§ 155-12.90 LANDSCAPE MATERIAL AND DESIGN.
   (A)   Landscaping within required landscape areas. Required landscaped areas must be covered with biodegradable mulch, ornamental grasses, forbs, native prairie plants, native wetland plants, grass or other perennial herbaceous or shrub planting combinations. Landscape-grade stone or aggregate material may also be used within landscape areas. In areas subject to erosion, erosion-reducing blankets or reinforced mulch must be used.
   (B)   Existing trees and vegetation. Existing non-invasive, non-noxious trees and shrubs count toward satisfying the landscaping and screening regulations of this article if they are located within the subject area (e.g., existing trees within the road frontage landscape area may be used to meet those requirements) and they comply with the plant height and size requirements of § 155-12.90.
   (C)   Installation.
      (1)   Landscaping must be installed and maintained in accordance with the requirements of this section and the approved landscape plan.
      (2)   Required landscaping must be installed in complete and healthy condition before a certificate of occupancy may be issued.
   (D)   Plant selection; invasive and noxious plants prohibited in Will County.
      (1)   Trees and plants selected for required landscape areas must be well-suited to the microclimate and on-site soil conditions.
      (2)   Trees and plant material must comply with the specifications found in American Standards for Nursery Stock (ANSI).
      (3)   Woody plants must be rated to survive in USDA Hardiness Zones 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5.
      (4)   The county finds that invasive and noxious plant species are a public nuisance that degrade landscaped and natural areas. Invasive or noxious plant species may not be used to meet the landscape requirements of this article. Moreover, the planting or maintenance of invasive and noxious plant species is prohibited. The county may require the owner of the property to remove any invasive and noxious plant species regardless of the property owner's roles in introducing it to the property.
      (5)   If more than 30 trees will be used, a mixture of three or more tree species must be used.
      (6)   If more than 50 shrubs will be used, a mixture of three or more shrub species must be used.
   (E)   Maximum plant height generally.
      (1)   Plant height is limited to a maximum of ten inches within all of the following areas:
         (a)   Within ten feet of the public right- of-way;
         (b)   Within five feet of a lot line; and
         (c)   Within five feet of any fixed utility equipment or similar structure or property.
      (2)   The ten-inch maximum plant height requirements of this division (E) do not apply to any of the following:
         (a)   Woody plants, such as trees and shrubs;
         (b)   Plants located directly along opaque fences or walls or provided to satisfy the requirements of this landscaping and screening article;
         (c)   Vines attached to woody plants, fences or walls;
         (d)   Areas used for scientific and educational purposes through accredited programs;
         (e)   Areas of public open space or open space governed by a homeowners association, land trust or within a conservation easement that is covered under the provisions and regulations of the Subdivision Ordinance;
         (f)   Areas that contain documented state or federally listed threatened and/or endangered species;
         (g)   Buffers associated with lakes and wetlands;
         (h)   Buffers and filter strips associated with channels, creeks, streams, and rivers;
         (i)   Cemeteries;
         (j)   Golf courses;
         (k)   Heavily wooded property;
         (l)   Public-owned property;
         (m)   Regulatory mitigation areas; or
         (n)   Properties two and one-half acres or more in area.
   (F)   Trees.
      (1)   Deciduous. Deciduous trees used to satisfy the requirements of this article must have a minimum caliper size of two and one-half inches (measured six inches above the root ball) and a minimum clear stem of five feet, except in vision clearance areas where a minimum clear stem of feet is required. Only those deciduous trees identified on the following list with a "Y" may be used to satisfy the landscaping and screening requirements of this article, provided that the Zoning Administrator is authorized to permit the use of other deciduous tree species if such trees are not invasive species or listed as prohibited (“N”) in the following list.
