(A) Intent. The intent of this section is to promote the public’s health, safety and welfare by reducing noise and visual pollution; improving the appearance of off-street parking and other vehicular use areas; by requiring buffering between incompatible land uses and regulating the appearance of property abutting public rights of way.
(B) Application of regulations.
(2) No site plan shall be approved unless the site plan shows landscaping, greenbelt buffer zones and/or screening consistent with the requirements set forth herein.
(C) Site landscaping requirements. Upon any project for which a site plan review is required, a minimum of 10% of the site area shall be landscaped excluding the road right of way. Areas used for storm drainage purposes such as unfenced drainage courses or retention areas may be included as a portion of the required landscaped area but not to exceed 5% of the site area. This shall be in addition to any buffer zone or parking lot landscaping required by this section.
(1) Quality of plant materials. Plant materials shall be of generally acceptable species, free of insects and disease, hearty to the climate and shall conform to the minimum standard of the American Association of Nurserymen.
(2) Existing trees. Existing trees labeled "To Remain" on site plans shall be protected during construction by the installation of barriers or fences placed around the drip line of any tree intended to be saved to prevent any vehicle or other construction equipment from being parked or stored within the drip line.
(3) Trees damaged or removed. In the event that healthy trees which are used to meet the minimum requirements of this chapter are cut down, destroyed, damaged or excavated at the drip line, as determined by the city, the contractor shall replace them with a tree of minimum size as required in §§ 154.140 through 154.144.
(4) Installation, maintenance and completion. All landscaping required by this chapter shall be planted prior to obtaining a certificate of occupancy or a performance bond shall be secured pursuant to § 154.173 for the amount of the cost of the landscaping, to be released only after landscaping is completed to the satisfaction of the city.
(Ord. 02-02, passed 2-11-2002)