The purpose of this chapter is to identify appropriate standards for landscaping and site and building lighting to achieve the following purposes:

   (1)   To preserve and enhance the natural environment and aesthetic qualities of the city.

   (2)   To preserve and enhance the appearance, character and value of all properties.

   (3)   To promote water conservation through the practical use of native and low water use plants.

   (4)   To promote compatibility and continuity between different land uses located in proximity to each other.

   (5)   To prevent objectionable light sources and light pollution of the night sky.

   (6)   To provide attractive streetscapes on all road and street rights of way.

   (7)   To protect privacy and the enjoyment of property.

   (8)   To promote energy conservation. (Ord. 2005-13, 2005)

This chapter shall apply to all applications requiring a class II, class III, class IV or class V use application approval. The requirements of this chapter shall be considered in all land use application reviews, as well as the landscaping and outdoor lighting requirements of chapter 19 of this title. (Ord. 2005-13, 2005)

This chapter provides no specific requirements, standards or regulations for site and building landscaping that may typically be provided by a land use ordinance, including minimum planting requirements, plant locations and sizes, required plant materials, and minimum berming and screening standards. Rather, the city defers to the skills, talents and abilities of registered landscape architects to provide site and building landscaping to achieve the purposes of this chapter and this title. For guidance, the general provisions contained in chapter 19 of this title are provided for reference, as well as the following landscape design principles:

   (1)   Landscape plans should achieve the following purposes:

      (a)   Preserve and complement the desert character of the natural landscape, mitigate building and parking lot impact, add aesthetic charm, interest and character, and conserve water.

      (b)   Provide visual interest and variety.

      (c)   Provide necessary screening elements.

      (d)   Add year round site beautification.

      (e)   Blend with the natural landscape.

      (f)   Highlight building design features.

      (g)   Conserve water.

   (2)   Landscape plans and landscape features shall demonstrate and provide:

      (a)   Necessary landscape buffers between dissimilar or conflicting land uses. Landscape buffers shall be provided for off street parking and service areas, and these areas shall be screened from public streets.

      (b)   A soft landscape transitional treatment when manmade areas and features adjoin areas of natural open space.

      (c)   Use of plants and site materials consistent with, and of a similar scale with, existing natural desert landscape, neighboring landscape, and adjacent streetscape areas where appropriate. Drought tolerant "xeriscape" desert landscaping is encouraged. Landscaping improvements may also include berming, contouring, rocks and boulders.

      (d)   Use of vegetation native to southern Utah or desert environments.

      (e)   Use of landscape designs and plant materials necessary to establish a coordinated relationship to any existing or proposed streetscape plantings. The size and spacing of landscape elements shall also be of appropriate scale and character to all proposed site structures and features.

      (f)   Streetscape buffers to provide areas of landscape materials located on the perimeter of the development site. All streetscape buffer areas shall:

         (i)   Be designed to provide the public with an open view of scenic vistas.

         (ii)   Blend with the natural and neighboring environment to provide a pleasant experience for the public.

         (iii)   Be designed to be consistent with neighboring streetscape and right of way areas.

         (iv)   Be encouraged to be uneven and creative with varied setbacks.

      (g)   When walls, fences and barriers are located adjacent to public rights of way that create a continuous surface greater than twenty feet (20') in length, landscape and planting treatments shall be provided to visually soften the wall, fence or barrier.

      (h)   Efficient long term maintenance. Landscape plans shall demonstrate that long term maintenance factors have been considered in the landscape design. For example, irrigation systems shall be designed to achieve low maintenance and efficient water consumption. (Ord. 2005-13, 2005)

(Ord. 2021-02, 2021)

(Ord. 2021-02, 2021)