Azle City Zoning Code
SECTION 29
LANDSCAPING
§ 29.1 APPLICABILITY.
§ 29.2 AREA REQUIREMENTS.
A.
MINIMUM LANDSCAPED AREA:
In nonresidential zoning districts, every lot shall have a minimum of 20% of its area landscaped. A minimum of one half (1/2) of the required landscaping shall be located in the front yard. Driveways, paved walks, right-of-way or easements for streets or alleys shall not be counted as part of the required landscape area. Industrial property shall provide landscaping of 12% of the lot area or 20% of the lot area by exclusion of the main enclosed structure ground floor area from the gross lot area, whichever is less.
(Ordinance 2013-09, ex. A, adopted 5/7/13)
§ 29.3 TREE REQUIREMENTS.
A.
TREES:
All properties shall provide trees at a ratio of eighteen (18) trees per acre (43,560 square feet), or one (1) tree per 2,420 square feet of gross lot area. Industrial property shall provide trees at a ratio of eighteen (18) trees per acre, calculated at sixty (60) percent of the gross lot area or by exclusion of the main enclosed structure ground floor area from the gross lot area, whichever is less.
B.
SIZE:
All trees planted to satisfy the tree standards must be a minimum of three (3) inches in caliper measured six (6) inches from the top of the container or root ball.
C.
SPECIES:
All trees planted to meet the requirements of this section must be listed on the Selected Species List. No trees with a maximum mature height of twenty-five (25) feet or greater may be planted within twenty-five (25) [feet], measured horizontally, from the nearest overhead utility line.
D.
SPECIES DIVERSITY:
The following Species Diversity Requirements shall apply to all Landscape Plans, but shall not be used to limit eligibility for tree credits. Subdivisions under control by a single contractor shall insure species diversification by limiting any single species of tree to a maximum of 35% of the overall planting.
Number of Required Site Trees | Maximum Percentage of Any One Species |
|---|---|
10-19 | 50% |
20-39 | 35% |
40-59 | 25% |
60+ | 15% |
E.
TREE SELECTION:
(Ordinance 2013-09, ex. A, adopted 5/7/13; Ordinance 2021-15 adopted 10/19/21)
§ 29.4 PARKING LOT SCREENING AND LANDSCAPING.
A.
PERIMETER SCREENING:
Any parking lot or portion thereof that fronts upon or is adjacent to a public right-of-way and contains ten (10) or more parking spaces shall provide perimeter screening. The perimeter of each parking lot, exclusive of driveways, shall be provided with shrub screening with a minimum mature height of thirty-six (36) inches and installation height of eighteen (18) inches or greater and spaced no more than twenty-four (24) inches apart, edge to edge. The use of berms and planter walls shall be allowed to contribute to installation and mature height requirements. The slope of earthen berms shall not exceed one foot of height for each three foot in width.
B.
INTERIOR LANDSCAPING:
Any parking lot which is constructed and contains forty (40) or more parking spaces shall provide permanently landscaped areas consisting of islands, peninsulas, medians, or adjacent planting areas. One tree shall be planted for each (20) parking spaces. A minimum of fifty (50) square feet of planting area shall be provided for each tree required. Parking lot trees shall be counted towards meeting the minimum number of trees required by Section 29.3.
C.
DISTRIBUTION OF LANDSCAPED AREAS:
The required landscaped areas for parking lots shall be more or less evenly distributed throughout the parking lot. Adjustments may be approved where the shape or size of the parking lot, the location of existing trees, or other natural constraints reasonably prevent such distribution.
(Ordinance 2013-09, ex. A, adopted 5/7/13)
§ 29.5 SELECTED SPECIES LIST.
