Provide natural visual screening of parking areas and along property boundaries to protect the existing visual quality of adjacent lands.

Reduce surface runoff and minimize soil erosion through the natural filtering capability of landscaped areas.

Provide natural buffers that reduce glare and noise, provide wildlife corridors and protect wildlife habitats, wetlands, stream corridors and other significant environmental features.

Moderate the microclimate of parking areas by providing shade, absorbing reflected heat from paved surfaces and creating natural wind breaks.

Enhance the overall visual quality of the community by surrounding developed areas with a variety of plant materials that are consistent and compatible with the existing natural vegetation of the area.

Provide sidewalks and multi-use paths to be included with parking areas.

Building permits for construction of new single-family or two-family dwelling major subdivisions shall require preservation of existing vegetation or plantings to provide two shade trees of a minimum two-inch caliper, measured in accordance with American Standards for Nursery Stock (ANSI), for each dwelling. Such tree(s) shall be located outside the public right-of-way in the front yard.

Major residential subdivisions shall be required to submit landscaping plans in accordance with § 285-80 of this article indicating appropriate landscaping of entrances, common open spaces and recreation areas and perimeter buffer areas.

Development activities requiring site plan approval shall submit, as part of such approval, a landscaping plan in accordance with § 285-80 of this article. Whenever possible, landscaped areas in a site plan, including parking lots, shall be lowered and incorporate curb cuts or other diversion devices to divert stormwater to the landscaped areas as part of a stormwater management plan.

Existing site vegetation and unique site features, such as stone walls, shall be incorporated into landscaping plans to the maximum extent feasible. Existing healthy trees which are retained shall be credited against the requirements of these regulations in accordance with their size and location.

Issuance of a certificate of occupancy shall require completion of lot grading, seeding and required landscaping or posting of a performance guaranty acceptable to the Zoning Officer if the applicant cannot perform the work due to seasonal impracticalities.

All required landscaping shall be of healthy stock, planted according to accepted horticultural practices. Landscaping plans shall clearly indicate who is responsible for plant maintenance during the first 12 months after planting, and a performance guaranty shall be posted for assuring replacement in kind of plants which die or become diseased within that time.

All required landscaping shall be maintained in healthy condition. Failure to maintain such landscaping or to replace dead or diseased landscaping required by this article shall constitute a violation of these regulations.

All plant material adjacent to parking areas, loading areas and driveways shall be protected by barriers, curbs or other means by damage from vehicles or from stormwater runoff.

Where existing conditions make compliance with these regulations not feasible, the Planning Board, at its discretion, may approve planters, plant boxes or pots containing trees, shrubs and/or flowers to comply with the intent of these regulations.

In cases where the edge of pavement within a public right-of-way does not coincide with the front lot line, the property owner shall landscape the area between the front lot line and the edge of the street pavement.

Trees for screening shall be of species and stock that will provide a visual screen from the ground up, at least five feet in height.

Based on the scale and location of the project, the Planning Board shall determine whether the landscaping plan must be prepared by a licensed landscape architect, landscape designer or other professional. All landscaping plans shall contain the following information:

Alternative landscaping plans may be submitted, provided that they meet the purpose and intent of these regulations.

The Planning Board may determine that streetscape improvements or other street beautification treatments shall be required in areas less suited for traditional landscaping.

Off-street parking areas of more than 20 spaces shall include one tree for every 1,200 square feet of impervious parking area. Sufficient permeable or infiltration areas shall be provided around the expected radius of the tree once it has matured to provide infiltration for the tree drip area.

Trees shall be selected based on best landscape practices, including observed local healthy tree stands in similar applications, existing and anticipated soil compaction, existing pH, planned water availability, adjacent road maintenance (salt, sand, etc.), presence of overhead utilities, availability of sunlight, percolation rate, soil's ability to circulate air, and soil type. Trees shall be native and have proven observed salt tolerance if applicable.

Existing mature trees shall not be included in the calculation for minimum trees except for areas where the existing tree canopy extends over impervious surfaces.

Such parking areas shall also include, at a minimum, a four-foot-wide landscaping island after each two rows of parking. These islands shall include curb cuts/wheel stops to allow entry of stormwater for treatment/infiltration and shall utilize tree plantings, native vegetation, dry swales, stormwater planters, tree pits, or bioretention. All stormwater management features must be designed in accordance with the latest version of the New York State Stormwater Management Design Manual.

Off-street parking areas larger than 1,200 square feet, located on soils of Hydrologic Soil Group A, B, or C, as defined by Part 630 of the United States Department of Agriculture National Engineering Handbook, excluding the area reserved for vegetation and stormwater management, are required to be constructed of impervious paving material over a minimum of 20% of the parking lot area.

Off-street parking areas larger than 1,200 square feet, located on soils of Hydrologic Soil Group D, as defined by Part 630 of the United States Department of Agriculture National Engineering Handbook, excluding the area reserved for vegetation and stormwater management are required to be constructed of impervious paving material over a minimum of 10% of the off-street parking area.