The landscaping and screening requirements established herein are intended to preserve and enhance the appearance, character, health, safety, comfort, convenience and general welfare of the village by fostering aesthetically pleasing development. The regulations are intended to increase the compatibility of adjacent uses and minimize the adverse impact of noise, dust, motor vehicle headlight glare or other artificial light intrusions, and other objectionable activities or impacts conducted on, or created by, adjoining or neighboring uses.

(Ord. of 5-1-2003, § 12.1)

(a)

Required. A landscape plan shall be required for all exterior construction and development activity that requires submittal of a site plan, unless waived by the planning and development director. Nothing in this article shall be construed to require landscaping for existing uses that are not proposing exterior changes requiring site plan review, in accordance with section 56-98. Such landscape plans shall be drawn in conformance with the requirements specified in this section. Landscape plans must be reviewed and approved by the planning and development director or planning and zoning board of appeals as part of site plan review processes, as specified in section 56-98.

(b)

Contents. Landscape plans shall contain the following information.

(1)

The location and dimensions of all existing and proposed structures, property lines, easements, parking lots and drives, roadways and rights-of-way, sidewalks, ground signs, refuse disposal and recycling areas, sidewalks, bicycle paths and parking facilities, fences, electrical equipment, recreational facilities, drainage facilities, and other freestanding structures as determined necessary by the planning and development director.

(2)

The location, quantity, size and name, both botanical and common, of all existing plant materials, including trees and other material in the right-of-way, and indicating plant material to be retained and removed.

(3)

The location, quantity, size and name, both botanical and common, of all proposed plant material including, but not limited to, shade trees, shrubs, groundcover, annuals/perennials and turf.

(4)

The existing and proposed grading of the site indicating contours at two-foot intervals. Proposed berming shall be indicated using one-foot contour intervals.

(5)

Elevations of all fences and retaining walls proposed for location on the site.

(6)

Elevations, cross-sections and other details as determined necessary by the planning and development director.

(Ord. of 5-1-2003, § 12.2)

(a)

Selection. All planting materials used shall be of good quality and of a species capable of withstanding the climate extremes of northeastern Illinois as well as the individual site microclimates. Size and density of plant material, both at the time of planting and at maturity, are additional criteria which shall be considered when selecting plant material. The use of drought tolerant and salt tolerant plant material is preferred.

(b)

Installation. All landscaping materials shall be installed in accordance with the current planting procedures established by the American Association of Nurserymen. All plant materials shall be free of disease and shall be installed in a fashion that ensures the availability of sufficient soil and water to sustain healthy growth.

(c)

Maintenance. The following requirements shall apply to landscaping materials.

(1)

All landscaping materials shall be maintained in good condition so as to present a healthy, neat and orderly appearance, and shall be kept free of refuse and debris. Plant material not in this condition shall be replaced when necessary. Fences and barriers shall be maintained in good repair. The owner of the premises shall be responsible for the maintenance, repair and replacement of all landscape materials, fences, barriers and refuse disposal areas. Irrigation systems, if needed, shall be maintained in good operating condition to promote the health of the plant material and the conservation of water.

(2)

The owner of the premises and any leasee shall be jointly and severally responsible for the maintenance, repair and replacement of all landscape materials, fences and barriers. Irrigations, where required, shall be maintained in a good operating condition to promote the health of the plant material. Violation of this article shall be subject to the enforcement provisions of section 56-104.

(Ord. of 5-1-2003, § 12.3)

The landscape plans described in section 56-358 shall be prepared, evaluated and approved, based on the following design criteria.

(1)

Scale and nature of landscaping material. The scale and nature of the landscaping materials shall be appropriate to the size of the structures. For example, large-scale buildings should generally be complemented by large-scale plants.

(2)

Selection of plant material. Plant material shall be selected for its form, texture, color, pattern of growth and suitability to local conditions. Appendix A includes a list of preferred plant material for parkway and private landscaping.

(3)

Shade trees. All shade trees shall have a minimum trunk size of 2½ inches in caliper, unless otherwise specified.

(4)

Evergreen trees. Evergreens trees shall have a minimum height of six feet and should be incorporated into the landscape treatment of a site, particularly in those areas where year-round screening and buffering is required.

