The purpose of this subchapter is to:

(A)

Protect and enhance property values through the improvement of curbside areas; screening conflicting land uses; landscaping parking lots and building areas;

(B)

Use planting materials to clear the air, conserve the soil, and prevent blowing dust and dirt;

(C)

Protect the health, safety, and welfare of the citizens of the city by preserving and maintaining vegetative cover which will reduce soil erosion, reduce flooding, provide shade, conserve energy and water resources, and enhance the attractiveness of the community;

(D)

Preserve native grasses, valuable trees and other vegetative cover by clustering development and replacing native grasses when they are displaced by development.

(Ord. 2001-581, passed 8-16-01)

(A)

The planting and screening requirements of this section shall apply to all land located in the city and proposed for use other than single family dwelling.

(B)

Applicants for new construction, additions or remodeling with a valuation of over $10,000 shall meet the standards for planting and screening before a building permit is issued. A planting and screening plan containing the information and meeting the requirements set forth in § 153.088 is required.

(C)

When the requirements of this section conflict with the requirements of other provisions of this or other ordinances, this subchapter shall prevail.

(Ord. 2001-581, passed 8-16-01)

Fifteen percent of the total land area in any proposed development shall be planted. This 15% requirement shall apply to each phase as it is developed in a phased project. At least 50% of the required planted open areas shall be located in the street yard.

(Ord. 2001-581, passed 8-16-01)

(A)

Prior to the issuance of a building, paving, grading or construction permit for any use other than single family dwellings, a planting and screening plan shall be submitted to the Planning and Zoning Commission. The Planning and Zoning Commission shall review such plans and shall recommend approval or denial to the City Council.

(B)

Planting plans shall contain the following information:

(1)

Minimum scale of 1 inch equals 20 feet;

(2)

Location of all trees to be preserved, and method of protection;

(3)

Location of all plants and construction material to be used including plants, paving, benches, screens, fountains, statutes, or other features;

(4)

Species of all plant material to be used (refer to plant list developed by the Texas Xeriscape Council);

(5)

Size of all plant material to be used;

(6)

Spacing of plant materials where appropriate;

(7)

Layout and description of irrigation, sprinkler or water systems, including placement of water sources;

(8)

Description of maintenance provisions for the planting and screening plan;

(9)

Person(s) responsible for the preparation of the planting and screening plan, address, telephone number, and occupation;

(10)

Land owner or developer name, address, and telephone number.

(Ord. 2001-581, passed 8-16-01)

(A)

Credits may be applied to the overall planting requirement; however, in no instance shall the credits reduce the total amount of planting on a lot to less than then 10% of the total land area.

(B)

Credits may be obtained as follows:

(1)

For each newly planted or existing tree of at least 3 inches in trunk diameter, measured 12 inches above grade, which is maintained in a living and growing condition, 200 square feet of landscape credit will be applied to the overall landscape requirement.

(2)

For each newly planted or existing tree of at least 6 inches in trunk diameter, measured 12 inches above grade, which is maintained in a living and growing condition, 400 square feet of landscape credit will be applied to the overall landscape requirement.

(Ord. 2001-581, passed 8-16-01)

(A)

Live oak and native elm trees having a nominal caliper of 6 inches or more, measured 24 inches above the existing ground level, shall not be removed from the land except for 1 or more of the following reasons:

(1)

Such trees are horizontally located within the limits of proposed building or so close to a proposed building as to believe the root system would eventually damage the foundation of the building, or the canopy of the tree would conflict with the roof system of the building after reasonable pruning is done and when considering anticipated future growth.

(2)

Such trees are located within a proposed parking or similar use area, and the removal of the same is necessary in order that at least 85% of the required number of parking spaces can be attained with in such areas as could be obtained if the parking area did not contain trees.

(3)

Such trees are horizontally and/or vertically located so as to conflict with proposed building pads in cut or fill areas which extend beyond the limits described within subsection (1) of this division.

(B)

Site plans should accommodate existing trees by providing islands in parking lots, grading and landscaping surrounding structures. No trees 8 inches in diameter or larger shall be removed without prior approval of the City Council.

(Ord. 2001-581, passed 8-16-01)

(A)

Plant material, decorative material, or a combination of both, should be located near buildings on site to aesthetically integrate each building into the overall site, to visually soften the massiveness of buildings and to separate the buildings from the parking lot.

(B)

Plant materials should be located where they will be visible from public streets, sidewalks and other heavily used areas.

(Ord. 2001-581, passed 8-16-01)

(A)

Screening is required along front, side and rear property lines for parking lots with more than 10 parking spaces or 4,000 square feet, whichever is less, and where parking is located within 20 feet of a property line. Specific requirements are set forth below:

(1)

The planted areas along front lot lines shall be a minimum of 5 feet wide, of which 2 feet may be in the right-of-way if it does not interfere with the sidewalk or placement of utilities. Minimum planting shall consist of a compact hedge of 5-gallon size plants having a minimum mature height of 4 feet and planted at a density of 1 plant for every 20 square feet. An alternative to this type of screening is a continuous 3-foot high solid wall set back no less than 4 feet from the back of the sidewalk. This area between the sidewalk and wall shall be planted with shrubs, grasses, or other continuous vegetative groundcover.

(2)

The landscaped area along the side and rear lot lines shall consist of 1 or more the following:

(a)

A minimum 3 foot wide planting strip with a compact hedge of 5 gallon size plants having a minimum mature height of 6 feet and planted at a density of 1 plant for every 15 square feet of every 5 linear feet;

(b)

A minimum 3 foot tall solid wall lined with trees spaced a minimum of 20 feet apart. Trees shall be a minimum of 1-1/2 inches caliper and 6 feet in height at time of planting. Trees shall be planted in planting areas of at least 4 feet by 4 feet; or

(c)

A 6 foot tall solid or fence constructed of opaque materials combined with a minimum 3 foot wide planting strip planted with trees, shrubs, groundcovers or trailing vines.

