1.   Definitions:

   A.   Berm. An earthen mound designed to provide visual interest, screen undesirable views, and/or decreased noise.

   B.   Buffer. A combination of physical space and vertical elements, such as plants, berms, fences, or walls, designed to set apart or screen one use area from another.

   C.   Evergreen Tree. A plant with foliage that persists and remains green year-round (does not include arborvitae or similar screening trees).

   D.   Ground Cover. The area of land or ground that is completely covered with vegetation and/or landscape material. This area shall not include ground where vegetation is growing over the land, but is not planted upon such land (such as a tree growing over a parking lot). Grass shall only count as ground cover when planted in conjunction with other landscape material.

   E.   Landscape Area. An area that is permanently devoted to and maintained with landscaping materials. Such areas can include, but are not limited to traffic aisles, traffic islands, buffers, entrances, exits, etc.

   F.   Landscape Material. Living trees, shrubs, and ground cover (including tall grasses, decorative rocks, mulch or tree bark, and similar materials), fences and other similar natural and decorative materials.

   G.   Landscape Plan. Plan drawn to scale showing the location and amount of landscape material and vegetation on a property. Plan should provide details and/or examples of type of material and plantings that will occur.

   H.   Landscaping. The modification of the landscape for an aesthetic or functional purpose; including, but not limited to bringing the soil surface to a smooth finished grade, installing trees, shrubs, ground cover, and other vegetation and landscaping material to produce a pleasing visual effect on the area, and improving the overall physical environment.

   I.   Ornamental Tree. A tree primarily for its ornamental value or for screening purposes; tends to be smaller at maturity than a shade tree (does not include evergreen or shade trees).

   J.   Parking Island (Directional Aisle). A raised area located within or on the perimeter of a parking lot utilized to delineate, separate, or direct traffic and/or parking areas.

   K.   Parking Lot. An off-street, surfaced, open area used for the temporary storage of five or more motor vehicles. Such lot is available to the public, whether residents, visitors or employees, for compensation or for free.

   L.   Shade Tree. A woody plant, usually deciduous, that normally grows with one main trunk and has a canopy that screens and filters the sun in the summer and winter, respectively (does not include a flowering, fruit, or other short-growth trees).

   M.   Vegetation. All trees, shrubs, grasses, flowers, vegetative ground cover, and other plants that are living.

2.   Applicability. The following standards apply to all exterior construction and development activity which requires a building permit. The entire development site must be brought up to compliance with this section unless ALL of the following conditions apply, in which case only the affected areas need to be brought up to compliance:

   A.   The area of site disturbance is less than 10% of the entire site.

   B.   Gross floor area is only increased by less than 10%.

   C.   No demolition of a principal building is involved.

   D.   Any displaced landscaping elements must be replaced on the site and shown on the landscaping plan.

Existing landscaping elements on the site shall count towards the total landscaping points required under this section.

3.   Landscaping Elements. The following shall be a list of elements that may be added to the landscape plan to achieve the landscape points.

   A.   Plant Selection. Plant materials provided in conformance with the provisions of this section shall be nursery quality and tolerant of individual site microclimates.

   B.   Mulch shall consist of shredded bark, chipped wood, or other organic material installed at a minimum depth of two inches.

   C.   Foundation plantings shall be installed along building facades, except where building facades directly abut the sidewalk or other hardscape features. Foundation plantings shall consist primarily of shrubs, perennials, and native grasses.

   D.   Plant list, size and root conditions (i.e. container or ball & burlap).

   E.   Site amenities, including bike racks, benches, trash receptacles, etc.

   F.   Storage areas including trash and loading.

   G.   Lighting (landscape, pedestrian or parking area).

   H.   Irrigation.

   I.   Hard surface materials.

   J.   Labeling of mulching, edging and curbing.

   K.   Areas of seeding or sodding.

   L.   Areas to remain undisturbed and limits of land disturbance.

   M.   Plants shall be depicted at their size at 60% of growth.

   N.   Existing trees and other planting material.

   O.   Site grading plan, including storm water management, if applicable.

4.   Application. All development and construction shall comply with the provisions in Chapter 165, Zoning Regulations, as applicable. This Section 165.53 shall apply to all zones. In the event of any conflict between two or more requirements in this chapter or in the City of Eagle Grove Code of Ordinances relating to landscaping, buffering, or screening, the stricter provision shall apply.

