(a) Greenbelts Required. Greenbelts and landscaping shall be required in the following situations, except for parking areas within the B-1, Central Business District.
(1) Along the street frontage, between the right-of-way line and the parking lot of any parking lot containing four or more spaces;
(2) Within any required parking setback area; and
(3) Within the interior of any parking lot containing ten spaces or more.
(b) Greenbelt Standards for Front Setbacks. Greenbelts shall meet the requirements of this chapter.
(1) At a minimum, a required greenbelt shall contain one canopy tree, plus two additional canopy or understory trees for each 50 feet of road frontage.
(2) Trees within a required greenbelt may be clustered to create more visual impact and appeal, rather than uniformly spaced along the street.
(3) The minimum width of a required greenbelt shall correspond to the parking setback requirements prescribed for the district, but shall not be less than ten feet.
(4) Landscaping shall be located so it does not obstruct the vision of drivers entering or leaving a site.
(5) Storm water detention/retention areas shall be permitted within required greenbelts; provided, they shall not hamper the screening intent of the greenbelt or jeopardize the survival of plants.
(c) Parking Lot Landscaping. Where landscaping is required within parking lots, it shall meet the following requirements:
(1) One tree for every ten parking spaces shall be planted within the parking lot. Trees shall be canopy species. While drought tolerant native species are preferred, other species may be planted within parking areas if approved by the Zoning Administrator or Planning Commission, as applicable.
(2) Parking lots shall contain landscape islands. Each island shall be a minimum of ten feet wide, although islands may be combined to ensure a better environment for tree and plant growth. Each island shall be planted with a minimum of two trees to provide shade and to break up the visual monotony of large paved parking lots. Trees shall be planted at least three feet from the edge of the island to avoid contact with vehicles.
(3) Landscaping shall be arranged so as not to obscure traffic signs or fire hydrants, or obstruct drivers' sight distance within the parking area and at driveway entrances.
(4) All landscape areas shall be protected by raised curbs, parking blocks or other similar methods to prevent damage. Notwithstanding this requirement, alternative low-impact design solutions shall be encouraged.
(5) Landscaping required for front yards which abut parking areas may apply toward up to 50% of the required parking lot landscaping.
(Ord. 2013-19. Passed 9-16-13.)