Buffer screening between districts or parcels and uses shall not be required as set forth in section 9-3-10, "Buffers", of the city code, except as noted otherwise in this ordinance.
A. Buffer Park Easements: A thirty foot (30') "buffer park easement" shall be provided along 60th Street. Landscape plantings within the buffer parks easement shall be in accordance with city code requirements for thirty foot (30') buffer parks.
B. Street Trees: One overstory tree per lot is required, by the home builder, along all streets within this specific plan to provide for the visual softening, shading, and enhancement of streets. Street trees shall be installed prior to the initial occupancy of the structure on the property. If the street tree cannot be accommodated in the area between the street and the public sidewalk, the tree shall be placed in the front yard setback of the property. Street tree maintenance shall be the responsibility of the individual homeowner or the homeowners' association. The use of any planting materials within the public street right of way shall be in accordance with the provisions of the comprehensive urban forestry program of the city of West Des Moines, unless noted otherwise in this ordinance:
1. Street tree permits shall be obtained from the city prior to installation.
2. Trees that will encroach into any vehicle or pedestrian use area or travel lane shall be of a variety that will accommodate pruning to allow for the minimum clearance height (14 feet over vehicle travel lanes; 8 feet over pedestrian travel lanes) without adversely affecting the overall natural shape of the variety. Maintaining trees to these clearance levels is the responsibility of the property owner or abutting property owner in situations in which the trees are on public property.
3. Trees shall not be planted closer than five feet (5') to a curb, to a sidewalk as measured from the center of the tree or shrub trunk. The planting of trees on corner lots within the area bounded by the street or alley lines of such lots and a line adjoining points along said street or alley lines twenty five feet (25') from the point of intersection of the public right of way lines shall be prohibited. This area is defined as the site triangle. No tree shall be permitted within the sight triangle of a public street intersection. (Ord. 1541, 8-4-2003)