This article contains the standards which govern the amount, size, type, installation and maintenance of required landscaping. This article recognizes the important and diverse benefits which landscaping provides in terms of protecting the health, safety, and general welfare of the community, and implementing the Master Plan.

Each section of this article is oriented to a specific category of required landscaping. These include landscaping requirements for foundations (§ 450-70), landscaping requirements for developed lots (§ 450-71), landscaping requirements for street frontages (§ 450-72), landscaping requirements for paved areas (§ 450-73), landscaping requirements for permanently protected green space areas (§ 450-74), landscaping requirements for reforestation (§ 450-75), and landscaping requirements for bufferyards (§ 450-76).

In each instance, a "landscaping point" concept is used to provide a maximum amount of flexibility in terms of the selection of plant materials. Section 450-69 presents sample landscape point combination alternatives used by this chapter. At the end of this article (and in more detail in the Appendix on pages A-3 through A-28[1]), § 450-77 provides a listing of plant species fitting into the "climax tree," "tall deciduous tree," "medium deciduous tree," "low deciduous tree," "tall evergreen tree," "medium evergreen tree," "low evergreen tree," "tall deciduous shrub," "medium deciduous shrub," "low deciduous shrub," "medium evergreen shrub," "low evergreen shrub," and "noncontributory plants" groupings used by this chapter. Section 450-78 provides requirements for the installation and maintenance of required landscaping, and § 450-79 describes the procedure for calculating landscaping requirements for this article.

All landscaping requirements are stated in terms of the number of landscaping points required. The required number of landscaping points is dependent upon the type of land use, the zoning district, and the size of the development. A different number of points is awarded for each plant, depending upon its typical growth rate, its mature height, and whether it is a deciduous or evergreen species. A minimum installation size is required for each of these plant categories. These requirements are as follows:

Depiction of sample landscaping schemes. Illustration 450-69B, shown below, depicts sample landscaping schemes that may be used for building foundations, developed lots, street frontages, paved areas, reforestation, and bufferyards. In general, landscaping schemes similar to Alternative A are best for building foundations, landscaping schemes similar to Alternative B are best for developed lots, landscaping schemes similar to Alternative C are best for street frontages, landscaping schemes similar to Alternative D are best for paved areas (including parking lots, walkways and plazas), landscaping schemes similar to Alternative E are best for reforestation, and landscaping schemes similar to Alternative F are best for bufferyards. A detailed listing of which plant species fit each plant type is provided in § 450-77.

Measurement for landscaping requirements. A minimum amount of landscaping points, based upon the zoning district, is required for the linear feet building foundations, the gross floor area of buildings on developed lots, the linear feet of street frontage, and the total combined area of paved areas. The following diagram illustrates the measurement techniques used to determine these requirements:

This section requires that certain buildings, or building additions, constructed after the effective date of this chapter, be accented by a minimum amount of landscaping placed near the building foundation.

Landscaping required by this section shall be placed so that at maturity, the plant's dripline is located within 10 feet of the building foundation. Such landscaping shall not be located in those areas required for landscaping as street frontages, paved areas, protected green space areas, reforestation areas, or bufferyards, under §§ 450-71 through 450-75, of this chapter. See § 450-69B Alternative A for a suggested scheme.

For each 100 feet of building foundation perimeter, the following number of landscaping points (per § 450-69) shall be provided on a prorated basis, and installed and permanently maintained per the requirements of § 450-78.

Climax trees and tall trees shall not be used to meet this requirement. The intent of this section is to require a visual break in the mass of buildings and to require a visual screen of a minimum of six feet in height for all exterior perimeter appurtenances (such as HVAC, utility boxes, standpipes, stormwater discharge pipes and other pipes.)

Where the officially approved site plan depicts a future building extension, the foundation landscaping requirement shall be calculated by measuring the length of the total perimeter; however, foundation plantings need only be installed based on the landscape points calculated from the portions of the building perimeter that will not be affected by building extension. If this results in point requirements which are not met through the initial planting, then said requirement shall be met within five years of building permit issuance, or as extended in writing by the Plan Commission.

This section requires that certain lots developed after the effective date of this chapter contain a minimum amount of landscaping.

Landscaping required by this section is most effective if located away from those areas required for landscaping as building foundations, street frontages, paved areas, protected green space areas, reforestation areas, or bufferyards under §§ 450-71 through 450-76 of this chapter. See § 450-69B Alternative B for a suggested landscaping scheme.

The following number of landscaping points (as described in § 450-69) shall be provided on a prorated basis for every 1,000 square feet of gross floor area, and installed and maintained per the requirements of § 450-78.

The intent of this section is to provide yard shade and to require a visual screen of a minimum of six feet in height for all detached exterior appurtenances (such as HVAC, utility boxes, standpipes, stormwater discharge pipes and other pipes.)

