(A) Purpose. Landscaping requirements are intended to reduce the negative effects of glare, noise, erosion and sedimentation caused by expanses of impervious or unvegetated surfaces. These requirements are also intended to preserve and improve the natural and urban environment and enhance the aesthetic qualities of the city.
(B) Requirements. In multi-family and mobile home districts and all non-residential districts, excluding District E-1 (Central Business), future developments must provide a minimum amount of landscaping according to the following chart:
District | Minimum Percent Lot Area to be Landscaped |
District | Minimum Percent Lot Area to be Landscaped |
C | 20 |
C-1 | 20 |
D | 10 |
D-1 | 10 |
E | 5 |
E-2 | 10 |
E-3 | 5 |
E-4 | 5 |
F | 5 |
F-1 | 5 |
G | 5 |
G-2 | 10 |
H | 5 |
I | (a) |
MH | See § 160.031 |
O-P | 10 |
P-I | 15 |
S-P | (b) |
NOTES TO TABLE: (a) Established per Final Development Plan. (b) Established per Site Plan. | |
(1) Except in districts C, C-1 and MH, a minimum of 50% of the required landscaping area shall be located in the front one-half of the lot. Required landscaping shall not include driveways, paved walks or right-of-way or easements for streets or alleys.
(2) On any corner lot, all landscaping, whether or not required by this chapter, shall be designed and maintained to conform with the visibility standards in § 160.085 of this chapter.
(3) When a driveway intersects a public right-of-way, all landscaping within the triangular areas described below shall provide unobstructed cross-visibility at a level between 30 inches and eight feet above street grade.
(4) The triangular areas referred to are: the areas of property on both sides of an accessway where it intersects a public right-of-way, with the two sides of each triangle being ten feet long from the point of intersection and the third side being a line connecting the ends of the other two.
(C) Plant material. Tree species shall be a minimum of seven feet overall height immediately after planting. Trees of species whose roots are known to cause damage to public roadways or other public works shall be prohibited.
(D) Required trees. One tree per 500 square feet of designated landscaped area is required. The number of required trees in Districts C and C-1 shall be according to the requirements of §§ 160.029 and 160.030 of this chapter. A minimum of one tree per lot or tract is required. All trees shall be planted in the areas which are visible from the street. Trees shall not be planted in the right-of-way. Trees shall be a minimum of three-inch caliper, staked and wrapped, and shall be live oak, red oak, cedar elm, bald cypress, silver maple, Japanese black pine, palm or other trees of similar quality as approved by the Director of Parks and Recreation. Yaupon, crepe myrtle and other similar trees shall not be required to be a minimum of three-inch caliper.
(E) Existing plant materials. In instances where healthy plant material exists on a site prior to its development, the application of the above landscaping requirements may be adjusted if such an adjustment is consistent with and will preserve the intent of this chapter.
(F) Maintenance. All plant material shall be maintained at all times in a living and growing condition.
(G) Landscape plan. A landscaping plan, demonstrating compliance with the provisions of this section, shall be submitted to the Building Official at the time of application of building permit.
(H) Synthetic or artificial materials. Synthetic or artificial lawn or plant material shall not be used to satisfy the requirements of the landscape requirements.
(I) Additional requirements. Requirements, in addition to those noted above, may be stipulated in the individual zoning districts regulations.
(1998 Code, App. A, § 40-63)