The purpose of this chapter is to promote public health, safety and welfare by establishing minimum standards for the preservation, installation and maintenance of landscaping and buffering. This chapter is intended to achieve the following objectives:

1. To improve the aesthetic appearance of development by establishing minimum landscaping standards;
2. To promote water conservation by encouraging the use of drought tolerant landscape material; and
3. To maintain and improve environmental conditions by providing groundwater recharge areas and minimizing stormwater runoff, noise and glare.

Unless exempted as provided in subsection B of this section, or otherwise specifically provided elsewhere in this chapter, the standards and requirements for a landscape plan according to this chapter shall apply.

1. Continuous Maintenance:
   Landscaping, buffering and site design features required by this chapter shall be continuously maintained as provided in this chapter.
2. Exemption:
   The provisions of this chapter shall not apply to a single-family dwelling or any agricultural or residential use in an agricultural zone. Public, civil, and commercial permitted uses in an agricultural zone are not exempt.

1. Information Required:
   Whenever a landscaping plan is required by this chapter, such plan shall demonstrate compliance with the provisions of this chapter and shall show the following information:
   1. Landscaping materials;
   2. Location and spacing of existing and proposed plantings;
   3. Plant sizes;
   4. Proposed treatment of ground surfaces;
   5. Irrigation or watering plan.
2. Visual Obstructions:
   Landscape plans shall conform to the visual obstruction requirements of subsection 152-37-9E of this chapter.

1. Deviations Authorized:
   Since site conditions and development constraints may vary greatly among sites, the planning commission may approve landscape plans that deviate from strict compliance with the provisions of this chapter. Any proposed deviation from the requirements of this chapter shall be:
   1. Clearly identified on the proposed landscape plan; and
   2. Accompanied by a written description of the proposed deviation showing how the intent of this chapter will be met by the proposed plan.
2. Findings Required:
   The planning commission may authorize a landscape plan deviation only if it finds the deviation:
   1. Is consistent with the intent of this chapter;
   2. Is justified by site constraints; and
   3. Is of comparable quality to what would otherwise be required without a deviation.

1. General Requirement:
   Landscaped areas may include trees, shrubs, vegetative, organic and inorganic ground cover and other organic and inorganic materials identified in an approved landscaping plan. All required landscape areas shall be occupied by plant material or ground cover.
2. Landscaping Adjacent To A Public Street:
   Except for approved driveways and pedestrian walkways, a landscaped area of ten foot (10') minimum shall be provided adjacent and parallel to the frontage of a public street as follows:
   1. A ten foot (10') wide landscaped area on any commercial development.
   2. At least one tree and three (3) shrubs shall be planted for every thirty five feet (35') of street frontage in a required landscaped area. Such trees and shrubs may be clustered, provided that no tree shall be within five feet (5') of another.
   3. The slope of any earth berm shall not exceed a vertical to horizontal ratio of one to two (1:2) and shall be treated with suitable ground cover to prevent soil erosion.
3. Parking Strip Landscaping:
   All parking strips shall be landscaped.
4. Parking Lot Landscaping:
   1. Every parking lot consisting of more than ten (10) spaces and three thousand five hundred (3,500) square feet of area shall contain internal landscaped areas as follows:
      1. Multiple-family residential: A minimum of ten percent (10%) of total parking lot area.
      2. Office and commercial: A minimum of seven percent (7%) of total parking lot area.
      3. Industrial and warehouse: A minimum of five percent (5%) of total parking lot area.
   2. For every ten (10) required parking spaces, or portion thereof, a minimum of two (2) shrubs and one deciduous tree shall be provided within the internal parking area. The species of such trees shall be such that at maturity a tree canopy is provided to shade the parking area below each tree.
   3. Landscaped areas shall contain a minimum of twenty five (25) square feet and shall have a minimum average width of at least five feet (5').
   4. Landscape islands should be located in the following priority:
      1. To define major drives and accessways;
      2. To delineate ends of parking rows;
      3. At aisle intersections; and
      4. Within parking rows.
5. Foundation Landscaping:
   Landscaping shall be provided adjacent to the wall of a building which has frontage on a public street as follows:
   1. At least fifty percent (50%) of the building frontage shall be landscaped; and
   2. The minimum width of the landscaped area shall be three feet (3').
6. Landscaping In A Multiple Residential Development:
   Open space and common areas within a multiple residential development shall include a minimum of one tree and two (2) shrubs per dwelling unit.