(3)

Vehicles may not overhang the minimum required planted area.

(4)

Planting shall not be installed in such a manner as to interfere with traffic view or impose a safety hazard.

(B)

Interior planting is required for parking lots with more than 20 parking spaces or 10,000 square feet, whichever is less. Interior planting shall cover a minimum area equivalent to 160 square feet for every 20 parking spaces. In addition:

(1)

Interior planting shall provide shading and a visual break to the parking lot surface. Plant material shall consist of a minimum of 1 tree every 10 parking spaces. The shade trees shall be a minimum of 1½ caliper and 6 feet tall at the time of planting, and have a 20 feet minimum mature height.

(2)

Additional planting under trees is not required. However, non-vegetative cover including, but not limited to, gravel or bark is required if under-story planting is not provided.

(3)

Border plantings adjacent to buildings and front, side, and rear lot lines and landscaping shall not be considered interior planting.

(4)

Interior planting shall have a minimum dimension of 4 feet.

(5)

Interior planting shall be uniformly distributed throughout the parking lot, unless cluster type planting is approved.

(6)

Adequate aeration inserts shall be provided where paving will extend over expanding root systems (inside maximum anticipated drip line).

(Ord. 2001-581, passed 8-16-01)

(A)

Location of screening and fencing. When a non-residential use (including accessory uses and outdoor storage) is established on a lot or premises located adjacent to any residential zoning district, a 6-foot high opaque fence, or alternate form of screening wall if so determined by the City Council, shall be erected and maintained along the property line to provide visual screening. The provisions of this section shall not apply where districts are separated by a public street, railroad right-of-way of 30 feet.

(B)

Type of material of screening. Screening may consist of a single material or a combination of materials and/or methods. The material selected from the fence shall be appropriate for its intended use and in harmony and compatible with the architecture of the site and adjacent existing materials. A required screening fence or wall shall be a wood diagonal, horizontal, or vertical stockade type privacy fence although the posts and rails shall be metal or masonry. In addition, hedges or other dense planting material may serve as an appropriate screening method. However, vegetative growth will need to meet the required height and visual barrier requirements of this chapter within 2 years of planting. Landscaped beams may, when appropriate in scale, be used as a screening element in lieu of a fence, wall, hedge, or other dense planting material. If the proposed screening is not deemed adequate by the Planning and Zoning Commission, the Commission may require a screening material that is deemed appropriate.

(C)

Screening of wrecking and salvage yards.

(1)

All wrecking yards (junk and salvage) and salvage yards with open storage of wrecked or salvaged automobiles, machinery, appliances, or other used commodities and equipment shall surround such open storage with a solid screening wall or fence not less than 8 feet in height. In no instance will material be allowed to be stacked to a height, which exceeds the height of the fence.

(2)

Pavement standards. All wrecking, vehicle storage and salvage yards shall be paved with concrete, asphalt or similar materials where all vehicles, boats, trailers, and the like shall be parked.

(D)

Required screening-residential developments.

(1)

Screening shall be required along the frontage of all residential development which front major or secondary arterial.

(2)

The purpose of the screening is to screen the development from the street and to diminish the effects of street noise on the development. Plans for the screening of street frontages are required and shall include a description of screening materials, dimensions, and location. In order to avoid a tunneling effect where a development borders on major or secondary arterials for more than 1 city block, developers are encouraged to vary the screening material.

(3)

As an alternative to screening, the developer shall provide a 50 linear foot setback. The setback shall consist of undisturbed trees, shrubs, and grasses, or new planting treatment consisting of continuous vegetative groundcover and 1 tree or shrub for every 50 square feet of setback. Twenty-five percent of the non-groundcover plant material shall be trees. Newly planted trees shall be minimum 1½ inches caliper at the time of planting, and shrubs shall be 5-gallon size at time of planting.

(E)

Planting requirements-residential common open space.

(1)

Native vegetation shall be preserved and protected in common open space areas to the greatest extent possible.

(2)

One newly planted 1½-inch caliper tree shall be required for every 500 square feet of required common open space over 2,500 square feet, at least 20% but no more than 50%, of all trees shall be deciduous varieties and shall be located so as to provide shade to the most accessible portions of the common open space.

(3)

For multiple-family projects, a minimum of 25% of all required common open space shall be developed as a recreational facility, or shall be planted in sod, turf or native grasses and be designed and located to allow for both active and passive recreation. In no case shall the slope of this area exceed 10% as verified by means of perimeter and internal spot elevations shown on the site plan.

(4)

All required vegetative screening and open space planting required shall comply with the standards set forth in § 153.088, including the submittal of a planting and screening plan and a description of the type of irrigation system to be installed or utilized.

(Ord. 2001-581, passed 8-16-01)

(A)

All planting and screening shall be the responsibility of the property owner. It shall be permanently maintained.

(B)

Requirements.

(1)

Planted areas shall be kept free of trash, litter, weeds, and other such material or plants not a part of the landscaping.

(2)

All plant material shall be maintained by mowing, watering, pruning, and the like to be kept in a healthy and growing condition as is appropriate for each season of the year.

(3)

Plant materials which die shall be replaced with plant material of similar variety and size within 1 calendar year.

(4)

Fences and walls shall be maintained in good condition by cleaning, painting, or replacing broken or damaged sections when required.

(Ord. 2001-581, passed 8-16-01)