This section requires that street frontages on certain lots developed after the effective date of this chapter contain a minimum amount of landscaping in those areas which abut the right-of-way of a public street.

All landscaping used to meet this requirement shall be located within 10 feet of the public right-of-way. The Plan Commission may consider allowing such landscaping in the public right-of-way. See § 450-69B Alternative C for a suggested landscaping scheme. Landscaping shall not impede vehicle or pedestrian visibility.

For every 100 linear feet of street frontage where a developed lot abuts a public street right-of-way, the following number of landscaping points (as described in § 450-69) shall be provided on a prorated basis, and installed and maintained per the requirements of § 450-78.

Shrubs shall not be used to meet this requirement. A minimum of 50% of all points shall be devoted to climax and/or tall trees and a minimum of 30% of all points shall be devoted to medium trees.

This section requires that paved areas on certain lots developed after the effective date of this chapter contain a minimum amount of landscaping within, or within 10 feet of, the paved area. The intent is to require a continuous visual screen of parking areas from public rights-of-way at a minimum height of 40 inches.

A minimum of 360 square feet of landscaped area, which shall be located within 10 feet of the paved area, is required for the placement of every 100 landscaping points. Said area does not have to be provided in one contiguous area. Sample configurations are depicted in § 450-69, above. Plants used to fulfill this requirement shall visually screen parking, loading and circulation areas from view from public streets.

For every 20 off-street parking stalls or 10,000 square feet of pavement (whichever yields the greater landscaping requirement) located in a development, the following number of landscaping points (as described in § 450-69) shall be provided on a prorated basis, and installed and maintained per the requirements of § 450-78. A minimum of 30% of all points shall be devoted to climax and/or tall trees and a minimum of 40% of all points shall be devoted to shrubs.

This section requires that each acre of other permanently protected green space after the effective date of this chapter be planted with a minimum amount of landscaping.

For every one acre of other permanently protected green space in a development, 200 landscaping points (as described in § 450-69). shall be provided. In addition, adequate ground cover shall be provided to stabilize the soil.

This section requires that each area required to be reforested, be reforested and maintained in a manner appropriate to site conditions.

A detailed reforestation plan shall be submitted by the property owner and approved by the City prior to clear-cutting. This plan shall be reviewed by a reforestation consultant chosen by the City, with funding for consulting services provided by the petitioner to the City.

Rationale. The provisions of this section are designed to ensure that reforestation efforts required as part of woodland disruption mitigation standards result in the thorough and reasonably rapid replacement of the important and varied environmental functions which woodlands provide. [See § 450-33B(3).]

Purpose.

Required locations for bufferyards. Bufferyards shall be located along (and within) the outer perimeter of a lot wherever two different zoning districts abut one another. Bufferyards shall not be required in front yards.

Determination of required bufferyard. The determination of bufferyard requirements is a two-staged process. First, the required level of bufferyard opacity is determined using Table 450-76D(1). "Opacity" is a quantitatively-derived measure which indicates the degree to which a particular bufferyard screens the adjoining property. The required level of opacity indicated by Table 450-76D(1) is directly related to the degree to which the potential character of development differs between different zoning districts. The provisions of this section indicate the minimum requirements for bufferyards located along zoning district boundaries.

Tables for required bufferyards. See following pages for Tables 450-76D(1) and (2).

Installation.

Maintenance. The continued and continual maintenance of all required landscaping and bufferyard materials shall be a requirement of this chapter and shall be the responsibility of the owner of the property on which said materials are required. This requirement shall run with the property and is binding upon all future property owners. Development of any and all property following the effective date of this chapter shall constitute an agreement by the property owner to comply with the provisions of this article. Upon failure to comply with these provisions, the City may enter upon the property for the purpose of evaluating and maintaining all required landscaping and bufferyard materials, and may specially assess the costs thereof against the property. Failure to comply with this requirement shall be considered a violation of this chapter and shall be subject to any and all applicable enforcement procedures and penalties. (See § 450-25.)

Use of required bufferyard and landscaped areas. Any and all required bufferyards or landscaped areas may be used for passive recreation activities. Said areas may contain pedestrian, bike or equestrian trails, provided, that no required material is eliminated; the total width of the required bufferyard, or the total area of required landscaping, is maintained; and all other regulations of this chapter are met. In no event, however, shall swimming pools, tennis courts, sports fields, golf courses, or other such active recreation used be permitted in such areas. Furthermore, in no instance shall any parking be permitted in such areas, nor shall any outdoor display of storage of materials be permitted in such areas. Paving in such areas shall be limited to that required for necessary access to, through, or across the subject property.

Utility easements. Landscaping materials, fences and berms which are located within a duly recorded utility easement and/or a pedestrian easement shall not count toward meeting a landscaping requirement. However, the width of such areas may be counted as part of a landscaping requirement.