1. Plant Characteristics:
   Plant materials used to provide landscaping should be:
   1. Drought tolerant;
   2. Have noninvasive growth habits;
   3. Have low maintenance characteristics; and
   4. Be commercially available.
2. Plant Quality:
   Plants installed pursuant to this chapter shall conform to or exceed the plant quality standards of the most recent edition of "American Standard For Nursery Stock" published by the American Nursery And Landscape Association.
3. Artificial Plants:
   No artificial plants shall be used to meet any standard of this chapter except by special permission of the planning commission.
4. Tree Diameter And Height:
   1. Trees planted to satisfy the standards of this chapter shall have a minimum caliper (diameter) of two inches (2") measured at ground level.
   2. Evergreen trees planted to satisfy the standards of this chapter shall have a minimum height of four feet (4').
   3. Shrubs planted to satisfy the standards of this chapter shall have a minimum height of eighteen inches (18") at the time of planting.
5. Ground Treatment:
   Ground area within a required landscape area shall be landscaped and present a finished appearance upon completion of landscaping. Additional ground cover may consist of plant materials characterized by horizontal as well as vertical growth, generally not exceeding eighteen inches (18") in height. Up to eighty five percent (85%) of additional ground cover may consist of inert material such as decomposed granite, gravel, crushed rock, bark chips, or other similar material. Porous landscape fabric shall be required under these types of ground cover.

Any required landscaping shall be installed, irrigated, and maintained in accordance with the following standards:

1. Installation:
   All landscaping shall be installed according to accepted nursery practices.
2. Verification Of Installation:
   Prior to issuing a certificate of occupancy, the zoning administrator shall verify that required landscaping and screening has been installed in compliance with the approved landscape plan.
3. Irrigation:
   Landscape areas shall be irrigated as necessary to maintain required plant materials in good and healthy condition, while at the same time avoiding water waste through inefficient irrigation.
4. Maintenance:
   Landscape areas, including park strips, shall be maintained in a healthy, neat and orderly condition as follows:
   1. Landscaped areas shall be free of weeds and litter;
   2. Landscape structures (e.g., walls, fences) shall be repaired or replaced in a structurally sound condition consistent with original appearance; and
   3. The city may require that any dead trees, shrubs and plants be replaced within the current or next planting season.

The zoning administrator may approve installation of comparable substitute plant materials to satisfy the requirements of an approved landscape plan when approved materials are unavailable or when other unforeseen conditions prevent the use of materials shown on an approved landscaping plan. Any significant change to approved landscaping plans shall be reviewed and approved by the planning commission.

During periods of adverse weather conditions or when plants and landscape materials are not available, the zoning administrator may issue a temporary certificate of occupancy, provided the landowner enters into an agreement with the city that requires the installation of required landscaping within a reasonable time.

The following site features shall be screened as provided below:

1. Trash Receptacles:
   Trash receptacles in a multiple-family residential, commercial, public facility, business/manufacturing park, or professional office zone shall be screened from view by a wall or fence which:
   1. Is at least six feet (6') in height;
   2. Provides complete visual screening of the receptacle; and
   3. Is compatible in material and color with the main building on the lot.
2. Permitted Outdoor Storage:
   Outdoor storage areas permitted by this chapter shall be screened from view by an opaque fence or wall. Non-opaque fencing, such as powder or vinyl coated chain link, may be used to satisfy this requirement in industrial zones if vinyl slats are inserted into the fence.
3. Ground Mounted Utility Boxes, Meters And Mechanical Equipment:
   Ground mounted utility boxes, meters, and mechanical equipment shall be screened from view by landscaping or architectural elements compatible in material and color with the primary structure(s) on the premises. This requirement shall not apply to:
   1. Rear and rear side yard locations adjacent to other service or mechanical areas not adjacent to a public street, and
   2. Development in agricultural and single-family residential zones.