Desloge City Zoning Code
ARTICLE VIII
Landscape Requirements
Section 405.122 Residential Landscape Requirements.
[R.O. 2001 § 405.122; Ord. No. 2006.19 § 1, 6-12-2006]
Section 405.123 Commercial Landscape Requirements.
[R.O. 2001 § 405.123; Ord. No. 2006.19 § 1, 6-12-2006]
A.
The minimum landscaping requirements shall be one (1) tree per five thousand (5,000) square feet of total lot area, except in the downtown.
B.
All portions of the site not covered with paving or buildings shall be landscaped. Open areas not covered with other materials shall be covered with turf or ground cover. Ground cover shall be utilized on all slopes in excess of twenty-five percent (25%).
C.
All parking lots constructed after the date of adoption of this Chapter and having more than one (1) aisle of parking, exclusive of automobile storage and sales lots, shall comply with the following requirements:
1.
Landscape islands.
a.
Single island. There shall be an island with a minimum landscape width of seven (7) feet and a minimum area of one hundred (100) square feet placed at the end of a single row of parking and containing at least one (1) deciduous tree, one (1) shrub and ground cover.
b.
Double island. There shall be a double island of two hundred (200) square feet placed at the ends of each double row of parking. Two (2) deciduous trees, two (2) shrubs and ground cover are required per double landscape island.
2.
Interior landscaped areas shall be situated within the lot so as to be surrounded by parking lot pavement on at least three (3) sides.
3.
Each landscaped area shall be separated from the pavement material by straight-back concrete curbing or by an integral concrete sidewalk and curb with a vertical face of no less than six (6) inches so as to prevent vehicle encroachment and pavement breakup.
4.
Landscaping islands and tree planting areas shall be well drained and contain suitable soil and irrigation characteristics for the planting materials they contain, in ground irrigation systems may be required as determined by the Board of Aldermen.
5.
New trees shall have a caliper of no less than two (2) inches.
Section 405.124 Screening And Buffering Requirements.
[R.O. 2001 § 405.124; Ord. No. 2006.19 § 1, 6-12-2006]
A.
In addition to the minimum requirements listed herein, landscaping at least ten (10) feet wide, consisting of a continuous planting of evergreens and deciduous trees, with a minimum of one (1) deciduous tree, no less than (2) inch diameter, two (2) flowering trees, no less than two (2) inch diameter and four (4) evergreen trees, no less than four (4) feet tall, shall be planted for each one hundred (100) feet along the property line to separate commercial, industrial or multi-family uses from adjoining single-family residential developments or "R-1" or "R-2" zoned districts.
B.
For all commercial and industrial uses, a landscape buffer, earthen berm, structural buffer and/or fence screen or any combination thereof shall be provided, not less than six (6) feet in height, along all side and rear property lines which are common to property zoned or used for residential purposes. Such screening shall not extend in front of the building line of adjacent dwellings. Said screening or buffering shall meet the following requirements:
1.
Structural buffers, such as fences and freestanding walls, shall be vegetated throughout the minimum area required for the buffer around any fences or walls and upon any earthen berms, which may include grass, ground covers, shrubs and trees.
2.
Earthen berms shall have a maximum side slope of two (2) horizontal to one (1) vertical (2:1). Earthen berms shall not be constructed within the drip line of any existing trees that will remain on the property.
C.
All mechanical equipment mounted on the rooftop of any commercial or industrial use shall be fully screened from public view by an element of the building or by a separate, permanently installed screen harmonizing with the building in material, color, size and shape.
D.
All exterior trash storage containers shall be located so that they are not visible from adjacent streets and properties or screened so as not to be visible from off the property. Enclosures shall have a concrete floor, a solid door and be constructed of brick or split face block or other building material that is complimentary to the principal building. Enclosures shall be constructed large enough to contain the desired trash container and any other such items as waste grease containers, waste oil containers, waste recyclable containers, etc. The locations, dimensions, elevations and a description of the buildings materials shall be included on any required site plan submittal.
Section 405.125 Plant Materials.
[R.O. 2001 § 405.125; Ord. No. 2006.19 § 1, 6-12-2006]
The following are the minimum plant sizes to be used in satisfying the requirements of this Article:
Table 8.1 New Planting Requirements | |
|---|---|
Small ornamental trees | 6 feet – 8 feet height |
Deciduous shade trees | 2-inch caliper |
Evergreen trees | 4 feet – 5 feet height |
Medium to large shrubs | 18 inches – 24 inches height |
Section 405.126 Installation Of Materials.
[R.O. 2001 § 405.126; Ord. No. 2006.19 § 1, 6-12-2006]
A.
Landscaping, as required by the provisions of this Section, shall be installed before an occupancy permit is granted. Additionally, all buffering and screening, if required, shall be installed before an occupancy permit is granted. Buffering and screening shall include, but is not limited to, landscaping, structural buffers and earthen berms.
1.
Tree protection. Trees shall be protected from injury to roots, trunks and branches during grading and construction. Protective fencing, tree wells and/or retaining walls shall be utilized where necessary to insure tree vigor upon completion of construction.
2.
Maintenance. The owner, tenant and their agent, if any, shall be jointly responsible for the continuing maintenance of landscaping and screening required herein. Landscaping shall be maintained in conformance with the City of Desloge Property Maintenance Code. Nothing in these codes shall be construed as prohibiting the redesign and replanting of landscape materials, provided that such replanting conforms to the minimum standards set forth herein.
3.
Obstruction of sight distance at intersections. Where two (2) streets intersect, landscaping and screening materials shall not be placed within the triangular area formed by the public right-of-way lines and a line connecting them at points thirty (30) feet from their point of intersection.