(A) Wherever in this chapter a landscape planting screen or landscape plantings are required the developer shall provide a surety bond or escrow money acceptable to the City Engineer in an amount sufficient to ensure completion in accordance with the approved planting plan prior to the issuance of any building permits. Such landscape plantings shall be planted in accordance with an approved planting plan, planted to completion and approved by the City Engineer prior to issuance of a certificate of occupancy, certificate of compliance, certificate of approval or certificate of conformity unless the structure or required paving construction is completed in an off planting season, in which case temporary certificates will be issued; however, all required plantings shall be placed to completion within 60 days of the next planting season. Failure to place the required plantings within 60 days of the next planting season shall be grounds for termination or revocation of a temporary certificate and subject the property owner to the fines and penalties of § 190.999 of this chapter. No additional certificate, either temporary or final will be issued until all required plantings are placed to completion.
(B) All plantings shall consist of permanent, living plant materials and shall be so planted as to be in a healthy growing condition. Planting materials shall be maintained in a healthy growing condition which shall include watering, cultivation and weed control and further maintained in a neat and orderly appearance free of refuse and debris. All unhealthy and dead plant materials shall be replaced within three months or during the next appropriate planting season.
(C) Whenever a landscape planting screen or landscape plantings are required under the provisions of this chapter, a site plan together with a detailed planting plan of said screen or plantings, shall be submitted to and be approved by the Planning Commission prior to issuance of a building permit. Estimated costs shall also be submitted with the detailed planting plans. Detailed plans shall be submitted in accordance with the following:
(1) A minimum scale of one inch equals 40 feet;
(2) Plans shall indicate, to scale, the location, spacing, starting size and description for each unit of plant material proposed for use within the required screening or planting area, together with the finished grade elevations therein;
(3) Plans shall indicate the proposed location and height of all structures, proposed location of off-street parking areas, points of ingress and egress to the site, location of walks and roadways, location of proposed outside storage, dumpster areas, loading or service areas and transformers; and
(4) Plans shall indicate existing plant or tree cover including types of trees and tree height.
(D) The planting plan shall be reviewed relative to the following:
(1) The proper spacing, height, placement, location and type of plant materials:
(a) To ensure landscape screens are the length and width so the required horizontal and vertical obscuring effect of proposed land uses will be achieved; and
(b) To ensure landscape planting areas are planted within the minimum requirements as set forth in this chapter.
(2) The choice and selection of plant materials so as to ensure that root systems will not interfere with public utilities and that fruit and other debris (excluding leaves) will not constitute a nuisance within public rights-of-way or to abutting property owners;
(3) The choice and selection of plant materials are of types that will survive and thrive in the area which they are to be located. It is suggested that a mixture of plant materials (evergreen and deciduous trees and shrubs) be provided in all landscape plans as a protective measure against disease and insect infestation. Where landscape screens are required, a proper relationship exists between deciduous and evergreen plant materials to assure that the desired obscuring effect will be maintained throughout the various seasonal periods; and
(4) The size of plant materials (both starting and ultimate):
(a) Where landscape screens are required to ensure adequate maturity and optimum screening effect; and
(b) Where landscape planting areas are required, such areas are to be safely located from any building, point of ingress or egress and not create a traffic hazard.
(E) Landscape planting screens and landscape planting areas shall consist of suitable plant materials laid out in conformance with the following: landscape planting screen.
(1) Plant materials (except creeping vine type) shall not be located within two feet of a property line.
(2) Where plant materials are planted in two or more rows, planting shall be staggered in rows.
(3) Evergreen trees shall be a minimum of six feet in height. When planted in informal groupings, they shall be spaced not less than ten feet on centers. If placed further apart, additional screen plantings shall be used to achieve the desired obscuring effect. When planted in rows, they shall be spaced not more than eight feet on centers.
(4) Narrow evergreen trees shall be a minimum of five feet in height. When planted in informal groupings, they shall be spaced not more than ten feet on centers. When planted in rows, they shall be spaced not more than five feet on centers.
