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This division establishes the procedure, regulations, and standards whereby landscape plans and tree preservation requirements will be reviewed by the city for compliance with this code, and specifies the submittal and content requirements for such landscape plans. (Ord. No. 0-98-90, 11/18/98) (Ord. No. 0-2002-46, 10-9-02)
a. The purposes of the landscaping and tree preservation division of this code are to:
1. improve the appearance and character of building setbacks and yards in commercial areas, including off-street parking lots and open lot sales and service areas;
2. implement Tyler 1st Comprehensive Plan policies regarding landscaping and tree planting in parks, open spaces, parkways, scenic views, and roadway corridors; (Ord. No. 0-2014-33; 4/23/14)
3. protect healthy trees and promote the natural ecological, environmental, and aesthetic qualities of the city;
4. create sound and visual buffers between adjoining land uses, in particular between residential areas and all nonresidential areas;
5. protect and increase property values in the city;
6. maintain and enhance a positive image of Tyler for the attraction of new businesses and residents to the city;
7. prohibit the indiscriminate clearing of both residential and nonresidential property;
8. protect trees during construction; and
9. encourage site design and construction that contributes to the long-term viability of existing trees.
a. The landscape standards in this division apply to all land within the city limits except for areas zoned AG, RE, R-1A, R-1B, R-1C, R-1D, R-2, or R-MH, notwithstanding the requirement that each parcel in the aforementioned districts are required to meet tree planting requirements set forth in Sec. 10-305
(C). (oRD. nO. 0-2011-45, 6/8/11)
b. Landscape standards in all planned districts will be regulated by the requirements set forth in the final site development plan for each development project. In instances where the base zone landscaping requirements differ from any requirements set forth in a site development plan, the more restrictive regulations will govern.
c. Landscape requirements become applicable to each individual lot at the time a building permit application is made. All landscape requirements of this code will continue after the building permit is issued to any owner or subsequent owner. (Ord. No. 0-98-90, 11/18/98) (Ord. No. 0-2011-45, 6/8/11)
A landscape plan is required and must be submitted upon application for a building permit. The landscape plan may be a separate site plan, or when feasible, the landscape plan information may be included on the building site plan. It is recommended that landscape plans be prepared by a professional landscape architect or landscape contractor. The landscape plan must include:
1. The location of existing boundary lines and dimensions of the lot.
2. The location of existing and proposed utility easements on or adjacent to the lot and the location of overhead power lines and any underground utilities.
3. A plant schedule listing the name and size of all plant materials. Botanical nomenclature as well as common names must be listed. All canopy trees must be identified as containerized or balled and burlapped.
4. The location, size, and type of vegetation of new and existing plant materials to be planted or retained in the proposed landscaped areas.
5. An indication of how the developer plans to use protective fencing to barricade existing trees, which are to be retained, in order to prevent damage to the trees during construction. The location and size of the fencing must be indicated.
6. A note indicating the installation of the irrigation system covering the required landscape areas has been completed or a date by which it will be completed.
7. The location of existing development, adjacent land uses, and roadways.
8. Information necessary for verifying whether the minimum required landscaping area has been met under Sec. 10-295.
9. A statement of compliance indicating the total square footage of landscaping area required, including the number of trees and shrubs, and a calculation to verify that the number, size, and type of vegetation listed on the plant schedule will render the proposed development to be in compliance with this code.
a. Plan Revisions
Minor revisions to landscape plans are acceptable if there is no reduction in the quality of plant material or no significant change in size or location of plant materials, and if the new plants are of the same general category (i.e., shade, ornamental, or evergreen trees) and have the same general characteristics (mature height, crown spread) as the materials being replaced. Proposed materials must also be compatible with the area to ensure healthy plant growth. If these criteria are not fulfilled, changes to approved plans must be resubmitted and reviewed for approval. (Ord. No. 0-2002-46, 10-09-02)
a. The landscaping requirements will be determined by the total square footage of the lot less any areas exempted by phased development or classification as floodway or undisturbed area.