(5)

Shrubs. All deciduous and evergreen shrubs shall have a minimum height of 24 inches in at planting, unless otherwise specified.

(6)

Softening of walls and fences. Plant material should be placed intermittently against long expanses of building walls, fences and other barriers to create a softening effect.

(7)

Planting beds. Planting beds should be mulched with bark chips, feather rocks or similar materials. Mulch shall not be used as a substitute for plant materials.

(8)

Detention/retention basins and ponds. Detention/retention basins and ponds shall be landscaped. Such landscaping should include shade and ornamental trees, evergreens, shrubbery, hedges, turf, groundcover and/or other plant materials. Where appropriate, wetland plants may be utilized for these areas.

(9)

Irrigation. Landscape design pursuant to the requirements of this article must recognize the need for irrigation and water conservation. Sprinkler irrigation systems may be required for certain landscape areas, however, all irrigation systems shall be designed to minimize the use of water.

(10)

Domestic turf grasses. Domestic turf grasses should be used in areas with little or no slope to prevent the runoff of irrigation water.

(11)

Energy conservation. Plant material placement should be designed to reduce the energy consumption needs of the development.

a.

Deciduous trees should be placed on the south and west sides of buildings to provide shade from the summer sun.

b.

Evergreens and other plant materials should be concentrated on the north and west sides of buildings to dissipate the effect of winter winds.

(12)

Preservation of existing plant material. Existing plant material should be incorporated into the landscape treatment of a site. Effort should be made to preserve and protect existing trees with trunk diameters in excess of 12 inches. Construction equipment and personnel should be kept away from such trees and their root systems by the installation of fencing at the drip line of trees.

(13)

Berming. Earthen berms and existing topographic features should be incorporated into the landscape treatment of a site whenever determined practical by the planning and development director, particularly when combined with plant material to facilitate screening.

(Ord. of 5-1-2003, § 12.4)

(a)

Turf required. All yards within the village shall be landscaped primarily with turf or other plant materials. Paving of yards, other than for parking or loading purposes, is prohibited.

(b)

Required trees. Shade trees (a minimum trunk size of 2½ inches in caliper) shall be provided for all yards on multiple-family residential and nonresidential lots at a rate of one tree for every 2,500 square feet of yard.

(Ord. of 5-1-2003, § 12.5)

The following requirements shall apply to the ground areas within the public rights-of-way which are not covered by pavement or sidewalks. All parkways shall be maintained by property owners in conformance with the provisions of this section, and only trees from the approved plant list contained in appendix A shall be used. This shall involve improving the ground surface of the parkway with turf or other plant material, including parkway trees, shrubs or hard surface treatments where permitted. Parkway means that area between a property line and a curb or shoulder of a street.

(1)

Parkway trees. The following requirements apply when planting trees on the parkway.

a.

Quantity and spacing. Parkway trees shall be planted no closer than one tree for every 40 linear feet in the right-of-way adjacent to the parcel. Where appropriate, parkway trees may be clustered or spaced linearly in the right-of-way as determined by the village.

b.

Species. Parkway tree species shall conform to the requirements of appendix A. A variety of compatible species should be included in the planting plan for a specific site or development. The selecting of tree species shall be reviewed and approved by the village with particular regard for site-appropriate species.

c.

Alternate location. Trees shall be planted adjacent to the right-of-way if adequate space is not available in the parkway. Trees shall be planted at least five feet from any sidewalk.

(2)

Other landscape materials. No plant material or barrier, except as specified herein, may be located in a dedicated public right-of-way without village approval. The remainder of the ground surface area within the parkway shall be planted with turf, with the exception that driveways and walkways may be permitted in all parkways. Materials prohibited in parkways, unless approved by the village, include:

a.

Brick pavers;

b.

Gravel;

c.

Asphalt;

d.

Groundcover;

e.

Shrubs, exceeding 18 inches in height at maturity; and

f.

Concrete, except in conjunction with driveways and walkways.

(3)

Maintenance. A parkway and the alley area shall be maintained by the adjacent property owner.

(Ord. of 5-1-2003, § 12.6; Ord. No. 13-031, § 1, 5-21-2013)

All parking lots designed for ten or more parking spaces shall provide landscaping in accordance with the provisions of this article. Parking lots designed for less than ten parking spaces shall provide landscaping as may be deemed appropriate by the planning and development director or planning and zoning board of appeals. For existing parking lots that currently do not contain the required parking lot landscaping, the required landscaping shall be provided when the parking lot is expanded by ten or more spaces.

