The purpose of this chapter is to establish minimum standards for the preservation, installation, and maintenance of landscape plantings and landscaped open space in residential, commercial, and industrial districts, to utilize landscaping and landscaping open space as an effective means of energy conservation, to preserve open space, to improve property values, and to maintain the aesthetic quality of the City, thereby promoting the health and general welfare of the City.
All of the following standards shall apply to all required landscape plantings:
1. Interference with Site Drainage. Landscape plantings shall not be placed where they interfere with site drainage.
2. Plantings Shown on Approved Site Plan. Landscape plantings shall not be placed in any public utility easement unless specifically permitted on the approved site plan.
3. Interference with Public Utilities. Plantings shall not be placed where they may interfere with maintenance of sanitary and storm structures, fire hydrants, or water valves, or any other public utility.
4. Approved Plantings. Landscape plantings shall not be placed in any public street right-of-way unless previously approved by the City Council and shall not be counted toward fulfillment of the minimum site requirements set forth below.
5. Vision Clearance Triangle. Vision clearance triangle shall be maintained at all times.
6. Restoration with Sod. All disturbed land shall be restored with sod, unless specifically approved otherwise. In residential districts or uses, the entire front yard, side yard, and rear yard to the building setback line shall be sodded. In all cases, the adjacent right-of-way shall be sodded.
7. Survey of Larger Trees. A survey of trees larger than six-inch caliper in diameter is required for sites with such existing trees. The tree inventory shall include species, size, and a location map. Such plan shall be included in the initial development submittal.
8. Existing Landscaping Identified and Protected. All existing landscaping that is not to be removed pursuant to the grading, landscape or site plan, shall be clearly identified and, prior to issuance of a permit, shall be protected by fencing located around the drip line of the tree, maximizing the protection of the root zone area. The administrative official may waive this requirement if the landscaping to be saved is not located in the immediate area where construction is to occur.
9. Preservation of Existing Landscaping. Whenever practical, existing landscaping shall be preserved and incorporated into the overall design and layout of the site.
10. Quantity of Trees Required. In sites where landscaping existed and was retained during development, the minimum quantity of trees required may be reduced by the total amount of caliper saved in the case of a deciduous tree or the total height in the case of an evergreen tree. No more than 50 percent of required plants may be waived in this manner.
11. Plantings Prohibited. Plant species to be used for landscaping shall be acceptable to the City if they are not considered a nuisance or undesirable species such as trees with thorns, cottonwood or cotton bearing poplars, elm trees prone to Dutch Elm Disease and box elder.
It is recognized that the extensive use and excessive congestion of land may become hazardous to the general health and welfare of the community. Therefore, the intent of this chapter shall be to require not less than that open space that is necessary to preserve the basic qualities and beauty of nature. Open space shall be provided for each site in each district in accordance with the table below. Values are in percentage of total site unless specified herein:
R-3 | R-3A | R-6 | C-1 | C-1A | C-1B | C-2 | C-4 | M-1 | M-1A | M-2 |
20 | 20 | 250 square feet per lot devoted to recreational area | 20 | 20 | 20 | None | 25 | 15 | 15 | 10 |
The calculation of required open space shall not include sidewalks in the minimum required open space.
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