Township landscaping, greenbelts, and screening are necessary for the protection and enhancement of the environment and for the continued vitality of all land uses in the township. Landscaping and greenbelts are capable of enhancing the visual environment, preserving natural features, improving property values, and alleviating the impact of noise, traffic, and visual disruption related to intensive uses. The purpose of this article is to set minimum standards for the protection and enhancement of the environment through requirements for the design and use of landscaping, greenbelts, and screening.

(Ord. of 7-18-2022)

(a)

The requirements set forth in this article shall apply to all uses, lots, sites, and parcels which are developed or expanded following the effective date of the ordinance from which this section is derived. No site plan shall be approved unless said site plan shows landscaping consistent with the provisions of this article. Furthermore, where landscaping is required, a building permit shall not be issued until the required landscape plan is submitted and approved, and a certificate of occupancy shall not be issued unless provisions set forth in this article have been met or a performance bond has been posted in accordance with the provisions set forth is section 14.2-9.

(b)

In cases where the use of an existing building changes or an existing building is changed or otherwise altered or reoccupied, all of the standards set forth herein shall be met.

(c)

The requirements of this article are minimum requirements, and nothing herein shall preclude a developer and the township from agreeing to more extensive landscaping.

(Ord. of 7-18-2022)

Except as otherwise specified in the general requirements for each zoning district, all landscaping shall conform to the following standards:

(1)

General landscaping. All portions of the lot or parcel area not covered by buildings, paving, or other impervious surfaces shall be landscaped with vegetation ground cover and other ornamental materials as required in this subsection, except where specific landscape elements, such as a greenbelt, berm, or screening are required:

a.

All portions of the landscaped area shall be planted with grass, ground cover, shrubbery, or other suitable plant material, except that paved patios, terraces, sidewalks and similar site features may be incorporated with planning commission approval.

b.

A mixture of evergreen and deciduous trees shall be planted at the rate of one tree for each 1,000 square feet or portion thereof of landscaped open-space area.

c.

Required trees and shrubs may be planted at uniform intervals, at random, or in groupings.

d.

The landscaped area shall include a greenbelt of a minimum ten-foot width, located and continually maintained along a public right-of-way.

e.

In consideration of the overall design and impact of the landscape plan, the planning commission may reduce or waive the requirements outlined herein for general landscaping, or for landscaping in greenbelt areas, on berms, or as part of a screen, provided that any such adjustment is in keeping with the intent of this chapter, and more specifically, with the purpose stated in section 14.8-1.

f.

The total landscaped area shall be the basis for determining the required number of trees or shrubs, irrespective of the portion which is devoted to patios, terraces, sidewalks, or other site features.

(2)

Greenbelt buffer. Where required, greenbelts and greenbelt buffers shall conform to the following standards:

a.

A required greenbelt or greenbelt buffer may be interrupted only to provide for roads or driveways for vehicular and pedestrian access.

b.

Grass, ground cover, or other suitable live plant material shall be planted over the entire greenbelt area, except that paving may be used in areas of intensive pedestrian circulation.

c.

A minimum of one deciduous tree or evergreen tree shall be planted for each 50 lineal feet or portion thereof of required greenbelt length. Required trees shall be at least five feet tall and may be planted at uniform intervals, at random, or in groupings.

d.

Two 18-inch-high or -wide shrub shall be required for each 15 linear feet of greenbelt area. Required shrubs may be planted at uniform intervals, at random, or in groupings.

(3)

Berms. Where required, earth berms or landscaped berms shall conform to the following standards:

a.

The berm shall be at least three feet above the grade elevation, and shall be constructed with slopes no steeper than one foot vertical for each three feet horizontal. For the purposes of this subsection, grade elevation shall be the ground elevation at the property line adjacent to the proposed berm.

b.

The berm area shall be planted with grass or other suitable ground cover to ensure that it withstands wind and weather and retains its height and shape.

c.

A minimum of one deciduous or evergreen tree shall be planted for each 30 linear feet or portion of required berm.

d.

Eight shrubs per tree may be planted as substitute for trees (see subsection (3)c of this section).

e.

Required trees and shrubs may be planted at uniform intervals, at random, or in groupings.

f.

For the purpose of determining required plant material, required berm length shall be measured along exterior periphery of the berm.

(4)

Evergreen screening. Where required, evergreen screening shall consist of closely-spaced plantings which form a visual barrier that is at least eight feet above ground level within five years of planting.

(5)

Landscaping of rights-of-way and other adjacent public open-space areas. Public rights-of-way and other public open-space areas adjacent to required landscaped areas and greenbelts shall be planted with grass or other suitable ground cover and maintained by the owner of the adjacent property as if they were part of required landscaped areas and greenbelts.

(6)

Regulations pertaining to landscaping areas used for sight distance.

a.

