(a)

Purpose. The purpose of this article is to ensure quality landscape design and maintain and enhance an attractive natural environment within the town, this article specifies landscaping criteria required for all development as stated herein. This article is intended to serve the following purposes:

(1)

Create and maintain the established natural and suburban character of the town by preserving areas of natural vegetation between land uses, along roadways and within the interior of developed sites;

(2)

Ensure that landscaping is native, drought tolerant, sensitive to site constraints, low maintenance, and an enhancement of the site;

(3)

Carefully balance the natural environment with new landscape installations which are complementary;

(4)

Foster civic pride and community spirit by maximizing the positive impact of development;

(5)

Promote water conservation through use of native plantings and water recharge; and

(6)

Provide for use of existing landscaping and landscape buffers to minimize the impact of adjoining differing land uses, enhance and protect the integrity of roadway corridors, and reduce the surface heat and negative visual impact of paved vehicular use areas.

(b)

Definitions. For the purposes of this article, the following terms shall be defined to mean the following, unless the context affirmatively demonstrates to the contrary:

Commercial means any lot or parcel of land within the C, C-1, C-2, SC, R-3, or RP zoning districts.

Development shall be defined as set forth in F.S. §§ 163.3164 and 380.04, as amended from time to time.

Florida native plant means a species presumed to have been occurring within the state boundaries prior to European contact, according to the best available scientific and historical documentation. Florida native plants include those species understood as indigenous, occurring in natural associations in habitats that existed prior to significant human impacts and alterations of the landscape. See Rule 5B-40.001(1)(m), Fla. Admin. Code; Definition, Florida Native Plant Society, fnps.org/natives/definition.

(Ord. No. 2021-03, § 2, 2-10-2021)

(a)

For new commercial development in C, C-1, C-2, SC, R-3, or RP zoning districts, excluding areas where erosion control is required, 75 percent of site landscaping, including ground cover, grasses, vines, shrubs and trees, must be Florida native plants. As used in this subsection, the term "new commercial development" shall include but not be limited to the following:

(1)

A change in the use of a major and material nature. For example, a change from a residential use to a professional office use would constitute a major and material change;

(2)

Clearing of an entirely undeveloped property in the C, C-1, C-2, SC, R-3, or RP zoning districts and making use of the property. For example, use of the property as a parking lot, an office, or a commercial structure, would meet this description; or

(3)

Demolition of an existing principal structure and development of a new principal structure for use as a professional office or commercial structure;

(b)

No plants listed on the Florida Exotic Pest Plant Council's list of invasive plant species as Category I or Category II invasive exotics will be permitted. See FLEPPC.org list of invasive plant species.

(Ord. No. 2021-03, § 3, 2-10-2021)