Large Trees | ||
|---|---|---|
Common Name | Botanical Name | Mature Size Height & Width |
Bald Cypress | Taxodium distichum | 60' x 30' |
Bigtooth Maple | Acer grandidentatum | 30' x 30' |
Bur Oak | Quercus macrocarpa | 60' x 40' |
Caddo Maple | Acer saccharum ‘Caddo’ | |
Cedar Elm | Ulmus crassifoloa | 80' x 60' |
Chinese Pistache | Pistachia chinesis | 40' x 30' |
Chinquapin Oak | Quercus muehlenbergii | 60' x 40' |
Coastal Live Oak | Quercus virginiana | 50' x 50' |
Durand Oak | Quercus durandii | 60' x 40' |
Eastern Red Cedar | Juniperus virginiana | 40' x 20' |
Eldarica Pine | Pinus eldarica | 40' x 20' |
Ginkgo (male) | Ginkgo biloba | 50' x 30' |
Gum Bumelia\Chittamwood | Bumelia langinosa | 60' x 30' |
Lacebark Elm | Ulmus parvifolia | 50' x 35' |
Pecan | Carya illinocensis | 80' x 60' |
Raywood Ash | Fraxinus oxycarpa “Raywood” | 40' x 25' |
Shumard Oak | Quercus shumardii | 70' x 50' |
Southern Magnolia | Magnolia gradiflora | 60' x 30' |
Texas Ash | Fraxinus texensis | 50' x 40' |
Texas Red Oak | Quercus texana | 30' x 30' |
Vasey Oak | Quercus pungens var. vaseyana | 40' x 40' |
Western Soapberry | Sapindus saponaris v. “Drummondii” | 30' x 20' |
Small Trees | ||
|---|---|---|
Common Name | Botanical Name | Mature Size Height & Width |
American Holly | Llex opaca | 30' x 20' |
Cherry Laurel | Prunus caroliniiana | 25' x 15' |
Chitalpa | Chilopsis x Catalpa | 30' x 25' |
Crepe Myrtle | Lagerstroemia indica | 15' x 10' |
Desert Willow | Chilopsis linearis | 20' x 15' |
Eve’s Necklace | Sophora affinis | 30' x 20' |
Flameleaf Sumac | Acer palmatum | 20' x 20' |
Flowering Dogwood | Cornus florida | 20' x 20' |
Japanese Maple | Acer palmatum | 20' x 20' |
Lacey Oak | Quercus glaucoides | 30' x 25' |
Possumhaw Holly | Ilex deciduas | 15' x 10' |
Prairie Sumac | Rhus lanceolate | 15' x 15' |
Mexican Plum | Prunus Mexicana | 25' x 25' |
Mexican Buckeye | Ungnadia speciose | 20' x 20' |
Nellie R Stevens Holly | Llex x ‘Nellie R Stevens’ | 20' x 20' |
Oklahoma Redbud | Cercis canadensis | 20' x 15' |
Rough-Leaf Dogwood | Cornus florida | 20' x 20' |
Savannah Holly | Llex x attenuate ‘Savannah’ | 20' x 20' |
Shantung Maple | Acer truncatum | 20' x 20' |
Smoke Tree | Continus obovatus | 15' x 15' |
Sothern Rusty Blackhaw | Viburnum rufidulum | 20' x 20' |
Southern Wax Myrtle | Myrica cerifera | 15' x 10' |
Texas Persimmon | Diospyros texana | 25' x 20' |
Texas Pistache | Pistacia chinensis | 20' x 15' |
Texas Redbud | Cercis Canadensis texensis | 25' x 20' |
Vitex | Vitex agnes castus | 20' x 25' |
Yaupon Holly | llex vomitora | 20' x 20' |
(Ordinance 2018-08 adopted 4/3/18)
§ 29.6 IRRIGATION REQUIRED.
A.
All landscaped areas shall be irrigated with an approved automatic irrigation system unless the landscaped area has been designed utilizing xeroscaping methods.
(Ordinance 2013-09, ex. A, adopted 5/7/13)
§ 29.7 CLEARING AND GRADING PERMIT.
A.
No removal of trees, land clearing, and grading shall occur without the required approvals and permits. Clearing and grading activity shall be limited to the limits of the grading area identified on the approved grading plan. A clearing and grading permit is required in the City and can be applied for once the final plat has been approved by the Planning and Zoning Commission.
B.
The following shall be exempt from the requirement for clearing and grading permit:
1.
Grading and clearing in emergency situations involving immediate danger to life and property or substantial fire hazards.
2.
The removal of underbrush, dead trees, or diseased or damaged trees which constitute a hazard to life and property based upon field inspection verification.
3.
Grading and clearing practices associated with normal agricultural crop operations, excluding timber cutting.
(Ordinance 2013-09, ex. A, adopted 5/7/13)
§ 29.8 MAINTENANCE.
The owner, tenant and/or their agent, if any, shall be jointly and severally responsible for the maintenance of all landscaping. All required landscaping shall be maintained in a neat and orderly manner at all times. Landscaped areas shall be kept free of trash, litter, weeds, and other such material or plants not a part of the landscaping. All plant material shall be maintained in a healthy and growing condition as is appropriate for the season of the year. Plant materials which die shall be replaced with plant material of similar variety and size, within ninety (90) days. A time extension may be granted by the Director of Planning and Development if substantial evidence is presented to indicate abnormal circumstances beyond the control of the owner or his agent. Failure to maintain any landscape area in compliance with this section shall result in the disapproval and revocation of any issued Certificate of Occupancy associated with the occupancy of said area.
(Ordinance 2021-15 adopted 10/19/21)