(1)

Interior parking lot. The following requirements apply to interior parking lots.

a.

Area required. No less than ten percent of the interior of a parking lot shall be devoted to landscaping. Landscaping areas located along the perimeter of a parking lot beyond the curb or edge of the pavement of the lot shall not be included toward satisfying this requirement.

b.

Landscaped areas. The landscaped areas defined in section 56-363(1)a shall be improved as follows:

1.

Location. Interior parking lot landscaping areas (planting islands at least six inches above the surface of the parking lot and protected with concrete curbing) shall be dispersed throughout the parking lot in a design and configuration that aesthetically corresponds to the size and shape of the parking lot.

2.

Size. Interior parking lot landscaping areas shall be a minimum of 120 square feet in area and shall be a minimum of eight feet in width, as measured from the back of curb to the back of curb.

3.

Type of landscape material. The primary plant materials used in parking lots shall be shade tree species. Ornamental trees, shrubbery, hedges, and other plant materials may be used to supplement the shade tree plantings, but shall not be the sole contribution to such landscaping.

4.

Quantity of landscape material. A minimum of one shade tree shall be provided for every 120 square feet of interior parking lot landscaping area.

5.

Groundcover. A minimum of 50 percent of every interior parking lot landscaping area shall be planted with an approved groundcover in the appropriate density to achieve complete cover within two years.

(2)

Perimeter parking lot. Perimeter parking lot landscaping is to provide for the enhancement and screening of parking lots by requiring a uniform scheme of landscaping along public streets and between uses.

a.

Applicability. Perimeter landscaping is required for parking lots with ten or more spaces and where the lot is located within a required yard or within 20 feet of a lot line, and shall be established along the corresponding edge of the parking lot in conformance with the provisions of this section.

b.

Landscape area. Where perimeter landscaping is required, it shall be at least seven feet in width, as measured from the back of curb, and excluding any parking space overhang area.

c.

Required improvements. The following landscape improvements shall be provided within the perimeter landscape area:

1.

Shade or evergreen trees. One tree for every 40 feet of yard length. Trees may be clustered based on specific site requirements.

2.

Shrubs. One shrub, measuring a minimum of 24 inches at planting and not to exceed four feet at maturity, for every three feet of yard length, clustered or spaced linearly, as determined by the village. The landscape treatment shall run the full length of the yard when abutting a residential use or the public right-of-way, and 50 percent of the yard when abutting a nonresidential use. The number of shrubs may be reduced or combined with a berm or low pedestrian wall, the height of which provides effective screening to a maximum height of four feet.

3.

Groundcover. Landscaped areas outside of shrub and tree masses shall be planted in turf or other live groundcover.

(Ord. of 5-1-2003, § 12.7)

The regulations of this section shall establish the dimensions and improvement requirements of landscape buffers as required for transitions between uses. Landscape buffers shall be reserved for the planting of material and installation of fencing as required within this section. No parking, driveways, sidewalks, accessory buildings or other impervious surfaces shall be permitted within the buffer area, unless specifically authorized through the site plan review process, subject to section 56-98. Landscape buffers may be located within required yards. Where both landscape buffers and parking lot landscaping is required, the more restrictive shall apply. The village shall have the discretion to require additional landscape material, where necessary, to minimize adverse impacts to adjacent property and maximize screening. The minimum size and improvement of landscape buffers for various situations shall be as follows:

(1)

R3 single-family attached residence, R4 general residence, and B1-T downtown transition overlay district. Where an R3 single-family attached, R4 general residence, or B1-T downtown transition overlay district abuts a single-family residential use, a landscape buffer a minimum of five feet in width, a solid opaque screen fence or wall six feet in height, a berm and/or combination thereof shall be provided, unless waived by the planning and zoning board of appeals. Within the landscape buffer required, the following improvements shall be provided:

a.

Shade trees, a minimum of 2½ inches in caliper, shall be planted on an average of one tree for every 30 feet of the yard length.

b.

A solid opaque screen fence or wall six feet in height shall be erected along 100 percent of the yard length.

c.