Deciduous Trees
Landscaping Requirement
Botanical Name
Common Name
Road Frontage
Vehicular Use Area (Interior)
Land Use Buffer
Replacement
Deciduous Trees
Landscaping Requirement
Botanical Name
Common Name
Road Frontage
Vehicular Use Area (Interior)
Land Use Buffer
Replacement
Deciduous Canopy Trees
Acer nigrum
Black Maple
N
Y
Y
Y
Acer pseudoplatanus
Sycamore Maple
N
N
Y
Y
Acer miyabei
Miyabe Maple
Y
N
Y
Y
Acer rubrum
Red Maple Varieties
Y
Y
Y
Y
Acer saccharum
Sugar Maple
N
N
Y
Y
Aesculus glabra
Ohio Buckeye
N
N
Y
Y
Aesculus hippocastanum
Horsechestnut
N
N
Y
Y
Carya species
Hickory
N
N
Y
Y
Celtis occidentalis
Hackberry
Y
Y
Y
Y
Cladrastis lutea
Yellowwood
N
N
Y
Y
Fagus grandifolia
American Beech
N
N
Y
Y
Fagus sylvatica
European Beech
N
N
Y
Y
Ginkgo biloba (male)
Ginkgo
Y
N
Y
N
Gymocladus dioicus
Kentucky Coffeetree
N
N
Y
Y
Juglans cinerea
Butternut
N
N
Y
Y
Liquidambar styraciflua
Sweetgum
N
N
Y
Y
Liriodendron tulipifera
Tuliptree
N
Y
Y
Y
Metasequoia glyptostroboides
Dawn Redwood
N
N
Y
Y
Nyssa sylvatica
Tupelo
N
N
Y
Y
Platanus acerifolia
Planetree
Y
Y
Y
Y
Platanus occidentalis
American Sycamore
Y
Y
Y
Y
Pyrus calleryana
Flowering Pear
Y
N
Y
N
Quercus alba
White Oak
Y
Y
Y
Y
Quercus bicolor
Swamp White Oak
Y
Y
Y
Y
Quercus coccinea
Scarlet Oak
N
N
Y
Y
Quercus ellipsoidalis
Hill's Oak
N
N
Y
Y
Quercus imbricaria
Shingle Oak
N
Y
Y
Y
Quercus macrocarpa
Bur Oak
Y
Y
Y
Y
Quercus muehlenbergii
Chinkapin Oak
Y
Y
Y
Y
Quercus prinus
Chestnut Oak
Y
Y
Y
Y
Quercus robur
English Oak
Y
Y
Y
Y
Quercus rubra
Red Oak
Y
Y
Y
Y
Quercus velutina
Black Oak
Y
Y
Y
Y
Taxodium distichum
Bald Cypress
N
N
Y
Y
Tilia americana
American Basswood
Y
Y
Y
Y
Tilia cordata
Little Leaf Linden
Y
Y
Y
Y
Deciduous Understory Trees
Acer ginnala
Amur Maple
N
N
Y
Y
Amelanchier species
Serviceberry
N
N
Y
Y
Betula alleghaniensis
Yellow Birch
N
N
Y
Y
Betula nigra
River Birch
N
N
Y
Y
Alnus
Alder
N
N
Y
Y
Carpinus caroliniana
American Hornbeam
N
N
Y
Y
Cercis canadensis
Eastern Redbud
N
N
Y
Y
Crataegus species
Hawthorn
N
N
Y
Y
Hammamalis virgineana
Common Witchhazel
N
N
Y
Y
Larix decidua
Larch
N
N
Y
Y
Malus
Crab Apple
N
N
Y
N
Magnolia species
Magnolia
N
N
Y
Y
Ostrya virginiana
Hophornbeam
N
N
Y
Y
 
      (2)   Evergreen. Evergreen trees used to satisfy the requirements of this article must have a minimum height of five feet at time of planting. There is no minimum caliper size for evergreen trees at time of planting. Only those evergreen trees identified on the following list with a "Y" may be used to satisfy the landscaping and screening requirements of this article, provided that the Zoning Administrator is authorized to permit the use of other evergreen tree species if such trees are not invasive species or listed as prohibited (“N”) in the following list.
Evergreen Trees
Landscaping Requirement
Botanical Name
Common Name
Road Frontage
Vehicular Use Area (interior)
Land Use Buffer
Replacement
Evergreen Trees
Landscaping Requirement
Botanical Name
Common Name
Road Frontage
Vehicular Use Area (interior)
Land Use Buffer
Replacement
Abies concolor
Concolor Fir
N
N
Y
Y
Juniperus virginiana
Red Cedar
N
N
Y
Y
Picea abies
Norway Spruce
N
N
Y
Y
Picea glauca
White Spruce
N
N
Y
Y
Picea omorika
Serbian Spruce
N
N
Y
Y
Picea pungens
Colorado Spruce
N
N
Y
Y
Pinus nigra
Austrian Pine
N
N
Y
Y
Pinus resinosa
Red Pine
N
N
Y
Y
Pinus strobus
White Pine
N
N
Y
Y
Pinus sylvestris
Scotch Pine
N
N
Y
Y
Pseudotsuga menziesii
Douglas Fir
N
N
Y
Y
Tsuga canadensis
Canadian Hemlock
N
N
Y
Y
 
   (G)   Shrubs.
      (1)   Deciduous/broadleaf. Deciduous/broadleaf shrubs used to satisfy the requirements of this article must have a minimum height of three feet or be a minimum five-gallon size.
      (2)   Evergreen. Evergreen shrubs used to satisfy the requirements of this article must have a minimum width of two feet or be a minimum five-gallon size.
      (3)   Plant list. Only those shrubs identified on the following list may be used to satisfy the landscaping and screening requirements of this article, provided that the Zoning Administrator is authorized to permit the use of other shrub species if they are not invasive species or listed as prohibited (“N”) in the following list.