   A.   Landscaping plans shall be required in the following instances:

      (1)   Any new development or construction, which requires a building permit or use permit.

      (2)   Any alteration to an existing building or development, which requires a building or use permit.

      (3)   Any parking lot that is constructed that requires a building permit.

      (4)   A landscaped berm or buffer in a back yard or side yard shall only be applied toward the landscape requirement for developments or construction projects, which require a building permit or use permit, that are directly adjacent to a different zoning district.

5.   Lot Coverage Requirements. Landscaping shall be calculated based upon the total developed area of the property. Developed area is defined as that area within a single contiguous boundary which is made up of structures, parking, driveways, and docking/loading facilities, or other non-natural elements. There are two methods for calculating landscape points depending on the zoning district.

   A.   For all lots except those described in 165.53(5)(B) below, five landscape points shall be provided for each 300 square feet of developed area.

   B.   For the industrial zoning district, one point shall be provided per 100 square feet of developed area.

The City Council for the City of Eagle Grove shall approve the tabulation of points and credits via resolution to define the value of each landscape element for application purposes with prior consideration from the Eagle Grove Parks and Recreation Board.

6.   Parking Lot Coverage Requirements.

   A.   Properties shall be required to provide a minimum of one square foot of landscaping for each parking space provided in addition to any other landscaping required by this section.

   B.   All parking lots in excess of 20 parking spaces shall be required to have a parking island/directional aisles used for vegetation, delineation, and/or storm water management.

   C.   All landscaping required by this section shall be located within the parking lot or directly adjacent to the parking lot.

7.   Additional Requirements. All landscape material and vegetation required by the provisions of this section shall adhere to the following provisions:

   A.   Only landscaped areas on private property shall count towards the landscape area required by this section. Landscaping in the dedicated City right-of-way shall not count towards the required area.

   B.   All landscape material and vegetation shall remain viable and in good condition at all times. Any material or vegetation that dies or becomes displaced shall be replaced with similar or like materials or vegetation by June 1 of the following year.

   C.   All vegetation shall be suitable for Iowa climate and site characteristics as identified and approved by the City of Eagle Grove Zoning Official.

   D.   All landscaping shall include a combination of vegetative and landscape material.

   E.   Grass shall not qualify as landscaping unless planted as part of a landscape area that includes shrubs, trees, flowers, and/or other landscape material that meets or exceeds the point requirement.

   F.   No bare ground shall be left exposed. Grass and other appropriate groundcover or vegetation shall cover all non-paved and non-built areas.

   G.   Landscaping shall not reduce or impair automobile vision, site lines, or safety.

   H.   All vegetation or landscaping that could cause harm to another property’s landscape or vegetation material through disease transfer or other means or impacts the general public’s welfare and safety shall be removed at the property owner’s expense within seven days of notice by the City of Eagle Grove Zoning Official.

8.   Variance. If the property owner can not follow these landscape regulations due to site characteristics, the property owner may request a variance through the Board of Adjustment. The Board of Adjustment may vote to allow the owner to place a monetary amount equivalent to what would be required to follow this section in the Eagle Grove Parks and Recreation Fund.

9.   Screening Along District Boundaries. Screening shall be provided along side and rear property boundaries between different zoning districts. Screening shall consist of a solid wall, solid fence, or hedge with year-round foliage, between six and eight feet in height. Height of screening shall be measured from natural or approved grade.

10.   Screening of Other Site Elements. The following site elements shall be screened in compatibility with the design elements, materials and colors used elsewhere on the site, as follows:

   A.   Refuse Disposal Areas. All developments, except single family and two-family developments, shall provide a refuse disposal area. Such area shall be screened on four sides (including a gate for access) by a solid, commercial-grade wood fence, wall, or equivalent material with a minimum height of six feet and not greater than seven feet unless the refuse disposal area is not visible.

11.   Maintenance. The property owner of the premises is responsible for the watering, maintenance, repair and replacement of all landscaping, fences, and other landscape architectural features on the site. All planting beds shall be kept weed free. Plant material that has died shall be replaced no later than the upcoming June 1.