The purpose of this article shall be to provide landscaping and buffering guidelines for developers and builders to follow in the design, installation, and maintenance of proposed high-density residential, commercial and industrial development projects.

The goal of this article shall be to promote quality landscaping design throughout the Town while integrating various elements of site design, preserving and enhancing the particular identity of the site, and creating a pleasing site character.

Landscaping may include plant materials such as trees, shrubs, ground covers, perennials, and annuals, and other materials such as rocks, water, sculpture, art, walls, fences, paving materials, and street furniture.

Applicability. These requirements shall apply to:

Exemptions. These requirements shall not apply to:

Existing and proposed trees.

Shrubs and ground covers.

Natural features such as rock outcroppings.

Landscaping elements.

Location of proposed plantings.

Construction details.

Where existing plantings are to be retained.

Proposed methods of protecting existing plantings during construction.

Topsoil preservation. Topsoil moved during the course of construction shall be redistributed on all regraded surfaces so as to provide at least four inches of even cover to all disturbed areas of the development and shall be stabilized by seeding and planting.

Removal of debris. All stumps and other tree parts, litter, brush, weeds, excess or scrap building materials or other debris shall be removed from the site within 30 days of notification by the Zoning Administrator and disposed of in accordance with the law. No tree stumps, or portions of tree trunks or limbs shall be buried anywhere in the development. All dead or dying trees, standing or fallen, shall be removed from the site within 30 days of notification by the Zoning Administrator. If trees or limbs are reduced to chips, they may be used as mulch in landscaped areas, subject to approval by the Administrator.

Protection of existing plantings. Maximum effort should be made to save fine specimens. No material or temporary soil deposits shall be placed within four feet of shrubs or 10 feet of trees designated on the landscape plan to be retained. Protective barriers or tree wells shall be installed around each plant and/or group of plants that is to remain on the site. Barriers shall not be supported by the plants they are protecting, but shall be self supporting. They shall be a minimum of four feet high and constructed of a durable material that will last until construction is completed. Snow fences and silt fences are examples of acceptable barriers.

Slope plantings. Landscaping of all cuts and fills and/or terraces shall be sufficient to prevent erosion, and all roadway slopes steeper than one foot vertically to three feet horizontally shall be planted with ground cover appropriate for the purpose and the soil conditions, water availability and environment.

Additional landscaping. In high-density residential developments, besides the screening and street trees required, additional plantings or landscaping elements may be required where necessary for privacy, or other reasons in accordance with the landscape plan approved by the Planning Commission and taking into consideration cost restraints. In nonresidential developments, all areas of the site not occupied by buildings and required improvements shall be landscaped by the planting of grass or other ground cover, shrubs, and trees as part of the landscape plan approved by the Planning Commission.

Planting specifications. Deciduous trees shall have at least a two-inch caliper at planting. The size of evergreens and shrubs shall be allowed to vary depending on setting and type of shrub. Only nursery-grown plant materials shall be acceptable, and all trees, shrubs, and ground covers shall be planted according to accepted horticultural standards. Dead and dying plants shall be removed from the site within 30 days of notification by the Zoning Administrator and shall be replaced by the developer during the following planting season.

Plant species. The plant species selected should be hardy for this climactic zone and growing season and appropriate in terms of function and size.

Location. Shade trees shall be installed in accordance with the approved landscape plan. Trees shall be either massed or spaced evenly as design and/or topographic considerations may determine.

Tree type. Tree type may vary depending on overall effect desired, but as a general rule, all trees on a street shall be the same kind except to achieve special effects. Selection of tree type shall be approved by the Planning Commission.

Planting specifications. All trees shall have a caliper of two inches and be nursery grown, of substantially uniform size and shape, and have straight trunks. Trees shall be properly planted and staked and provision made by the applicant for regular watering and maintenance until they are established. Dead and dying trees shall be removed from the site within 30 days of notification by the Zoning Administrator and shall be replaced by the applicant during the next planting season.

Function and materials. Buffering shall provide a year-round visual screen in order to minimize adverse impacts. It may consist of fencing, evergreens, berms, rocks, boulders, mounds, or combinations thereof to achieve the same objectives.

When required. Every development shall provide sufficient buffering when topographical or other barriers do not provide reasonable screening and when the Planning Commission determines that there is a need (1) to shield neighboring properties from any adverse external effects of a development; or (2) to shield the development from negative impacts of adjacent uses such as streets or railroads. In high-density residential developments, when building design and siting do not provide privacy, the Planning Commission may require landscaping, fences, or walls to screen dwelling units for privacy. Buffers shall be measured from side and rear property lines, excluding driveways.

Amount required.

Design. Arrangement of plantings in buffers shall provide maximum protection to adjacent properties and avoid damage to existing plant material. Possible arrangements include planting in parallel, serpentine, and broken rows. If planted berms are used, the minimum top width shall be four feet, and the maximum side slope shall be 2:1.