Shrubs
Landscaping Requirement
Botanical Name
Common Name
Road Frontage
Vehicular Use Area
Land Use Buffer
Replacement
Shrubs
Landscaping Requirement
Botanical Name
Common Name
Road Frontage
Vehicular Use Area
Land Use Buffer
Replacement
Aronia
Chokeberry
Y
Y
Y
Y
Betula pumila
Dwarf Birch
N
N
Y
Y
Cephalanthus occidentalis
Buttonbush
Y
Y
Y
Y
Chaenolmeles speciosa
Flowering Quince
N
N
Y
N
Clethra alnifolia
Summersweet
Y
Y
Y
Y
Cornus species
Dogwood
N
N
Y
Y
Corylus americana
American Filbert
Y
Y
Y
Y
Corylus cornuta
Beaked Hazelnut
Y
Y
Y
Y
Cotoneaster species
Cotoneaster
Y
Y
Y
Y
Deutzia
Deutzia
Y
Y
Y
Y
Forsythia
Forsythia
Y
Y
Y
N
Euonymus species
Euonymous
Y
Y
Y
Y
Hamamelis vernalis
Vernal Witchhazel
Y
Y
Y
Y
Hydrangea quercifolia
Oakleaf Hydrangea
Y
Y
Y
Y
Ilex opaca
American Holly
Y
Y
Y
Y
Ilex verticillata
Winterberry
Y
Y
Y
Y
Itea virginica
Sweetspire
Y
Y
Y
Y
Juniperus species
Juniper
Y
Y
Y
Y
Lindera benzoin
Spicebush
Y
Y
Y
Y
Myrica pennsylvanica
Northern Bay Berry
N
N
Y
Y
Physocarpus opulifolius
Common Ninebark
Y
Y
Y
Y
Potentilla fruticosa
Bush Cinquefoil
Y
Y
Y
Y
Rhus species
Sumac
Y
Y
Y
Y
Ribes
Current
Y
Y
Y
Y
Rosa species
Rose varieties
Y
Y
Y
Y
Salix discolor
Pussy Willow
N
N
Y
Y
Sambucus canadensis
Elderberry
N
N
Y
Y
Spirea species
Spirea
N
N
Y
N
Symphoricarpos albus
Snowberry
Y
Y
Y
Y
Syringa species
Lilac
N
N
Y
N
Taxus species
Yew
N
N
Y
N
Thuja species
Arborvitae
N
N
Y
N
Viburnum species
Viburnum
Y
Y
Y
Y
 
   (H)   Groundcover plants. Groundcover plants are deciduous or evergreen plants that grow low and spread horizontally, not including turf. Groundcover plants used to satisfy the requirements of this article must be at least one-gallon size.
   (I)   Mulch. All required trees and shrubs must be located within a (biodegradable) mulched area and be separated from turf by a minimum distance of five feet.
   (J)   Fences and walls. All fences and walls are subject to the regulations of § 155-14.90 and all other applicable regulations. Chain-link or other open wire fences may not be used to satisfy any of the requirements of this article unless improved with slats.
   (K)   Curbs and vehicle barriers. Landscaped areas in or abutting vehicular use areas must be protected by concrete curbing, anchored wheel stops, or other durable barriers approved by the Zoning Administrator. Wood timbers that are not part of a structural retaining wall may not be used to meet this requirement. Alternative barrier designs that provide improved infiltration or storage of stormwater are encouraged. Curbs protecting landscape islands within vehicular use areas may be designed to allow stormwater runoff to pass through them. Curbs may be perforated or have gaps or breaks.
   (L)   Bioretention. When landscape islands are used for bioretention the ponding area should be six inches to 18 inches in depth and planted with salt-tolerant native wildflowers/forbs and grasses suited to the micro-hydrology of the bioretention area.
   (M)   Berms. Berms used to satisfy the requirements of this article must consist of a mound or bank of formed earth at least 30 inches in height, a slope not exceeding one foot of vertical rise for each three feet of horizontal run, with a five-foot wide (minimum) plantable area on top and adequate ground cover on side slopes to prevent erosion.
 
   (N)   Intersection vision clearance. Plantings and landscape material, other than trees, located within the vision clearance area established by § 155-14.80 within a sight triangle may not exceed a height of 30 inches. Trees within the required vision clearance area must have all branches trimmed to provide clear vision for a vertical height of at least eight feet above the highest adjacent roadway or driveway surface. Evergreen trees are not permitted within required vision clearance areas.
   (O)   Fire hydrants and utilities. Landscaping must be placed to allow full access to fire hydrants and utility systems. A minimum five-foot clear space must be maintained around the circumference of fire hydrants and from any access point to a utility system (e.g., water shutoff valve box, sanitary/storm sewer manhole).
   (P)   Water conservation. To promote resource- efficient landscaping for the conservation of water and other natural resources, the following principles and practices are encouraged:
      (1)   Practical turf areas;
      (2)   Use of water-conserving plant material;
      (3)   Grouping of plants with similar water requirements;
      (4)   Installation of pervious paving to encourage groundwater recharge and reuse, and to discourage run-off;
      (5)    Rainwater harvesting techniques;
      (6)   Use of mulches;
      (7)   Use of soil amendments based on soil analysis; and
      (8)   Use of reclaimed water.
   (Q)   Maintenance. It is the responsibility of the property owner to maintain required landscaping in accordance with an approved maintenance plan. The maintenance plan must include, at a minimum, methods for providing the following:
      (1)   Necessary irrigation,
      (2)   Integrated pest management,
      (3)   Fertilization,
      (4)   Tree care and pruning,
      (5)   Replacement of lost vegetation, and
      (6)   Weed management.
(Ord. effective 10-1-2012; Ord. 18-1, passed 1-18-2018)