Landscaping shall be provided on nonresidential and multi-family properties as required herein.

These requirements are intended to promote quality, consistent, sustainable design and not to impede creative and unique design solutions. City staff will work with property owners and consultants to develop an appropriate landscape design based on the opportunities and constraints of individual properties.

To preserve the Hill Country character in the City of Bulverde, native landscaping should be preserved where possible and compatible landscape material should be should be incorporated into new site development in order to:

Site and landscape designs and plans shall, to the extent possible, incorporate natural areas, open spaces and view corridors typical of the local environment to create buffers between varying land uses.

All landscape material must be irrigated by a mechanical underground system with operating rain and freeze sensors.

The property owner shall be responsible for maintaining the landscape in accordance with the approved landscape plan. Dead or dying plant material, as determined by the city, shall be replaced in accordance with the approved landscape plan.

Sight triangles as defined herein shall be maintained at all street, alley, or private drive intersections. Nothing herein shall be construed as permitting or requiring any obstruction to views and no person shall locate a structure or plant material in a manner which will create a traffic hazard.

Within the required sight triangle/visibility easement, no landscape materials or other obstruction shall be located or maintained in the area measured between 30 inches above the driving surface and eight feet above the top of the curb. Ornamental trees may be permitted within the visibility triangle provided that the lowest limbs are trimmed to a minimum height of eight feet, measured from the top of the curb.

A minimum 10’ wide landscape buffer shall be provided on private property exclusive of any adjacent right-of-way between public or private streets (or private drives having a minimum width of 50 feet) and any adjacent parking areas. No impervious surface except sidewalks and drive approaches may encroach upon the landscape buffer.

Within the landscape buffer, a minimum of quantity of one canopy tree and one ornamental tree shall be provided for each 50 lineal feet of street frontage. Trees are not required to be placed 50 feet on center and may be staggered or clustered so as to be located outside the sight triangle/visibility easement, provide view corridors into the development or to emphasize driveways or property corners at the intersection of two streets.

Sidewalks located adjacent to public or private streets may meander onto private property provided a pedestrian easement can be acquired from the private property owner.

A concrete, permeable pavement, pavestone or mulch strip the width of the vehicle overhang (30 inches) is required for parking spaces adjacent to a landscape buffer. This strip shall be measured from the face of curb to the edge of the landscaped bed.

One landscaped island shall be provided at the end of each row of 10 parking spaces to incorporate one canopy trees or two ornamental trees, and ground covers, and shall include an 18 to 24 inch wide paved strip adjacent to the parking stall to protect the landscaping from pedestrian damage. Said strip may be constructed of permeable pavement, grasscrete or pavestone.

Landscape designs must be sensitive to existing trees on the site. The removal of these trees should be minimized and incorporated into the proposed design in order to:

All protected, specimen, and majestic trees on the site as defined by article 17.06, tree preservation, chapter 3 of the Bulverde Code of Ordinances as amended, must be inventoried and indicated on the landscape plans submitted for review and approval by the city prior to the removal of any protected tree. Any trees to be removed must be indicated both graphically and in tabular format on the landscape plan, with the reason for removal clearly indicated. A tree removal permit must be secured in advance of the removal of any trees, and a mitigation plan must be presented in accordance with the aforementioned article 17.06, as amended.

Any plant species not restricted by this section may be utilized to meet the landscaping requirements of this chapter.

The following plant species shall not be eligible to meet any of the landscaping requirements of this chapter, unless noted otherwise below:

All trees planted to meet the requirements of this chapter shall be selected from those species listed in this subsection. Any tree species selected from this list must also comply with any other applicable provisions of this chapter. Other tree species not listed may be authorized by the city manager or his designee on a case-by-case basis.

Canopy trees: Minimum 3-inch caliper, 12 to 15 feet in height; see also article 17.06, tree preservation.

Ornamental trees: 8 to 10 feet in height.

Shrubs: 5-gallon container.

Ground cover and vines: 1-gallon container.

Seasonal color plants: Property owner’s discretion.

Landscape designs shall incorporate water conservation principles, soil protection and improvement and the use of drought-tolerant plants. Mulch shall be installed around all plants to minimize the evaporation of soil moisture.

Minimum landscape buffer area shall be measured exclusive of right-of-way.

The depth of the required landscape buffer may be reduced during the approval of the site plan if the reduction is required for public improvements.

Landscape islands shall be a minimum of 10 feet in width and the depth of the adjacent parking space and shall be surrounded by a 6-inch raised concrete curb unless contraindicated on the civil engineering plans for the site.

Non-permeable pavement may not be located within 5 feet of the trunk of a tree; however, if pavement must be located within 5 feet of a tree trunk, a root barrier constructed of rigid material must be installed.

Area within the 100-year floodway cannot be counted toward meeting the minimum landscape area requirement.

Drainage facilities such as detention ponds, water-quality ponds, outlet structures, drainage berms, improved channels or other improvements associated with drainage are not allowed within the landscape buffer except those that are necessary to convey drainage in the shortest possible route to or from the street right-of-way. Rain gardens and bioswales, if improved with landscaping and aesthetic treatments, may be located within the buffer.

Additional requirements for amenities, including outdoor open space and recreational improvement options, apply to multi-family residential projects as indicated in article 14.11, Supplemental Regulations for Multi-Family Development.

Trees that will be planted near overhead utility lines shall be selected from species, and placed in locations, to minimize conflicts with the overhead lines.

Proposed landscaping, including the size, species and locations.

Other visual screening methods and their design, such as walls and fences.

A tree preservation and replacement plan meeting the specifications of this chapter if the development proposes the removal of trees or affects the driplines of existing trees.

Deviation from the minimum requirements of this chapter shall require approval of a variance from the zoning board of adjustment.

No site developed prior to the adoption of this chapter shall be required to meet the requirements herein unless the site is redeveloped or the building area is increased by 30% or more or the parking lot is reconstructed. In cases where physical or other conditions prevent the provision of landscaping in compliance with the requirements herein, the city manager or designee may approve landscape plans that make significant progress towards achieving the requirement.