Appropriate ground cover, trees and other vegetation shall be planted and maintained on the site to control stormwater runoff and prevent erosion, siltation and dust; to provide privacy between adjacent uses; to mitigate impacts from parking, noise and lights; and to enhance the appearance of the site.

(1)

Landscape screen requirements. Landscaping screen shall mean trees, shrubs, vines, fences, walls, or earth berms, or some combination thereof. When required, parking spaces and parking areas shall be effectively screened with perimeter landscaping on all sides adjacent to or visible from adjacent properties, streets, or alleys and interior landscape islands where larger areas of paving are needed. Landscaping shall address the visual impact, and improve the heat radiation effect and air pollution impact of the paved area.

a.

When required. Landscape screening shall be installed and maintained as may be required elsewhere in this chapter and under the following conditions:

1.

For single- and two-family uses on individual lots, unenclosed parking spaces or driveways in the rear yard or in the side yard which have an area of 500 square feet or more shall be screened. Screening shall consist of plant materials or fencing which meets the height requirements for rear yard placement in subsection (1)b of this section;

2.

Screening shall be provided for all other uses where five or more unenclosed parking spaces are provided, exclusive of driveways. Screening shall be provided in accordance with a landscape plan as defined in subsection 50-840(2) and it shall meet the design standards in subsection (1)b of this section, except when screening in the vicinity of public rights-of-way conflicts with the clear view of traffic, in accordance with section 48-36 of the City Code.

b.

Design standards.

1.

Plant selection shall consist of a combination of evergreen and deciduous trees and shrubs which provide year-round interest.

2.

Plant material installed for a perimeter landscape screen shall be placed in a planting bed at least eight feet wide and shall be at least two feet high at initial planting and be expected to grow to a height of at least three feet in the front yard and five feet in the side and rear yards within two years of planting.

3.

Fences, walls, or earth berms used in a perimeter landscape screen shall be at least three feet high in a front yard and five feet high in a side or rear yard.

4.

The required height of a perimeter landscape screen shall be reduced where it is determined by the city engineer that such landscaping would interfere with vehicular or pedestrian traffic safety and visibility.

5.

The height of a perimeter landscape screen may be increased where significant changes in elevations between an adjacent property or public right-of-way make it necessary to comply with the intent of this article.

6.

One shade tree of a minimum 3½-inch caliper shall be planted for each 40 linear feet of side or rear yard.

7.

At least one shade tree of a minimum 3½-inch caliper shall be planted within or adjacent to the public right-of-way for each 40 feet of lot frontage.

8.

Where fences, walls, or earth berms are used to provide the perimeter landscape screen, at least one shrub or vine shall be planted along such features, visible from the adjacent property or public right-of-way, for each ten linear feet of such features.

9.

Loose ground cover or mulch materials shall be placed or effectively contained so they do not spill over into parking and access facilities or the public right-of-way. All ground cover in the public right-of-way shall be approved by the planning and zoning administrator.

10.

All required landscape features within three feet of the edge of parking or access facilities shall be protected from vehicle encroachment by curbing, wheel stops, or similar means.

11.

Where 20 or more parking spaces are provided, there shall be at least ten square feet of interior landscaped area per space provided within the overall perimeter of the parking area.

12.

Interior landscaped areas shall be at least 125 square feet in an area with a minimum dimension of not less than eight feet.

13.

At least one shade tree of a minimum 3½-inch caliper shall be planted in each interior landscaped area.

14.

There shall be at least one interior landscaped area for each 20 parking spaces provided or fraction thereof.

15.

The application of the above standards may be adjusted, in part or in whole, to allow credit for healthy plant material to be retained on or adjacent to the site if such an adjustment is consistent with the intent of this article.

16.

All plant material shall be approved by the planning and zoning administrator.

(2)

Landscape plan approval requirements.

a.

Submittal requirements:

1.

A preliminary landscape plan shall be submitted where required to the department of planning, building and development. Landscape plan means a plan prepared by a landscape architect registered in the State of Michigan showing the type, height, and placement of all materials, including a grading plan. The grading plan shall be prepared by an engineer, architect, landscape architect, or land surveyor registered in the State of Michigan. Where a development plan is required, the applicant must also submit a preliminary landscape plan and cost estimate with the development plan application.

b.

Review requirements:

1.

Staff will provide the applicant with a preliminary review of the landscape plan prior to the city council taking action on a development plan.

2.

When an application for a development plan is approved, the applicant must provide staff with a revised landscape plan and cost estimate including any changes required by the preliminary staff review and conditions of final approval.

3.

At the time the landscape plans receive final approval, the applicant must submit a cash bond 1.5 times the cost of completing the plan. Building construction plans will not be accepted until the bond is submitted.

4.

The landscape installation must be complete in order to receive a final certificate of occupancy and to release the bond.

(3)

Landscape maintenance. Landscaping must be maintained in a neat, clean, orderly and healthful condition. This includes, among other things, pruning, mowing, weeding, litter removal, replacement of dead or diseased plants, repair or replacement of broken or damaged fences or walls, and regular fertilizing and watering of plant materials.

(Ord. No. 1287, 6-18-2013)