(A) Intent. The following provisions aid in ensuring that all required landscaping is installed and maintained properly.
(B) Applicability. These provisions apply to landscape installation as required by this section.
(C) General installation requirements. The installation of landscaping shall adhere to the following standards.
(1) National standards. Best management practices and procedures according to the nationally accepted standards shall be practiced.
(a) Installation. All landscaping and trees shall be installed in conformance with the practices and procedures established by the most recent edition of the American Standard for Nursery Stock (ANSI Z60.1) as published by the American Association of Nurserymen.
(b) Maintenance and protection. All landscaping and trees shall be maintained according to the most recent edition of the American National Standards Institute, including its provisions on pruning, fertilizing, support systems, lighting protection, and safety.
Plant Material Type | Minimum Size |
Plant Material Type | Minimum Size |
Deciduous Shade/Overstory Tree | |
Single Trunk | 2" caliper |
Multi Trunk | 10' in height |
Evergreen Tree | 8' in height |
Understory Tree | 6' in height |
Ornamental Tree | 1.5" caliper |
Shrubbery - Deciduous | container class 5 |
Shrubbery - Evergreen | container class 5 |
Groundcover | 3" in height |
(2) Installation. Landscaping shall be fully installed prior to the issuance of a certificate of completeness.
(a) If seasonal conditions preclude the complete installation, a cash escrow or irrevocable letter of credit, equal to 1.5 times the installation costs as estimated by a qualified professional shall be provided to the village.
(b) Complete installation is required within nine months of the issuance of the temporary certificate of completeness or occupancy permit or the cash escrow or letter of credit may be forfeited.
(3) Plant size requirements. Plant material shall be sized according to Table (2)(C)1. Plant Material Size at Installation at the time of installation, unless otherwise noted in this section.
(4) Condition of landscape materials. The landscaping materials used shall be:
(a) From a nursery certified by the Illinois Department of Agriculture's Bureau of Environmental Programs.
(b) Healthy and hardy with a good root system.
(c) Grown in conditions similar to the site, including natural and man-made conditions such as wind, salt, pollution, slope, water table, and soil type. Protected from damage by grates, pavers, or other measures.
(d) Species native or naturalized to the Midwest Region, whenever possible.
(e) Species that are not considered invasive in the area by the Northeast Illinois Invasive Plant Partnership.
(5) Compost, mulch, and organic matter. Compost, mulch, and organic matter may be utilized within the soil mix to reduce the need for fertilizers and increase water retention.
(6) Establishment. All installed plant material shall be fully maintained until established, including watering, fertilization, and replacement as necessary.
(D) Ground plane vegetation. All unpaved areas shall be graded and covered by one of the following.
(1) Planting beds.
(a) Planting beds may include shrubs, ornamental grasses, ground cover, vines, annuals, or perennials.
(b) Nonliving materials, such as pine straw, colored gravel, or mulch, are permitted for up to 50% of a bed area.
(c) Annual beds must be maintained seasonally, replanting as necessary.
(2) Grass. Seeded, plugged, or sodded grass may be planted throughout landscaped areas.
(a) Grass shall be established within 90 days of planting or the area must be re-seeded, replugged, or re-sodded.
(E) Tree installations. Refer to the list of permitted tree types, available at Village Hall.
(1) Tree measurement. New trees shall be measured at breast height 4.5 feet above grade, and noted as caliper inches throughout this chapter.
Tree Size | Soil Volume (cubic ft) | Soil Surface Area (sq ft) with 2.5' Soil Depth | Permeable Surface Area Requirement (sq ft) |
Very Small | 181 | 72 (approx. 8.5' x 8.5') | 25 (5' x 5') |
Small | 736 | 294 (approx. 17' x 17') | 100 (10' x 10') |
Medium | 2852 | 1141 (approx. 34' x 34') | 225 (15' x 15') |
Large | 6532 | 2681 (approx. 50' x 50') | 400 (20' x 20') |
(2) Tree maintenance. Tree trimming, fertilization, and other similar work shall be performed per American National Standards Institute (ANSI) A300.
(3) Species composition. Trees planted on a site shall be any combination of permitted species with the following exceptions:
(a) One genus shall not comprise more than 30% of trees planted on a site.
(b) One species shall not comprise more than 10% of trees planted on a site.
(c) Exceptions to this provision may be granted by the Director.
(4) Tree size. All trees to be installed to meet the requirements of this section shall be balled and burlapped and a minimum of two inch caliper at the time of installation.
(5) Tree spacing.
(a) Trees shall be planted at least 30 feet and 20 feet apart for large and medium trees, respectively.
(b) No trees may be planted closer to any curb or sidewalk than as follows unless a permeable surface is provided:
1. Medium trees: three feet.
2. Large trees: four feet.
(6) Permeable surface. For each tree preserved or planted, a minimum amount of permeable surface area is recommended, unless otherwise stated in this chapter.
(a) At least 70% of the canopy limits of preserved trees should have a permeable surface.
(b) Planted trees have a suggested minimum permeable area and soil volume based upon tree size; refer to Table (2)(E)1 for details.
(c) Permeable area for one tree cannot count toward that of another tree.
(7) Structural soil. When the soil surface area (per Table (2)(E)1) of a tree will extend below any pavement, structural soil is required underneath that pavement. Structural soil is a medium that can be compacted to pavement design and installation requirements while still permitting root growth. It is a mixture of gap-graded gravels (made of crushed stone), clay loam, and a hydrogel stabilizing agent to keep the mixture from separating. It provides an integrated, root penetrable, high strength pavement system that shifts design away from individual tree pits (source: Cornell University, Urban Horticulture Institute).
(F) Irrigation systems. Permanent irrigation, beyond establishment, is required and shall adhere to the following standards.
(1) All irrigation systems shall be designed to minimize the use of water.
(2) Non residential landscape irrigation shall have an automatic clock-activated permanent system.
(3) The irrigation system shall provide sufficient coverage to all landscape areas.
(4) The irrigation system shall not spray or irrigate impervious surfaces, including sidewalks, driveways, streets, and parking and loading areas.
(5) All systems shall be equipped with a back-flow prevention device.
(6) All mechanical systems including controllers and back-flow prevention devices shall be properly screened from public view.
(G) Maintenance of landscape. All landscaping shall be maintained in good condition at all times to ensure a healthy and orderly appearance.
(1) All required landscape shall be maintained to adhere to all requirements of this chapter.
(2) Replacing unhealthy landscaping. Unhealthy landscaping shall be replaced with healthy, live plants by the end of the next applicable growing season. This includes all plant material that shows dead branches over a minimum of 25% of the normal branching pattern.
(3) Maintenance responsibility. The owner is responsible for the maintenance, repair, and replacement of all landscaping, screening, and curbing required herein.
(4) Maintain quality and quantity. Maintenance shall preserve at least the same quantity, quality, and screening effectiveness as initially installed.
(5) Fences and other barriers. Fences, walls, and other barriers shall be maintained in good repair and free of rust, flaking paint, graffiti, and broken or damaged parts.
(6) Tree topping. Tree topping is not permitted. When necessary, crown reduction thinning or pruning is permitted. Refer to division (E)(3)(d) of this section for clear branch height of street trees.
(7) Village inspection. All landscaped areas regulated by this chapter may be inspected by the village.
(Ord. 2014-O-9, passed 5-20-14)