Locating parking in the back of the development is strongly preferred; however it doesn’t work for every development. The intent of this subsection is to encourage extensive landscaping in parking lot areas which tend to have the greatest negative impact on developments and that will provide breaks in what could be viewed as a sea of asphalt parking. All parking areas shall be designed to create small, shared, aesthetically landscaped, and screened parking lots that are designed to function not only in the interest of accommodating automobiles, but also in the interest of the pedestrian. The following standards are in addition to the landscaping requirements in Chapter 173 of the zoning ordinance.
1. Landscape islands shall be spaced no greater than 12 parking stalls apart within a single row of parking. Islands shall be 10 feet in width by 38 feet in length for dual row parking rows and 10 feet in width by 19 feet in length for single rows.
2. No parking space, within a single row of parking, shall be greater than twelve stalls from a landscape island.
3. Landscape islands shall be located at the terminus end of parking rows.
4. A variety of plants, shrubs, and trees shall be installed in each landscape pod and island. In addition, a variety of perennials may be required as the time of site plan review. In all events, the landscape pods and islands shall be sodded or mulched. If mulched, mulch shall be replenished annually; volcano mulching around trees is not permissible. Pea gravel and lava rocks will not be allowed.
5. The developer and/or successors shall maintain landscaped medians. Some landscaping must provide winter interest and be evergreen in nature.
6. Areas where parking lots or drive lanes are visible from the public street shall provide a significant level of screening through the use of any of the following:
A. Earthen berms;
B. Three feet or higher in conjunction with vegetation;
C. Landscaped walls;
D. Walls constructed for the retainment of soil which are greater than 4 feet in height shall be designed by an individual knowledgeable and certified in structural engineering;
E. Walls may be brick, individual decorative modular wall stone, or natural stacked wall or filed stone. Walls composed of landscape timbers or other wood products are not desired due to the deterioration potential of the material. Wood walls may be used, with approval by the Administrative Official or Planning and Zoning Commission and City Council, in areas where views of the wall are minimal.
F. Vegetation shall be planted along all types of walls to soften the visual impact, visually break up long expanses of the wall and to visually anchor it to the site. Vegetation screening shall be of evergreen materials.
G. Perimeter masonry screen walls are encouraged with landscaping. Where possible, landscaping shall be provided within a minimum 4’ wide planting bed and include trees, shrubs, and/or groundcovers. Landscaping shall coordinate with the streetscape landscaping. Landscaping shall be kept in a neat and orderly manner.