This Article establishes minimum standards for landscaping and site design; the City encourages developers and landowners to exceed these minimums whenever possible.

(Ord. 94-11 §1)

(a)

Minimum percent of net site area required to be landscaped, exclusive of street right-of-way and any required parking lot landscaping, shall be as follows:

(1)

Residential districts: forty percent (40%).

(2)

Nonresidential districts, excluding limited industrial: fifteen percent (15%).

(3)

Limited industrial district: five percent (5%).

(b)

Undeveloped areas. Any part of a site not used for buildings, parking, driveways, sidewalks, etc., shall be landscaped. All undeveloped building areas within partially developed commercial or industrial uses shall be landscaped with a ground cover to control dust and erosion.

(c)

Obstructions. No walls, buildings or other obstructions to view in excess of three and one-half (3½) feet in height shall be placed on any corner lot within a triangular area formed by the curb lines and a line connecting them at points ten (10) feet from the intersection of the curb lines. Trees may be located within the triangle, provided that they are pruned high enough to permit unobstructed vision.

(d)

Lighting. All outdoor lighting shall be directed down and screened away from adjacent properties and streets.

(e)

Native vegetation, or low water usage vegetation on water conserving design precepts, shall be used whenever possible per the design standards for the City.

(f)

Landscaped areas, adjacent to streets, vehicular parking and access areas, shall be protected by six-inch vertical concrete curbing, bumper lock or other approved method to minimize damage to landscaping by vehicular traffic.

(g)

Streamside development. Upon development of a site through which an existing creek or stream flows, a pedestrian access and open space easement adequate to accommodate a 100-year flood or a ten-foot pedestrian easement, whichever is greater, as determined by the Board of Aldermen, shall be dedicated to the City for future development. Floodplain regulations do not allow any structure to be built unless it is one (1) foot above the 100-year flood elevation. An engineering analysis and/or conformance with the master drainage plan shall be required for any modification to the floodplain. Stream improvement shall include the areas on both sides of the stream and includes ten (10) feet from the ordinary high water line of said stream. The owners of such property are strongly encouraged to integrate the development of the creek, open space and pedestrian way into the development at the time of development. Said stream or creek should be restored, enhanced and maintained as a site amenity. Evidence of unnatural disturbance should be removed. Restoration and enhancement should include:

(1)

Revegetation with plants indigenous to the area, including trees, shrubs and native grasses and wild flowers;

(2)

An eight-foot-wide walkway constructed of materials approved by the City;

(3)

Provision of lighting, benches and other amenities in accordance with conceptual plans adopted by the City for said improvements; and

(4)

The developer of such property is encouraged to incorporate the development of the stream into any request for approval of development plans by the Board of Aldermen.

(h)

Landscape strips shall be established along all commercially zoned streets, between the public right-of-way and any buildings, parking lots, loading areas, storage areas or other improvements. The minimum requirements are:

(1)

Adjacent to Highway 119: ten (10) feet wide (including the walkway); and any other commercial street: ten (10) feet.

(2)

Trees shall be planted at the rate of one (1) tree per thirty-five (35) feet of lineal street frontage. A minimum of twenty-five percent (25%) of the required trees shall be mature and the remaining shall be a minimum size of fifteen (15) gallons.

(3)

Shrubbery with a minimum size of five (5) gallons shall be planted in appropriate numbers to complement the placement of trees, but in no case shall be less than three (3) shrubs per thirty-five (35) feet of lineal street frontage.

(4)

Clustering of trees and shrubbery shall be encouraged to accent focal points or landmarks and to provide variety to the streetscape. Contouring of the ground is encouraged.

(i)

Common area landscaping. In any multifamily project or district, a minimum of two (2) trees per dwelling unit shall be required, exclusive of street trees and perimeter landscaping. A minimum of twenty-five percent (25%) of required trees shall be mature and the remaining shall be a minimum of fifteen (15) gallons in size.

(j)

Parking lot landscaping.