b. The minimum width of required landscaping in the street yard is 10 ft. for properties abutting principal arterial streets. (Ord. No. 0-2023-29; 4/26/23)
c. The minimum required area of landscaping is 15 percent of the total lot area, except for lots zoned for manufacturing. The minimum area of landscaping for lots zoned M-1 or M-2 is 2½ percent of the total lot area. Each existing tree, which is maintained in a living and growing condition, may be credited towards the required landscaped area according to the following schedule:
Existing Saved Tree | Credit |
10” – 12” DBH | 200 square feet of landscaped area |
15” or greater DBH | 250 square feet of landscaped area |
Credits may not exceed 25% of the required landscaped area.
d. Required tree plantings.
Option Tree Requirement/Square Footage Tree Type
A One tree/750 square feet Large Shade Trees
B One tree/625 square feet Large Shade Trees, Medium Trees, and Small Trees
C One tree/500 square feet Medium Trees and Small Trees
Note: Trees selected for planting must be on the approved tree list set forth in subsection f. (Ord. No. 0-2010-20, 3/10/10)
1. For required tree plantings:
(a) At least 1/3 of the trees planted must be large shade trees, or
(b) At least 1/3 of the trees planted must be medium trees; and
(c) No more than 1/3 of the required tree plantings may be small trees as shown on the approved tree list. A minimum of one tree is required for all developments. All required trees must have a minimum DBH of 2" at the time of planting. Trees with a multiple trunk growth characteristic shall have no more than five main trunks.
2. When planted with large shade trees solely, a minimum of one tree per 750 square feet, or fraction thereof, is required. Trees planted in order to satisfy this requirement must be classified as large shade trees in the approved tree list in subsection f.
3. When planted with a combination of large shade trees, medium trees and small trees, a minimum of one tree per 625 square feet, or fraction thereof, is required. Trees planted in order to satisfy this requirement must include a mixture of shade, medium, and small trees as identified in the approved tree list in subsection f.
4. When planted with a combination of medium trees and small trees, a minimum of one tree per 500 square feet, or fraction thereof, is required. Trees planted in order to satisfy this requirement must include a mixture of shade, medium, and small trees as identified in the approved tree list in subsection f. (Ord. No. 0-2009-32; 3/25/09)
e. Tree credits.
1. Each existing tree which is maintained in a living and growing condition may be credited towards the number of required trees according to the following schedule. (Ord. No. 0-2010-20, 3/10/10)
Existing Saved Trees | Credit |
6”-9” DBH | 3 Trees |
10”- 12” DBH | 4 Trees |
12” or greater DBH | 5 Trees |
2. Of the required landscape area, a minimum of one shrub per 200 square feet, or fraction thereof, is required. Shrubs planted to satisfy this requirement must be a minimum size of two gallons.
3. Up to 75 percent of the required shrubs must be planted in the required interior parking lot landscaping islands or be included in the required bufferyards pursuant to Article VI, Division B.
4. Each existing tree or newly planted tree which is maintained in a living and growing condition may be credited towards the required number of shrubs according to the following schedule:
Existing Saved Trees | Credit |
2” – 6” DBH | 4 shrubs |
7” – 9” DBH | 6 shrubs |
10” – 12” DBH | 8 shrubs |
15” or greater DBH | 10 shrubs |
Credit in areas zoned R-MF, AR, PMF, PMXD-1, PMXD-2, and may not exceed 50% of the required trees or shrubs.
Credit for saving an existing tree cannot count toward more than one landscape element for which such credit is granted in this chapter, i.e., double counting of tree credits is not allowed. (Ord. No. 0-2017-100; 11/8/17)
5. All mandated bufferyards count towards the requirements. Beyond that, no more than 10 percent of the required landscape area or required number of trees to be planted may be located at the rear of the property. The planning director has the authority to grant an exception to this requirement in situations where tree preservation areas are located at the rear of the property regardless of whether the trees saved are credited toward the tree planting requirement or the trees are saved are supplementing the required number of trees to be planted. (Ord. No. 0-2009-19; 3/11/09) (Ord. No. 0-2009-32; 3/25/09)
f. Approved Tree List
(Ord. No. 0-2009-32; 3/25/09) (Ord. No. O-2018-17; 2/14/18)
g. Properties in the DBAC zoning district are not required to have landscaping except when off street parking is installed; however, street trees and plantings in the right-of-way are encouraged where appropriate.
