not attempt to generalize the needs of all shrubs.
(B) For detailed information on individual plant species refer to:
(1) Dirr, Michael A. Manual of Woody Landscape Plants: Their Identification, Ornamental Characteristics, Culture, Propagation, and Use. Champaign, Illinois: Stipes Publishing Company, 1990 (revised edition); and
(2) Whitcomb, Carl E., Ph.D. Know It and Grow It: A Guide to the Identification and Use of Landscape Plants in the Southern States. Tulsa, Oklahoma: Oil Capital Printing Company, 1978.
(Ord. passed 4-9-2013; Ord. 2021-03, passed 6-8-2021)
(A) General.
(1) The following lists indicate plantings which will meet the screening and shading requirements of §§ 153.230 through 153.236 and 153.250 through 153.257. The lists are by no means comprehensive and are intended merely to suggest the types of flora which would be appropriate for screening and shading purposes. Plants were selected for inclusion on these lists according to four principal criteria:
(a) General suitability for the climate and soil conditions of this area;
(b) Ease of maintenance;
(c) Tolerance of town conditions; and
(d) Availability from area nurseries.
(2) When selecting new plants for a particular site, a developer should first consider the types of plants which are thriving on or near the site. However, if an introduced species has proven highly effective for screening or shading in this area, it too may be a proper selection.
(B) Small trees for partial screening.
(1) Trident maple;
(2) Flowering dogwood;
(3) Saucer magnolia;
(4) Camellia sasanqua;
(5) Carolina cherry-laurel;
(6) Assorted holly species;
(7) Eastern redbud;
(8) Crepe-myrtle;
(9) River birch;
(10) Yaupon;
(11) Pistache;
(12) Sweet bay magnolia; and
(13) Vitex.
(C) Shade trees for evergreen screening.
(1) Southern magnolia;
(2) Loblolly pine;
(3) Live oak; and
(4) Deodara cedar.
(D) Shade trees for deciduous screening.
(1) Assorted maple species;
(2) Assorted oak species;
(3) Zelkova;
(4) Honey locust;
(5) Sweet gum;
(6) Sycamore;
(7) Bald cypress;
(8) Pecan;
(9) Beech; and
(10) Ginko (male).
(E) Small shrubs for evergreen screening.
(1) Azalea;
(2) Dwarf holly;
(3) Assorted camellia;
(4) Eleagnus;
(6) Dwarf yaupon;
(7) Boxwood;
(8) Juniper; and
(9) Nandina.
(F) Large shrubs for evergreen screening.
(1) Red tip photinia;
(2) Wax-myrtle;
(3) Yaupon;
(4) Privet;
(5) Formosa azalea;
(6) Euonymus;
(7) Eleagnus;
(8) Osmanthus; and
(9) Assorted holly species.
(Ord. passed 4-9-2013; Ord. 2021-03, passed 6-8-2021)
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