§ 12.20. Landscaping.
1.
Intent. Landscaping, greenbelts, and screening are necessary for the protection and enhancement of the environment and for the continued vitality of all land uses in the city. Landscaping and greenbelts are capable of enhancing the visual environment, preserving natural features, improving property values, and alleviating the impact of noise, traffic, and visual disruption related to intensive uses. The purpose of this section is to set minimum standards for the protection and enhancement of the environment through requirements for the design and use of landscaping, greenbelts, and screening.
2.
Scope of application. The requirements set forth in this section shall apply to all uses, lots, sites, and parcels which are developed or expanded following the effective date of this Ordinance. No site plan shall be approved unless said site plan shows landscaping consistent with the provisions of this section. Furthermore, where landscaping is required, a building permit shall not be issued until the required landscape plan is submitted and approved, and a certificate of occupancy shall not be issued unless provisions set forth in this section have been met or a performance bond has been posted in accordance with the provisions set forth in section 13.7.
In cases where the use of an existing building changes or an existing building is changed or otherwise altered or reoccupied, all of the standards set forth herein shall be met.
The requirements of this section are minimum requirements, and nothing herein shall preclude a developer and the city from agreeing to more extensive landscaping.
3.
Landscaping design standards. Except as otherwise specified in the general requirements for each zoning district, all landscaping shall conform to the following standards:
a.
General landscaping. All portions of the lot or parcel area not covered by buildings, paving, or other impervious surfaces, shall be landscaped with vegetative ground cover and other ornamental materials as required below, except where specific landscape elements, such as a greenbelt, berm, or screening are required:
(1)
All portions of the landscaped area shall be planted with grass, ground cover, shrubbery, or other suitable plant material, except that paved patios, terraces, sidewalks and similar site features may be incorporated with planning commission approval.
(2)
A mixture of evergreen and deciduous trees shall be planted at the rate of one tree for each 1,000 square feet or portion thereof of landscaped open-space area.
(3)
Required trees and shrubs may be planted at uniform intervals, at random, or in groupings.
(4)
On sites which are two acres or larger in size, the landscaped area shall include a greenbelt of a minimum ten-foot width, located and continually maintained along a public right-of-way.
(5)
In consideration of the overall design and impact of the landscape plan, the planning commission may reduce or waive the requirements outlined herein for general landscaping, or for landscaping in greenbelt areas, on berms, or as part of a screen, provided that any such adjustment is in keeping with the intent of the Ordinance, and more specifically, with the intent of section 12.3.
(6)
The total landscaped area shall be the basis for determining the required number of trees or shrubs, irrespective of the portion which is devoted to patios, terraces, sidewalks, or other site features.
b.
Greenbelt buffer. Where required, greenbelts and greenbelt buffers shall conform to the following standards:
(1)
A required greenbelt or greenbelt buffer may be interrupted only to provide for roads or driveways for vehicular access.
(2)
Grass, ground cover, or other suitable live plant material shall be planted over the entire greenbelt area, except that paving may be used in areas of intensive pedestrian circulation.
(3)
A minimum of one deciduous tree or evergreen tree shall be planted for each 30 lineal feet or portion thereof of required greenbelt length. Required trees shall be at least five feet tall and may be planted at uniform intervals, at random, or in groupings.
(4)
For each 50 linear feet or portion thereof of required greenbelt length, at least one ornamental spring flowering tree at least five feet in height shall be installed and maintained.
(5)
Two 18-inch high or wide shrubs shall be required for each 15 linear feet of greenbelt area. Required shrubs may be planted at uniform intervals, at random, or in groupings.
(6)
For the purpose of determining required plant material, required greenbelt area length shall be measured along the exterior periphery of the greenbelt area inclusive of all driveways.
c.
Berms. Where required, earth berms or landscaped berms shall conform to the following standards:
(1)
The berm shall be at least three feet above the grade elevation, and shall be constructed with slopes no steeper than one foot vertical for each three feet horizontal. For the purposes of this provision, grade elevation shall be the ground elevation at the property line adjacent to the proposed berm.
(2)
The berm area shall be planted with grass or other suitable ground cover to ensure that it withstands wind and weather and retains its height and shape.
(3)
A minimum of one deciduous or evergreen tree shall be planted for each 30 linear feet or portion of required berm.
(4)
Eight shrubs per tree may be planted as substitute for trees (see item (3) above).
(5)
Required trees and shrubs may be planted at uniform intervals, at random, or in groupings.
(6)
For the purpose of determining required plant material, required berm length shall be measured along the exterior periphery of the berm.
d.
Evergreen screening. Where required, evergreen screening shall consist of closely-spaced plantings which form a visual barrier that is at least eight feet above ground level within five years of planting.
e.
Landscaping of rights-of-way and other adjacent public open-space areas. Public rights-of-way and other public open-space areas adjacent to required landscaped areas and greenbelts shall be planted with grass or other suitable ground cover and maintained by the owner of the adjacent property as if they were part of required landscaped areas and greenbelts.
f.
Regulations pertaining to landscaping areas used for sight distance. When a driveway intersects a public right-of-way or when the subject property abuts the intersection of public rights-of-way, all landscaping within the corner triangular areas described below shall permit unobstructed cross-visibility. Shrubs located in the triangular area shall not be permitted to grow to a height of more than two feet above the pavement grade at the edge of the pavement. Portions of required berms located within sight distance triangular areas shall also not exceed a height of two feet above the pavement grade at the edge of the pavement. Trees may be maintained in this area provided that all branches are trimmed to maintain a clear vision for a vertical height of eight feet above the roadway surface. Landscaping, except grass or ground cover, shall not be located closer than three feet from the edge of a driveway.
The triangular areas referred to above are:
(1)
The area formed at the corner intersection of a public right-of-way and a driveway, two sides of the triangle area being ten feet in length measured along the right-of-way line and driveway line and the third side being a line connecting these two sides.
(2)
The area formed at a corner intersection of two public rights-of-way lines, the two sides of the triangular area being 25 feet in length measured along the abutting public rights-of-way lines and the third side being a line connecting these two sides.
g.
Maintenance of landscaping. All required landscape areas shall be planted and maintained with living plant materials. All landscaping which is located more than 50 feet from a building site shall have an irrigation (water sprinkler) system installed to assist in maintaining plant materials in a healthy condition. Failure to maintain required landscaped areas, including the removal and replacement of dead or diseased plant materials, shall constitute a violation of this Ordinance.