Landscaping is an important element of the use, development and preservation of land and a significant factor in conserving the value of land, buildings and structures in the Township. The principal purpose of this article is to promote the public health, safety and general welfare by establishing minimum standards for the design, installation and maintenance of landscaping to in order to achieve a variety of beneficial purposes.

The design, installation and maintenance of landscaping in accordance with this article is intended to achieve, in appropriate locations, the following purposes, among others: improve and enhance the character of the site; screen or filter views, where necessary; unify the various parts of the site; blend inharmonious land uses; buffer incompatible uses; remove air pollutants; control glare and reflection; slow the effects of erosive winds or water and promote stormwater retention, thereby helping to prevent flooding; assist in directing safe and efficient traffic flow at driveways and within parking lots; insure adequate sight distance; reduce the impacts of glare from headlights; distinguish and separate vehicular and pedestrian circulation paths; and retain the rural and suburban character of the Township.

In specified instances, the Planning Commission is granted discretion in applying the standards and requirements of this article, in order to encourage and permit innovative and creative landscape design consistent with the purposes of this article. Applicants are encouraged to provide landscaping in addition to the minimum required, so as to improve the function, appearance and value of properties within the Township.

The standards and requirements specified in this article shall apply to any land use for which site plan review is required under the terms of this chapter. Accordingly, the provisions of this article shall not apply to land uses exempt from site plan review as stated in § 450-22.03 of this chapter.

The requirements of this article shall be complied with to the extent reasonably possible, as determined by the Planning Commission. In its review of a site plan or other plan of land use requiring a site plan in accordance with Article 22 of this chapter, the Planning Commission shall have the authority to decrease or otherwise modify the applicable landscaping and screening requirements, in consideration of the following criteria:

If an applicant requests any modifications from the landscaping and screening provisions of this article, the applicant shall provide the Planning Commission with a written statement of justification, identifying the site conditions that are stated to warrant the requested modifications and specifying how the modifications would nevertheless carry out the basic intent and purposes of this article.

A landscape plan shall be submitted as part of the application for site plan review, as to all land uses requiring site plan review. The landscape plan may be incorporated within a site plan being submitted for site plan review or for other land use approvals or it may be a separate plan, but it shall have sufficient detail and clarity so as to enable the Planning Commission fully to evaluate all aspects of the proposed landscaping and to determine whether the plan complies with the provisions of this article.

The landscape plan, whether submitted as a separate plan or as part of an overall site plan, shall include, but is not necessarily limited to, the following:

A landscape plan shall be subject to the approval of the Planning Commission. The Commission shall review the plan in its review of a site plan, a planned unit development, or in connection with its consideration of other land uses for which a landscape plan is required. The Planning Commission may approve the landscape plan, reject the plan or approve the plan with terms and conditions and/or with modifications authorized by the terms of this article.

Minimum standards for plant material.

Preservation of existing trees and other landscape elements.

Minimum standards for berms.

Minimum standards for screen walls and fences.

Required locations.

Minimum standards for buffer zones.

Required locations.

Minimum standards for greenbelts.

Required locations.

Minimum standards for screening.

One tree for every 10 parking spaces shall be planted within the parking area. Such trees shall be canopy species, such as red maple, locust, sycamore, oak, male gingko, linden and comparable species. While drought-tolerant native species are preferred, other species of canopy trees may be planted within parking areas if approved by the Planning Commission.

Parking lots shall contain curbed landscape islands. Each island shall be a minimum of 10 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.

Landscaping in parking areas 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.

All landscape areas shall be protected by raised curbs, parking blocks or other similar methods.

If any parking area subject to the requirements of this section abuts or faces a public road right-of-way, the required greenbelt separating the parking area from the public road right-of-way shall contain a three-foot-high continuous obscuring screen, comprised of plant material, berms, or any combination of these elements in addition to the minimum greenbelt landscape requirements.

Landscaping required for a buffer zone which abuts the parking area and front yard landscaping which abuts a parking area may in total apply toward not more than 50% of the required parking area landscaping.

The Township encourages the use of innovative landscaping measures as elements of an approved stormwater drainage system. Such measures may include a combination of permeable soils, grading and the planting of perennials, grasses and similar plants whereby rainwater in such locations will be readily absorbed into the ground, rather than flowing off the site or into improved areas. Such measures, regularly maintained, will improve the attractiveness of a site as well as contribute to effective control of stormwater.

As a means of encouraging the installation and continued maintenance of such innovative landscaping measures in a stormwater drainage system in a development, subject to Township approval, the Township and the applicant may enter into a development agreement whereby the Township, if otherwise authorized, would agree to modify or waive specified minimum land use requirements, and the applicant would correspondingly agree to design, install and maintain such innovative landscaping measures as described in Subsection A as part of an approved stormwater drainage system.