(a) Existing Landscape Material.
(1) Unless otherwise noted, existing landscape material in healthy condition can be used to satisfy the requirements of this section in whole or in part provided they meet all requirements of this section.
(2) The Zoning Administrator shall have the authority to determine if any existing landscape material can be used to satisfy the requirements of this section.
(3) Developments on properties with a wooded area of no less than one contiguous acre, containing dense vegetation primarily composed of mature trees, shall be configured and developed to provide as little impact as practically possible on such wooded area.
(b) Intersection Visibility. All landscaping shall be subject to the intersection visibility standards established in Section 1115.02(d).
(c) Walls and Fences Used for Landscaping.
(1) Walls and fences used to comply with the standards of this section shall also comply with Section 1113.01.
(2) Chain link fences with or without wooden or synthetic slat material shall not be allowed when used to satisfy the buffer requirements of this section.
(d) Plant Standards. All plants utilized in the fulfillment of the requirements of this section shall meet the following requirements:
(1) Plants installed shall meet the standards for size, form, and quality set out in the American Standard for Nursery Stock (ANSI Z60.1, latest edition).
(2) Plant materials should consist of hardy, native and/or drought-tolerant vegetation to the maximum extent feasible. Applicants should review the Wooster City Urban Forestry Policy Manual, current edition, for recommendations and basic information for the planting, maintenance, and removal of landscaping materials.
(3) All planting materials shall be free of noxious weeds, disease, and pests.
(4) Street trees and any trees located within public rights-of-way or on publicly owned property shall be subject to the requirements of the Wooster City Urban Forestry Policy Manual, current edition, that regulates species, pruning, maintenance, and removal of such trees.
Vegetation Type | Minimum Size Requirement |
Large Deciduous Trees | 2.0-inch DBH with a clear trunk height of 6 feet when planted |
Small Deciduous Trees | 1.5-inch DBH with a clear trunk height of 5 feet when planted |
Evergreen Trees | 6 feet in height when planted |
Shrubs | 2 feet in height when planted |
Hedges | Size as needed so that the plant materials forms a continuous, unbroken screen within one planting season |
DBH = Diameter at Breast Height | |
(e) Species Diversity. To curtail the spread of disease or insect infestation in a plant species if a new development contains over 20 trees, the application should include diversity in plant choices.
(f) Planting Arrangement. Trees and shrubs shall be arranged to create varied and attractive views and plant material should provide a variety of color displayed throughout the year
(g) Installation. If installation of plantings is not completed in a planting season, then landscaping must be installed during the next planting season.
(h) Parking. Vehicle parking shall not be permitted in landscaping or buffering areas required by this chapter.
(i) Pedestrian Movement. Materials shall not be placed where they will prevent pedestrian movement unless so planted for that or similar purpose.
(j) Accessways. Necessary accessways shall be permitted to traverse required landscaping and buffering areas. The width of such accessways shall not be subtracted from the linear dimensions used to determine the minimum number of trees and shrubs required in this Chapter.
(k) Mounding Specifications.
(1) Mounding provided in lieu of or in combination with walls, fences, and/or evergreen plantings shall consist of a strip of land as wide as necessary to obtain a maximum slope of 3:1 (angle of repose).
(2) Mounding may include rocks and other excavated materials, but one foot of dirt covered by six inches of topsoil shall be provided over the entire mounding. Trees, shrubs, wood, and other non- compactable items shall not be used in the construction of mounding.
(3) No mounding will be allowed in any required utility easements, except for perpendicular utility easement crossings. Mounding shall provide adequate access to utility easements adjacent to the mounding.
(4) Mounding shall be planted with a ground cover suitable to prevent erosion, and shall be maintained by the private property owner, in conformance with code, on which the mound rests. Other forms of vegetation may also be planted on the mounding.
(5) A difference in elevation between areas requiring screening does not constitute an existing earth mound and shall not be considered as fulfilling any screening requirement.
(6) Drainage patterns shall be considered, maintained and/or modified only with the approval of the City Engineer, when mounding is used.
(7) The property on which the mound is located is responsible for the maintenance of the mound including but not limited to grass cutting, tree trimming/replacement, etc.
(l) Damage to Public Works. In no case shall any plant material interfere with or cause damage to underground utility lines, public roadways, or other public works. Species of trees whose roots are known to cause damage to pavements or other public works shall not be planted closer than 15 feet to such public works.
(m) Maintenance.
(1) The owner of the property shall be responsible for the continued property maintenance of all landscaping materials, and shall keep them in a proper, neat and orderly appearance, free from refuse, debris, and weeds at all times.
(2) All unhealthy or dead plant material shall be replaced within one year, or by the next planting period, whichever comes first.
(3) No plant material required by this code shall be removed for any reason unless replaced with like kind and size at the time of removal. If replaced with a like kind and size of material, no approvals shall be required.
(4) Any changes to an approved landscaping plan shall require approval in the same manner as landscaping plan was original approved.
(5) Violation of these provisions shall be subject to the enforcement provisions of Chapter 1133: Enforcement and Penalties.
(Ord. 2018-009. Passed 5-7-18.)