(5) Tree-like shrubs shall be a minimum of six feet in height and spaced not more than ten feet on centers.
(6) Large deciduous shrubs shall be a minimum of four feet in height and spaced not more than six feet on centers.
(7) Deciduous trees shall be a minimum of eight feet in height with a minimum caliper of two and one-half inches, they shall be spaced not more than 30 feet on centers.
(F) In addition to parking lot landscape requirements as specified herein, street tree shade trees shall be provided between the curb and sidewalk or if space is not adequate between the curb and sidewalk, trees shall be located on private property spaced 35 feet on centers along all street frontages. On streets under the jurisdiction of the county or the state, plans for street trees shall be subject to the requirements of such agency.
(G) (1) Yard planting exposed to public view shall be required in all multiple-family, office service, neighborhood business, general business and all industrial districts. Plantings shall consist of shrubs, trees, flowers and lawns as may be appropriate.
(2) The pavements surface in any residential yard shall not exceed 50% for a required front yard.
(H) (1) Spacing between and minimum size of plant materials (in feet) shall be as follows:
Plant Material Types | Narrow Evergreen Trees | Evergreen Trees | Tree-Like Shrubs | Large Deciduous Trees | Large Shrubs |
Evergreen trees | Min. 12’ | Min. 10’ Max. 20’ | Min. 12’ | Min. 20’ | Min. 6’ |
Large deciduous | Min. 15’ | Min. 20’ | Min. 15’ | Min. 20’ Max. 30’ | Min. 6’ |
Large shrubs | Min. 5’ | Min. 6’ | Min. 6’ | Min. 6’ | Min. 4’ Max. 6’ |
Narrow evergreen | Min. 5’ Max. 10’ | Min. 12’ | Min. 10’ | Min. 15’ | Min. 5’ |
Tree like shrubs | Min. 10’ | Min. 12’ | Min. 8’ Max. 15’ | Min. 15’ | Min. 6’ |
NOTES TO TABLE: Narrow evergreen trees: 5 feet in height Evergreen trees: 6 feet in height Tree-like shrubs: 6 feet in height Large deciduous trees: 2-1/2-inch caliper Large deciduous shrubs: 4 feet in height | |||||
(2) Trees not permitted (all locations):
(a) Box elder;
(b) Soft maples;
(c) Elms;
(d) Horse chestnut (nut-bearing);
(e) Tree of Heaven;
(f) Catalpa; and
(g) Ash.
(3) Trees not permitted within street right-of-way:
(a) Basswood;
(b) Cottonwood; and
(c) Willow.
(4) On the following table is a list of suggested plant materials. Size, special characteristics and tolerances are given to aid in determining what plant materials are right for an individual situation. This list is not intended to be a comprehensive list of plant materials, especially in the area of deciduous shrubs.