(1)

A minimum of five percent (5%) of all parking lots shall be landscaped. Such landscaping may occur on the perimeter or on parking islands within the lot.

(2)

A minimum of one (1) tree shall be provided for every twelve (12) parking spaces. A minimum of twenty-five percent (25%) of required trees shall be mature and the remaining shall be a minimum of fifteen (15) gallons in size.

(3)

Any landscaped area used for vehicular overhang shall not be counted towards the required landscaping.

(Ord. 94-11 §1; Ord. 98-33 §9; Ord. 2009-23 §11)

Development of individual properties along Gregory Street and Main Street will require participation in the development of a unified pedestrian facility and streetscape. This will include a sidewalk, a street-lighting system, landscaping and an irrigation system. The Board of Aldermen shall adopt the specifications and costs to develop a unified pedestrian facility and streetscape.

(1)

There shall be a required ten-foot-wide sidewalk complete with lighting, bollards, railings and landscaping provided adjacent to commercially zoned property which is adjacent to Main Street or Gregory Street.

(2)

When there is an existing structure prohibiting the provision of a ten-foot-wide sidewalk, the developer may meet this requirement within the right-of-way or if there is inadequate right-of-way width, the planned sidewalk improvements may be modified upon approval of the Board of Aldermen.

(3)

All streetscape improvements shall be constructed in accordance with adopted plans for said improvements.

(4)

When it is more feasible to do so as determined by the Board of Aldermen, the developer may make payment into a fund for the purpose of developing said streetscape improvements at a later time.

(5)

Any improvements installed which will eventually serve other properties on the same block, such as development of a water source and required equipment for an irrigation system, may be done on a reimbursement basis for said improvements on a linear foot pro rata basis as other projects develop and use the system.

(Ord. 94-11 §1; Ord. 98-33 §10)

(a)

All storm water detention basins and drainage ways shall be landscaped. Such basins may not occupy more than fifty percent (50%) of any landscaped area fronting on a public street; except, where exceptional design or shallow depths are proposed for the retention basin, the Planning Director or City Engineer may permit a greater use of the frontage landscaped area.

(b)

Detention basin and drainage ways shall be contoured and designed as an integral part of any landscaping. A natural appearance shall be sought and an engineered appearance or a ditch-like appearance shall not be acceptable.

(Ord. 94-11 §1)

(a)

All landscaping shall be reasonably maintained and any plant material shall be replaced within thirty (30) days of its demise or by an agreed upon date if seasonal conditions prohibit replacement within the thirty-day time requirement.

(b)

Failure to maintain landscaping required with approval of a permit shall be a violation of this Chapter and applicable penalties may be imposed.

(c)

The maintenance of landscaping in the public right-of-way in all zoning districts shall be the responsibility of the adjacent property owner, whether an individual, corporation or homeowner's association.

(Ord. 94-11 §1, 1994)

Screening standards. The intent of all required screening is to completely hide stored materials from view of persons standing on the ground outside the storage area in the locations described in the particular section requiring the screening. If no particular location is specified, it shall be interpreted as screened from view on all sides.

(1)

Height. All trash or refuse collection areas shall be enclosed by a six-foot-high solid wood fence or masonry wall, styled to match the material of adjacent walls or the main building on the site. No materials stored within an outdoor storage area or behind a screening fence, wall or structure shall be stacked or stored in a manner in which they exceed the height of the walls, fence or structure.

(2)

Materials. Screening walls, fences or structures shall be constructed from durable materials suited to the City's climate and which will require low maintenance. Materials which are architecturally compatible with the primary building on the site or with the streetscape or landscaping of the site shall be used.

(3)

Colors. Screening devices shall blend into the landscaping and not be so colored as to call attention to itself. Muted earth tones shall be used as opposed to bright colors.

(4)

Maintenance. All walls, fences or structures shall be maintained in good condition or they shall be in violation of this Chapter. The owner of such fence, wall or screening structure may be cited for such violation and penalties enforced.

(Ord. 94-11 §1, 1994)