Landscape Plan Required. A landscape plan is required as part of a site plan review application for multi-family and townhouse development, non-residential (including mixed-use) development, and planned unit developments. The landscape plan must be approved prior to the issuance of a building permit. A landscape plan is not required for single-family and two-family dwellings.

Content of Landscape Plan. Landscape plans must contain the following, unless waived by the Zoning Administrator:

Minor Changes to Approved Landscape Plans. Minor changes to the landscape plan that do not result in a reduction in the net amount of plant material as specified on the approved landscape plan may be approved by the Zoning Administrator. Changes that reduce the amount of plant materials contained within an approved landscape plan are a major change and must be approved by the body granting approval of the landscape plan initially.

Alternative Landscape Design. Alternative landscape design intended to improve stormwater quality and/or intended to decrease stormwater quantity will be considered if submitted as part of a site-specific stormwater management plan. Such designs must comply with generally accepted stormwater management best practices.

No certificate of occupancy will be issued until all the requirements of this chapter and the landscape plan have been fulfilled. Failure to implement the landscape plan, or to maintain the lot in conformance with the landscape plan, may result in the application of fines and penalties, as established in this ordinance. All landscape is subject to periodic inspection.

If weather prohibits the installation of landscape at the time a certificate of occupancy is applied for, a temporary certificate of occupancy may be issued with provision of a security bond for 125% in favor of the City of the estimated amount of landscape materials and installation cost. The cost of landscape materials and installation must be determined by a landscape architect or other landscape business professional.

Selection.

Installation.

Maintenance.

Minimum Planting Sizes. Minimum planting sizes are as follows. For the purposes of determining trunk size, the diameter/caliper is measured at six inches above ground level, unless otherwise specified in current ANSI accredited Horticultural Standards.

Species Diversity. Diversity among required plant material is required for visual interest and to reduce the risk of losing a large population of plants due to disease. Table 17.11-1: Plant Diversity Requirements indicates the percentage of diversity required based on the total quantity of species being used. (For example, if a development requires 45 shade trees, no more than 18 trees 40% can be of one species, and there must be a minimum of five different species within the 45 trees.) When the calculation of plant diversity requirements results in a fraction, the fraction is rounded up.

Berming. If berms are included on a landscape plan, they must comply with the following:

The perimeter parking lot landscape area must be at least five feet in width along a street or public space. This area shall be increased to seven feet in width if it is utilized as an off-street parking space stall overhang. The perimeter parking lot landscape area must be at least five feet in width along an alley. The C-D and C-V Districts are exempt from perimeter parking lot landscape along an alley; vehicle parking must not overhang into an alley right-of-way.

Shrubs must be planted and spaced sufficiently to form a continuous linear hedgerow at plant maturity. Alternatively, a mix of shrubs, perennials, native grasses, and other planting types that provide screening of a minimum of three feet in height may be used.

A minimum of one shade tree must be provided for every 50 linear feet of perimeter landscape yard. Two ornamental trees may be substituted for one shade tree and must be spaced one ornamental tree every 25 feet. Trees may be spaced linearly on-center or grouped to complement an overall design concept.

Alternatively, a low pedestrian wall a minimum of three feet to a maximum of four feet in height may be used. The pedestrian wall must be masonry, brick, or stone; unfinished CMU is prohibited. No shade trees are required. Required shrubs must be installed between the sidewalk and the wall to provide a softening effect.

60% of the landscape area outside of shrub and tree masses must be planted in live ground cover, perennials, or ornamental grasses. Mulch or other permeable landscape materials are required for any remaining area.

All rows of parking stalls must terminate in a parking lot island or landscape area.

Where more than 15 parking stalls are provided in a row, one parking lot island must be provided between every 15 parking spaces. As part of the landscape plan approval, parking lot island locations may be varied based on specific site requirements or design scheme, but the total number of islands must be no less than the amount required of one island for every 15 spaces.

Parking lot islands must be at least the same dimension as the parking stall. Double rows of parking must provide parking lot islands that are the same dimension as the double row.

A minimum of one shade tree must be provided in every parking lot island or landscape area. If a parking lot island extends the width of a double row, then two shade trees are required. In addition to the required shade trees, a minimum of 60% of the area of every parking lot island must be planted in shrubs, live ground cover, perennials, or ornamental grasses. Mulch or other permeable landscape materials are required for any remaining area.

In addition to parking lot islands, additional landscape areas must be provided within the interior of parking lots when the parking area is 10,000 square feet or more in area, including parking stalls, islands, and area for vehicular circulation. The minimum total landscape area of a parking lot, including parking lot islands, must be 10% of the total parking lot area. Parking lot perimeter landscape is excluded from the calculation of total parking lot area square footage and is not counted toward required landscape area.

Parking lot islands and landscape areas are encouraged to be designed to accommodate pedestrian access and stormwater detention and infiltration.

Areas of any lot that are not covered by structures or pavement must be planted with live landscaping. Stone, mulch, or other permeable landscape materials may be used to satisfy this requirement but must not cover more than 40% of such area and must be designed so such materials are placed so that they are no higher than the height of the curb to prevent spill. Section 17.11.090 contains additional requirements for on-site tree plantings for certain districts.

Where multifamily and nonresidential (including mixed-use) developments are located 10 feet or more from a street lot line and where the front, corner side, or interior side facade is adjacent to a parking area, foundation landscape must be planted as described below. This planting area is required along 60% of the linear facade area. This percentage may be reduced to accommodate building functional operations during landscape plan review.

As of the effective date of this ordinance, buffer yards are required for new construction along interior side and rear yards in the following cases:

Buffer yards may be located within required setbacks, but must be reserved for the planting of material and installation of screening as required by this section. No parking, driveways, sidewalks, accessory structures, or any impervious surfaces are permitted within the buffer yard area.

The required design of buffer yards is as follows:

Required tree plantings must be shown on the landscape plan, when such plan is required. Where a landscape plan is not required, the building permit application must show where required shade trees will be installed.

Where on-site trees are required in Table 17.11-2, such trees must be planted within the first 15 feet of the front yard. If a district is not listed, no on-site trees are required.

On-site trees must be planted by the developer/applicant. Once the individual lots are sold, the trees are the responsibility of the property owner. The property owner is also responsible for any trees located within the parkway.

Intent. Existing trees over six inches in diameter at breast height and in good condition should be preserved to the maximum extent practicable to act as buffers between adjoining developments and as site amenities.

Applicability. These standards apply to new multi-family and townhouse residential and non-residential (including mixed-use) development. Trees that are dead or dying, or species deemed to be undesirable by the City, or found to be a threat to public safety, are exempt from these provisions.

Landscape Credit. Any existing significant trees preserved on a site that are of good health are credited towards fulfillment of the landscape requirements of this ordinance.

Construction Protection. The following standards must be followed during construction to protect significant trees:

Clear-Cutting of Forest Prohibited. Clear-cutting, which is the felling and removal of all trees from a given tract of forest, is prohibited. A forest is a land region with a high concentration of trees, which is divided into an overstory (canopy or upper tree layer) and an understory of vegetation, which may be further divided into a shrub layer, herb layer, and, depending on the ecosystem, a moss layer.

Protecting Trees on Public Property. Trees located on public property, including the parkway, may not be cut, damaged, or removed without first obtaining permission from the Zoning Administrator, and must be protected during construction in accordance with the standards set forth in this section.