T - Tolerant I - Intolerant S - Slow M - Moderate F - Fast V - Varies | ||||||||||||||||||
Deicing Salt | Heat | Drought | Shade | Course | Medium | Fine | Oval | Round | Pyramidal | Light Foliage | Dense Foliage | Ped Level Massing | Attractive Flowers | Attractive Fruit | Good Fall Color | Winter Interest | Growth Rate | |
T - Tolerant I - Intolerant S - Slow M - Moderate F - Fast V - Varies | ||||||||||||||||||
Deicing Salt | Heat | Drought | Shade | Course | Medium | Fine | Oval | Round | Pyramidal | Light Foliage | Dense Foliage | Ped Level Massing | Attractive Flowers | Attractive Fruit | Good Fall Color | Winter Interest | Growth Rate | |
Shade (Canopy) trees 50’—60’ | ||||||||||||||||||
Hackberry | T | T | T | T | X | X | F | |||||||||||
Honeylocust, Thornless | T | T | T | X | X | X | X | F | ||||||||||
Linden, American | I | T | X | X | X | X | X | M | ||||||||||
Maple, Norway | T | I | X | X | X | X | M | |||||||||||
Maple, Red | I | T | X | X | X | X | F | |||||||||||
Maple, Sugar | I | I | T | X | X | X | X | S | ||||||||||
Oak, Pin | I | I | T | X | X | X | X | X | M | |||||||||
Intermediate Trees 30’—40’ | ||||||||||||||||||
Birch, River | T | X | X | X | X | X | X | F | ||||||||||
Linden, Greenspire | T | X | X | X | X | X | F | |||||||||||
Linden, Littleleaf | I | T | X | X | X | X | X | M | ||||||||||
Linden, Redmond | T | X | X | X | X | X | M | |||||||||||
Low trees 15’—25’ | ||||||||||||||||||
Beech, Blue | T | X | X | X | X | S | ||||||||||||
Crabapple | I | I | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | F | ||||||||
Dogwood, Pagoda | T | X | X | X | X | X | M | |||||||||||
Hawthorn, Thornless | I | X | X | X | X | X | F | |||||||||||
Maple, Amur | T | T | X | X | X | X | F | |||||||||||
Mountain Ash, European | I | T | I | X | X | X | X | M | ||||||||||
Olive, Russian | T | T | T | X | X | X | F | |||||||||||
Shadblow Serviceberry | T | X | X | X | X | F | ||||||||||||
Evergreen trees 50’—60’ | ||||||||||||||||||
Pine, Austrian | T | T | X | X | X | X | F | |||||||||||
Pine, Scotch | T | X | X | X | X | F | ||||||||||||
Spruce, Black Hills | T | T | T | X | X | X | X | M | ||||||||||
Spruce, Colorado | T | X | X | X | X | S | ||||||||||||
Deciduous Shrubs 4½’ and taller | ||||||||||||||||||
Buckthorn, Columnar | T | T | T | X | X | X | X | F | ||||||||||
Chokeberry, Black | T | X | X | X | X | X | X | S | ||||||||||
Dogwood, Redtwig | I | X | X | X | X | X | F | |||||||||||
Euonymous, Winged | I | X | X | X | X | X | X | S | ||||||||||
Lilac, French | T | X | X | X | X | M | ||||||||||||
Ninebark, Golden | T | X | X | X | F | |||||||||||||
Deciduous shrubs under 4½’ | ||||||||||||||||||
Currant, Alpine | T | T | X | X | X | X | M | |||||||||||
Barberry, Japanese | I | T | T | X | X | X | X | X | X | M | ||||||||
Cranberry Bush, Compact | I | X | X | X | ||||||||||||||
Honeysuckle, Emerald Mound | T | X | X | X | X | X | M | |||||||||||
Potentilla | T | T | T | X | X | X | X | M | ||||||||||
Spiraea, Anthony Waterer | T | X | X | X | X | M | ||||||||||||
Evergreen shrubs (height varies) | ||||||||||||||||||
Arborvitae | Varies | X | Varies | X | X | S | ||||||||||||
Juniper | Varies | X | Varies | X | X | S | ||||||||||||
Pine, Mugho | Varies | X | Varies | X | X | S | ||||||||||||
Yews | Varies | X | Varies | X | X | S | ||||||||||||
Groundcovers 1’—2’ | ||||||||||||||||||
Cinquefoil Wineleaf | T | X | X | X | F | |||||||||||||
Crownvetch | T | T | X | X | X | S | ||||||||||||
Creeper, Virginia | T | T | T | X | X | X | F | |||||||||||
Fleeceflower | T | T | X | X | X | X | X | F | ||||||||||
(5) All parking lot landscaped areas shall be provided with underground irrigation.
(6) Except as otherwise allowed or specified in this chapter, all land in all use districts located between abutting public right-of-way, railroad right-of-way or waterway shall be landscaped and well maintained in grass, ground cover, shrubs or trees.
(Prior Code, App. A, § 2407) (Ord. 1277, passed 4-2-2007)