When a driveway intersects a public right-of-way or when the subject property abuts the intersection of public rights-of-way, all landscaping within the corner triangular areas described in subsection (6)b of this section shall permit unobstructed cross visibility. Shrubs located in the triangular area shall not be permitted to grow to a height of more than two feet above the pavement grade at the edge of the pavement. Portions of required berms located within sight distance triangular areas shall also not exceed a height of two feet above the pavement grade at the edge of the pavement. Trees may be maintained in this area provided that all branches are trimmed to maintain a clear vision for a vertical height of eight feet above the roadway surface. Landscaping, except grass or ground cover, shall be located closer than three feet from the edge of a driveway.

b.

The triangular areas referred to in subsection (6)a of this section are:

1.

The area formed at the corner intersection of a public right-of-way and a driveway, the two sides of the triangular area being ten feet in length measured along the right-of-way line and driveway line and the third side being a line connecting these two sides.

2.

The area formed at a corner intersection of two public right-of-way lines, the two sides of the triangular area being 25 feet in length measured along the abutting public right-of-way lines and the third side being a line connecting these two sides.

(7)

Maintenance of landscaping. All required landscape areas shall be planted and maintained with living plant materials. Failure to maintain required landscaped areas, including the removal and replacement of dead or diseased plant materials, shall constitute a violation of this chapter.

(8)

Planning commission discretion. The planning commission shall have the authority to decrease the requirements of this article based on preservation of existing plant materials or unique characteristics of a site documented by the applicant during site plan review.

(Ord. of 7-18-2022)

Whenever in this chapter planting is required, it shall be planted within six months from the date of completion of the building or improvement, and shall thereafter be reasonably maintained with permanent plant materials. Plastic and other nonorganic, nonliving plant materials shall be prohibited from use and shall not be in compliance with the spirit and intent of this chapter.

(1)

Plant material spacing.

a.

Plant materials shall not be placed closer than four feet from the fence line or property line. Exception: Shrubs may be planted no closer than two feet from the fence or property line.

b.

Where plant materials are planted in two or more rows, plantings shall be staggered in rows.

c.

Evergreen trees shall be planted not more than 30 feet on centers, except as provided in section 14.8-3.

d.

Narrow evergreens shall be planted not more than three feet on centers.

e.

Deciduous trees shall be planted not more than 30 feet on centers.

f.

Treelike shrubs shall be planted not more than ten feet on centers.

g.

Large deciduous shrubs shall be planted not more than four feet on centers.

(2)

Suggested plant materials, minimum size.

(3)

Existing plant materials.

a.

In instances where healthy plant material exists on a site prior to its development, the building department may adjust the application of the standards of subsection (2) of this section to allow credit for such plant material if such an adjustment is in keeping with, and will preserve, the intent of this section.

b.

All existing plant materials must first be inspected by the building department to determine the health and desirability of such materials. In the event plant materials are to be saved, prior approval must be obtained from the building department before any delimbing, root pruning, or other work is done.

c.

If such existing plant material is labeled "To Be Saved" on site plans, protective techniques, such as, but not limited to, fencing placed at the drip-line around the perimeter of the plant material, shall be installed. No vehicle or other construction equipment shall be parked or stored within the drip-line of any plant material intended to be saved.

d.

In the event that healthy trees labeled "To Be Saved" on the approved site plan are destroyed or damaged, as determined by the building department, the owner, developer or contractor shall replace said trees with trees of comparable type.

(Ord. of 7-18-2022)

(a)

For the use districts and uses listed in the table in this subsection, there shall be provided and maintained on those sides abutting or adjacent to a single or multifamily residential district, an obscuring wall. The height of the wall shall be measured from the surface of the parking area or land on the nonresidential side of the wall:

(b)

In the case of the variable wall height requirement in subsection (c) of this section, the extent of obscuring wall shall be determined by the planning commission on the basis of land usage; provided further, that no wall or fence shall be less than the required minimum, nor greater than the required maximum height.

(c)

Required walls shall be located on the lot line except where underground utilities interfere and except in instances where this chapter requires conformance with yard setback lines. Upon review of the site plan, the planning commission may approve an alternate location for the wall, or may modify the wall requirement by approving either an earth berm or evergreen screen in its place. The planning commission may also waive the wall requirement if, in specific cases where cause can be shown, no good purpose would be served by the screening requirement.

(d)

Required walls shall have no openings for vehicular traffic or other purposes, except as otherwise provided in this chapter and except such openings as may be approved by the planning commission. All walls herein required shall be constructed of materials approved by the building department to be durable, weather resistant, and easily maintained.

(e)

The requirement for an obscuring wall between off-street parking areas, outdoor storage areas, and any abutting residential district shall not be required when such areas are located more than 200 feet from abutting residential district or across the street from a residential district.

(Ord. of 7-18-2022)