Areas not planted with trees shall be maintained as turf or other groundcover. If required by the village, this buffer shall be supplemented with shrubs.

(2)

B2 or B3 business district, M1 limited manufacturing district, and AT airport technical overlay district. Where a lot in the B2 community retail and service business, B3 general business, M1 limited manufacturing, or AT airport technical district abuts any residential district, a landscape buffer a minimum of ten feet in width shall be provided, unless waived by the planning and zoning board of appeals. Within the landscape buffer required, the following improvements shall be provided:

a.

A mix of shade trees, a minimum of 2½ inches in caliper, and evergreen trees, a minimum of eight feet in height, shall be planted on an average of one tree for every 20 feet of the yard length.

b.

A solid opaque screen fence or wall six to eight feet in height shall be erected along 100 percent of the yard length. A berm, planted with the above required plant material may be substituted for the screen fence or wall, where approved by the village.

(3)

Areas not planted with trees shall be maintained as turf or other groundcover. If required by the village, this buffer shall be supplemented with shrubs.

(4)

Nonresidential uses in residential districts. Where a nonresidential use within a residential district abuts a residential district, a landscape yard a minimum of five feet in width shall be provided, unless waived by the planning and zoning board of appeals. Within the landscape buffer required, the following improvements shall be provided:

a.

Shade trees, a minimum of 2½ inches in caliper, shall be planted on an average of one tree for every 30 feet of the yard length.

b.

A solid opaque screen fence or wall six feet in height shall be erected along 100 percent of the yard length.

c.

Areas not planted with trees shall be maintained as turf or other groundcover. If required by the village, this buffer shall be supplemented with shrubs.

(Ord. of 5-1-2003, § 12.8)

Any change to an approved landscape plan shall require the approval of the planning and zoning board of appeals. Changes which do not conform to this article shall be subject to the procedures for a variation as established in section 56-101. Landscape improvements made to a lot that are not in conformance with an approved landscape plan shall be a violation of this article and subject to the procedures of section 56-104.

(Ord. of 5-1-2003, § 12.12)

Refuse disposal dumpsters in all zoning districts, commercial businesses, multifamily units and industrial properties shall be screened on four sides by a solid wood fence or masonry wall, plastic or village approved material to a height of no less than six feet, nor more than eight feet; and chainlink is not allowed. The dumpster enclosure shall be situated on a concrete or asphalt apron that extends a minimum of six feet beyond the opening of the enclosure so as to support the weight of the waste disposal vehicle during unloading. Refuse shall not be permitted to accumulate such that it is visible above the height of the enclosure. This requirement shall not apply to recycling containers and devices. Enclosure areas shall be kept free of debris, spillage and odors at all times. All existing dumpster areas not screened in accordance with this Code shall comply within one year. All new businesses shall comply within six months. Any screen areas in a damaged condition, must be repaired within 14 days of such notification by the code compliance officer. Failure to complete the repair or obtain an extension of time to make repairs within 14 days will lead to the issuance of a notice of violation pursuant to the Lansing Code of Ordinances and will be subject to administrative adjudication and fines as defined in section 1-23. Construction dumpsters stored on site for a temporary period not exceeding 60 days need not conform to this Code. All existing dumpster enclosures shall conform to this Code after the effective date of the approved ordinance. Any chainlink enclosures lawfully existing or under construction shall be removed and made to conform to this Code by the effective date of the approved ordinance.

(Ord. of 5-1-2003, § 12.9; Ord. No. 20-007, § 2, 2-18-2020)

Loading berths in all zoning districts shall be screened as much as possible while still allowing access to the use it is serving, unless such screening is determined unnecessary by the planning and zoning board of appeals. Such screening shall consist of a solid wood fence or masonry screen wall to a height of no less than six feet or a continuous evergreen or dense deciduous shrub hedge, or a combination of the two.

(Ord. of 5-1-2003, § 12.10)

All activities in M1 and AT districts shall take place within completely enclosed buildings, except when completely screened with a uniformly painted solid screen fence or wall at least eight feet in height. All outdoor storage in AT and M1 districts shall also be completely screened with a uniformly painted solid screen fence or wall at least eight feet in height and all outdoor storage in B2 or B3 districts shall be completely screened with a uniformly painted solid screen fence or wall at least six feet in height.

(Ord. of 5-1-2003, § 12.11)