A. The purpose of this chapter is to promote landscaping on private property to:
1. Maintain and improve community livability;
2. Mitigate possible adverse impacts of higher intensity land uses located adjacent to lower intensity land uses;
3. Mitigate or reduce the impacts of climate change;
4. Reduce the heat-island effect and provide adequate shade;
5. Foster quality of life;
6. Enhance the City’s natural environment;
7. Improve air quality;
8. Protect water quality by providing vegetated areas that minimize and filter stormwater runoff;
9. Promote sustainable landscape practices including the usage of water-conserving and non invasive native plants;
10. Provide wildlife habitat;
11. Enhance the aesthetic quality, and economic viability of the City; and
12. Preserve, protect, and provide planting of trees and other landscape material, particularly those trees recognized as canopy and understory trees which are integral to the City of Whitefish’s community character and protect public health, safety, and general welfare. (Ord. 23-08, 6-5-2023)