In instances were healthy plant material exists on a site prior to its development, in whole or in part, for purposes of off-street parking or other vehicular use areas, the Director of Planning and Building may adjust the application of the herein described standards to allow credit for such plant material if, in his opinion, such an adjustment is in keeping with and will preserve the intent of this Section. Any credit shall be in accordance with the following:

Each square foot of landscaped area which is permeable and within the area encompassed by the dripline of a tree of at least four (4) inches in trunk diameter, measured four (4) feet above the ground level, shall count as one and one-half (1½) square feet of landscaped area for the purpose of satisfying the minimum requirements of Subsection 7.920f. of this Ordinance.

Each square foot of landscaped area which is permeable and within the area encompassed by the dripline of a tree of at least eight (8) inches in trunk diameter, measured four (4) feet above the ground level, shall count as two (2) square feet of landscaped area for the purpose of satisfying the minimum requirements of Subsection 7.920f.

The foregoing credits shall be subject to the following limitations and conditions:

1.

Tree dripline area shall not qualify for credit under this subsection if:

Less than one-half (½) of the dripline is permeable cover; or

There have been any damaging changes in the original grade of the dripline under the tree.

2.

The total calculated landscaped credit around the tree shall be limited to the total square footage of area within the dripline.

3.

Neither over lapping dripline areas nor areas contiguous to the dripline areas which overlap shall be counted twice.

4.

Permeable pavers shall be considered a permeable cover.