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:

A.

To improve the aesthetic appearance of development by establishing minimum landscaping standards;

B.

To promote water conservation by encouraging the use of drought tolerant landscape material; and

C.

To maintain and improve environmental conditions by providing ground water recharge areas and minimizing stormwater runoff, noise and glare.

(Adopted by Ord. 2007-02 on 7/11/2007)

Unless exempted as provided in subsection B of this section, or otherwise specifically provided elsewhere in this title, the standards of this chapter shall apply to any new development.

A.

Continuous Maintenance: Landscaping, buffering and site design features required by this chapter shall be continuously maintained as provided herein.

B.

Exemption: The provisions of this chapter shall not apply to a single-family dwelling or any agricultural use.

(Adopted by Ord. 2007-02 on 7/11/2007)

A.

Information Required: Whenever a landscaping plan is required by this title, 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; and

6.

Such other information as may be needed to demonstrate compliance with the provisions of this chapter.

B.

Visual Obstructions: Landscape plans shall conform to the visual obstruction requirements of section 10-22-10 of this title.

(Adopted by Ord. 2007-02 on 7/11/2007)

A.

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.

B.

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.

(Adopted by Ord. 2007-02 on 7/11/2007)

A.

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.

B.

Landscaping Adjacent to a Public Street: Except for approved driveways and pedestrian walkways, a landscaped area shall be provided adjacent and parallel to the frontage of a public street as follows:

1.

Nonarterial Street: Twenty foot (20') wide landscaped area.

2.

Arterial Street: Ten foot (10') wide landscaped area.

3.

One tree and three (3) shrubs shall be planted for every twenty-five feet (25') 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.

4.

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.

C.

Parking Strip Landscaping: All parking strips shall be landscaped.

D.

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:

a.

Multiple-Family Residential: Ten percent (10%) of total parking lot area.

b.

Office and Commercial: Seven percent (7%) of total parking lot area.

c.

Industrial and warehouse: 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:

a.

To define major drives and accessways;

b.

To delineate ends of parking rows;

c.

At aisle intersections; and

d.

Within parking rows.

E.

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'), excluding any vehicle overhang from an adjacent parking area.

F.

Landscaping in a Multiple-Family Residential Development: Open space and common areas within a multiple-family residential development shall include a minimum of one tree and two (2) shrubs per dwelling unit.

(Adopted by Ord. 2007-02 on 7/11/2007)

A.

Plant Characteristics: Plant materials used to provide landscaping should:

1.

Be drought tolerant;

2.

Have noninvasive growth habits;

3.

Have low maintenance characteristics; and

4.

Be commercially available.

B.

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 & Landscape Association.

C.

Artificial Plants: No artificial plants shall be used to meet any standard of this chapter.

D.

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 four feet (4') above the ground.

2.

Evergreen trees planted to satisfy the standards of this chapter shall have a minimum height of six feet (6').

3.

Shrubs planted to satisfy the standards of this chapter shall have a minimum height of eighteen inches (18") at the time of planting.

E.

Ground Treatment: Ground area within a required landscape area shall be landscaped and present a finished appearance upon completion of landscaping. 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 fifty percent (50%) of ground cover may consist of inert material such as decomposed granite, gravel, crushed rock, bark chips, or other similar material.

(Adopted by Ord. 2007-02 on 7/11/2007)

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

A.

Installation: All landscaping shall be installed according to accepted nursery practices.

B.

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.

C.

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.

D.

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.

(Adopted by Ord. 2007-02 on 7/11/2007)

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. The zoning administrator may not reduce the number of plants required. Any significant change to approved landscaping plans shall be reviewed and approved by the planning commission.

(Adopted by Ord. 2007-02 on 7/11/2007)

During periods of adverse weather conditions or when plants and landscape materials are not available, the planning commission may temporarily suspend the installation of required landscaping and authorize the zoning administrator to 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.

(Adopted by Ord. 2007-02 on 7/11/2007)

The following site features shall be screened as provided below:

A.

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.

B.

Permitted Outdoor Storage: Outdoor storage areas permitted by this title shall be screened from view by an opaque fence or wall. Nonopaque fencing, such as powder or vinyl coated chainlink, may be used to satisfy this requirement in industrial zones if vinyl slats are inserted into the fence.

C.

Service and Loading Areas: Service and loading areas shall be screened from public view.

D.

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.

E.

Roof Mounted Mechanical Equipment: Roof mounted mechanical equipment shall be concealed by material which is consistent with the building design and is equal to or greater in height than the mechanical equipment.

(Adopted by Ord. 2007-02 on 7/11/2007)