The selection, size, spacing and planting of all landscaping within a subdivision shall comply with the Zoning Ordinance and the following standards.
(A) General standards.
(1) Plantings within 15 feet of a fire hydrant shall be no taller than six inches.
(2) The development and planting of required landscaping shall be the responsibility of the proprietor, not the individual lot owner.
(3) Fewer trees may be required if the proprietor provides evidence that existing trees over three-inch caliper or natural habitat areas will be preserved during and after construction.
(4) The landscape plan shall be approved by the Township Board, upon recommendation of the Planning Commission, in consideration of the above and compatibility with the visual character of the surrounding area.
(5) Landscaping shall comply with minimum sight line standards required by the County Road Commission or Michigan Department of Transportation, whichever agency has jurisdiction.
(6) To prevent conflict with utilities, compliance with the following guidelines shall be required:
(a) Guidelines for above-ground utilities:
Distance from Centerline of Utility Easement | Maximum Height of Trees or Shrubs |
Within 10 feet | 15 feet |
10.1 to 20 feet | 25 feet |
20.1 to 30 feet | 40 feet |
(b) Plantings directly underneath above-ground wires or directly over underground utilities shall be avoided; and
(c) The following clearances shall be provided around equipment cabinets:
Minimum Landscaping Setback | |
In front of cabinet door | 10 feet |
In back or side of cabinet | 4 feet |
(B) Street trees.
(1) One canopy tree shall be planted for each 50 feet of frontage along a street or private road, including all frontages for a corner lot, rounded up to the next whole number, and one canopy tree shall also be planted for each 50 linear feet along a median boulevard, except where the trees would conflict with traffic control devices, driveways, street lights, fire hydrants and utility locations.
(2) The minimum size of all street trees shall be two and one-half inches caliper.
(3) Tree species should selected for tolerance of the harsh roadside conditions in central Michigan, for compliance with overhead clearance and sight distance requirements, to ensure maintenance of accessibility to fire hydrants, and to avoid interference overhead or underground utility lines, street lights or street pavement. To control tree loss due to insects or disease, more than one species shall be planted. Trees shall be selected from the list of approved species specified by the County Road Commission.
(4) Street trees shall be planted so that each lot has at least one canopy tree and each corner lot has at least three canopy trees. Street trees shall be placed to avoid future driveway locations, if known.
(5) Street trees shall be at least 50 feet from the intersection of two street right-of-way lines or access easements.
(6) Street trees shall be planted in accordance with the setback standards established by the Ingham County Road Commission (minimum of 15 feet from the nearest edge of the curb or 19 feet from the nearest edge of pavement if there is no curb) or Michigan Department of Transportation. Trees shall be outside of areas needed for open ditches or potential future sidewalks. Street trees may be located on private property as close to the front line as possible for those lots where tree location in the public right-of-way is not possible due to conflicts with overhead or underground utility lines or restrictions of the Ingham County Road Commission.
(7) The lowest branch of any canopy tree shall provide a minimum 13-foot clearance over a public street or private road, and a minimum seven feet above grade from a sidewalk, and a minimum of nine feet above grade from a bicycle pathway. Greater clearances shall be provided if required by the Ingham County Road Commission.
(C) Landscaping in cul-de-sacs.
(1) A minimum of one canopy tree for every 1,000 square feet of ground area, rounded upward, shall be planted within each cul-de-sac or island (e.g., if the island is 2,305 s.f., three canopy trees would be required).
(2) Canopy trees shall be maintained so that the lowest branch that is greater than one inch in diameter is a minimum of 15 feet above the elevation of the street surface.
(3) The island must be planted with grass or ground cover or have four low shrubs planted for every 1,000 square feet of ground area. The shrubs shall be maintained at a maximum height of two feet, six inches. If planted with grass or ground cover, the island shall first be mounded to a height of between one foot, six inches and two feet, six inches.
(D) Subdivision entrances. Subdivision entrances may include landscaping, lighting, identification signs, wrought iron fences or other architectural features. All such features shall comply with the Zoning Ordinance. Details of the entranceway may be submitted at any stage in the plat review process or after final plat approval.
(E) Landscaping as a buffer zone. A landscaped buffer zone shall be required along those boundaries of a residential subdivision that abut land that is used for other than single-family residential purposes, including where the abutting land is occupied by a rail line or high voltage power transmission lines (69 kV to 765 kV). This buffer zone may include trees, shrubs, berms, fences, walls or a combination.
(F) Required landscape greenbelt. When a subdivision borders on a state highway, county primary road or street classified as a principal or minor arterial in the Township Master Plan, and wherever a rear yard abuts a public or private road, an easement for construction of a minimum 20-foot wide landscape greenbelt shall be provided. This buffer zone may include trees, shrubs, berms, walls or a combination designed in accordance with the landscape standards described in the Zoning Ordinance. Existing natural features shall be retained wherever possible to promote a natural appearance and to protect the existing ecosystem within the greenbelt. However, nothing in this section is intended to prevent a pedestrian-bicycle pathway, sidewalk or underground utilities within the greenbelt.
(Ord. passed 3-18-1997)