1. Off street parking in DBAC is subject to Section 10-299, Parking Lot Landscaping.
2. A minimum 3'wide landscape strip shall be provided between the parking areas and all public rights-of-way except for alleys.
3. The landscape strip shall include a minimum of 1 tree form shrub for each 15 linear feet of frontage, or portion thereof, measured along the right-of-way adjacent to the parking areas. Plantings shall comply with the requirements in the Approved Tree Form Shrub List for Parking Lot Screening DBAC Zoning District in Section 10-342.d.
4. Multi-story parking structures and enclosed parking areas may be exempt from these requirements if designed to resemble a building front adjacent to the right-of-way, subject to approval of the Planning Director. (Ord. No. 0-2012-38; 4/25/12)
The required landscape area can be reduced through the following techniques:
(a) Phased Development
Each phase of a phased project must comply with this code. Phase lines, if drawn, must be drawn 20 feet or more from developed site elements (parking, buildings, ponds, etc.). The portion left for subsequent phases must remain of developable size and quality. No building permit will be issued for a subsequent phase of a project until all requirements of this code have been met.
(b) Floodway
On sites where a floodway exists, the floodway area will be subtracted from the total lot area when calculating landscape requirements. Therefore, trees, shrubs, or groundcover in this area will not be applicable in meeting the landscaping requirements for the development of the property.
(c) Street Trees
Abutting parkways are required to be planted with grass and left unpaved except for sidewalks and driveways. A one-for-one credit for street trees planted in lieu of onsite trees will be granted for street trees planted at any point along the linear frontage of parcel, including trees planted in the roadway median. In the event that two parcels facing one another across a roadway request credit for street trees planted or saved, each parcel will be granted such credit so long as the trees are in a parkway behind the curb line on the respective sides of the streets. Credit for street trees planted in a roadway median will only be granted once, on a first come, first served basis. Any landscape and tree planting made in the parkway or roadway median must be in conformance with the requirements of the master street plan in Artivle V, Division A of this code. Such areas must be irrigated. Applicants must enter into a maintenance agreement with the City for on-going tree maintenance.
(d) Undisturbed Area
On sites where the planning director has determined that undisturbed area exists, the area will be subtracted from the total lot area when calculating landscape requirements. Therefore, trees, shrubs, or groundcover in this area will not be applicable in meeting the landscape requirements for development of the property. No building permit will be issued for the development within the undisturbed area until all requirements of this code have been met. (Ord. No. 0-98-90, 11/18/98; Ord. No. 0-98-98, 12/23/98)
a. For a lot abutting one street, a minimum of 30 percent of the landscaping area must be located in the street yards. The remaining percentage of landscaping must be reasonably dispersed throughout the lot. The distribution of landscaping may be amended at the discretion of the planning and zoning director in order to ensure the maximum benefit of the required landscaping.
b. For a corner lot, a minimum of 45 percent of the landscaping area must be located in the street yards. The remaining percentage of landscaping must be reasonably dispersed throughout the lot. The distribution of landscaping may be amended at the discretion of the planning and zoning director in order to ensure the maximum benefit of the required landscaping.
c. Trees planted in the street yard must be planted, on average, every 40 linear feet, but may be grouped in the street yard in such a way that:
1. they will not block the view of traffic entering or existing the property
2. the primary building entrance, or indication thereof, is visible from the roadway;
3. and the species of trees selected do not crowd or otherwise inhibit the growth of other trees in the same grouping.
d. For a lot abutting three or more streets, landscaping must be reasonably dispersed so that each street yard has some landscaping.
e. All existing undergrowth in a protected area must remain until construction is complete and may be removed at that time.
f. Any surface of the street yard not occupied by trees, shrubs, planting beds, signs or other permitted fixtures must be planted with sod or other suitable groundcover.
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