Planting specifications. Plant materials should be sufficiently large and planted in such a fashion that a year-round screen at least eight feet in height shall be produced within one growing season. All plantings shall be installed according to accepted horticultural standards.

Maintenance. Plantings shall be watered regularly and in a manner appropriate for the specific plant species through the first growing season, and dead and dying plants shall be removed within 30 days of notification by the Zoning Administrator and shall be replaced by the property owner during the next planting season. No buildings, structures, storage of materials, or parking shall be permitted within the buffer area; buffer areas shall be maintained and kept free of all debris, rubbish, weeds, and tall grass.

Amount. In parking lots the interior parking area shall be landscaped with plantings of one tree for each 10 parking spaces. Parking lot street frontage screening and perimeter screening shall be a minimum of five feet wide. Planting required within the parking is exclusive of other planting requirements, such as shade trees planted along the street.

Location. The landscaping should be located in protected areas, such as along walkways, in center islands, at the end of bays, or between parking stalls. All landscaping in parking areas and on street frontage shall be placed so that it will not obstruct sight distance.

Plant type. A mixture of hardy flowering and/or decorative evergreen and deciduous trees may be planted. The evergreens should be used along the perimeter of the lot for screening, and the deciduous trees for shade within the lot. The area between the trees shall be mulched, planted with shrubs or ground cover, or covered with paving materials. Any area that will extend under the overhang of vehicles shall be mulched or covered with paving material.

The design and choice of paving materials used in pedestrian areas shall consider such factors as function, climate, characteristics of users, availability, cost, maintenance, glare, drainage, noise, appearance, and compatibility with surroundings.

Acceptable materials shall include, but are not limited to, concrete, brick, cement pavers, asphalt, and stone.

Walls and fences shall be erected where required for buffering, privacy, screening, separation, security, erosion control, or to serve other necessary and reasonable functions.

The design and materials used shall be functional and compatible with existing and proposed site architecture.

No fence or wall shall be constructed or installed so as to constitute a hazard to traffic or safety.

Walls and/or fencing required by this article as a buffer shall be maintained for the life of the structure or the land use. The owner of the property upon which the wall or fence is erected shall be responsible for perpetual maintenance and replacement of such structure.

Street furniture, such as, but not limited to, trash receptacles, benches, and phone booths, shall be located and sized in accordance with function.

The different street furniture components shall be compatible in form, material and finish. Design and materials shall be coordinated with existing and proposed site architecture. Selection of street furniture shall take into consideration function, durability, maintenance, and long-term maintenance and replacement cost.

All required landscaping shall be installed prior to the issuance of a permanent certificate of occupancy.

There shall be a minimum street frontage planting strip of five feet in width across the entire lot frontage. This may be a combination of shrubs, trees, grass, and varied landscaping elements. There shall be a minimum of one medium-sized shade tree required per each 40 feet of lot frontage. All shade trees shall be a minimum of two-inch caliper at time of planting.

Existing trees preserved on the site may be used to satisfy the requirements for landscaping. Any tree used to meet the requirements of this article must be at least three-inch caliper, in healthy condition, and be protected from construction activity.

The owner of the property upon which the required landscaping or buffering is installed shall be responsible for perpetual maintenance and replacement. If any required tree, shrub, or other landscaping element shall die or be removed after issuance of the certificate of occupancy, the developer, his or her successors or assigns, shall replace each by the end of the next planting season with trees or shrubs of like character.

Species of trees shall not be planted if the roots cause damage to public works, the branches are subject to high incidence of breakage, and the fruit is considered a nuisance or high maintenance as determined by the Director of Public Works.

Landscaping shall not obstruct the view of motorists using any street, private driveway, parking aisles, or the approach to any street intersection so as to constitute a traffic hazard or a condition dangerous to the public safety. Whenever the enforcement of the provisions of this article may be deemed a traffic hazard, the Zoning Administrator may waive any or all requirements.

Street and shade trees: Green Ash, Red Maple, Norway Maple, Sugar Maple, Red Oak, Willow Oak, Japanese Pagoda Tree, Silver Linden, Zelkova, Yellowwood, Bald Cypress.

Ornamental or flowering trees: Amur Maple, Dogwood (Kousa), Washington Hawthorn, Plum, Serviceberry, Redbud, Callery Pear, Crepe Myrtle, Gingko Tree, Crab Apple.

Evergreen or flowering shrubs: English Yew, Japanese Yew, Azalea, Chinese Holly, Rhododendren, Abelia, Cotoneaster, Forsythia, Viburnum, Winged Euonymus, Flowering Quince, Shadbow.

Buffering/Screening: Austrian Pine, Norway Spruce, American Holly, Arborvitae, Foster Holly, White Pine.