Manassas City Zoning Code
ARTICLE VII
TREE CANOPY AND LANDSCAPING REQUIREMENTS7
Editor's note—Ord. No. O-2017-01, § 1, adopted August 22, 2016, amended Art. VII in its entirety to read as herein set out. Former Art. VII, §§ 130-216—130-219, pertained to tree canopy requirements, and derived from Ord. No. O-2002-22, § 34.1-122, adopted Feb. 11, 2002; Ord. No. O-2000-18, §§ 34.1-121—34.1-124, adopted March 27, 2000; Ord. No. O-2003-9, §§ 34.1-122, 34.1-124, adopted Dec. 9, 2002; Ord. No. O-2004-32, § 1, adopted March 22, 2004.
Sec. 130-216.- Tree canopy/tree cover requirements generally.
(a)
All site plans and subdivision plans shall include tree canopies as specified in section 130-217.
(b)
In addition to the requirements of this article, all tree canopy and landscaping shall be in conformance with the requirements of the DCSM. The required tree canopy/tree cover shall be provided based on the total area of the original parcel prior to subdivision or construction of any structures.
(Ord. No. O-2017-01, § 1, 8-22-2016)
Sec. 130-217. - Minimum tree canopy/tree cover requirements.
(a)
Minimum tree canopy/tree cover requirements shall be as follows:
(b)
For any cemetery included in any subdivision or development, a minimum of ten percent tree canopy shall be provided and to reach maturity no later than 20 years after the cemetery is approved.
(c)
Education facilities (primary or secondary), public and private playing fields, non-wooded public parks, and similar facilities are exempt from the requirements of this section.
(Ord. No. O-2017-01, § 1, 8-22-2016; Ord. No. O-2022-23, § 1, 7-25-2022)
Sec. 130-218. - Perimeter buffer and landscaping requirements.
(a)
When a parcel abuts a street and is located in a B-1, B-2, B-4, I-1, I-2, or I-A zoning districts, a landscaped buffer area shall be provided contiguous to any street right-of-way.
(1)
The buffer areas shall have a minimum width of 15 feet, measured perpendicular from the street right-of-way, except as required in section 130-218(2).
(2)
The buffer area shall have a minimum width of 20 feet where a utility easement is required, except for corner lots. The utility easement shall be contiguous to the street right-of-way and shall constitute the first ten feet of the buffer area.
(3)
For corner lots where a utility easement is required, the buffer area shall have a minimum width of 15 feet. The utility easement shall be contiguous to the street right-of-way and shall constitute the first ten feet of the buffer area.
(b)
Landscape buffers and/or screening abutting adjacent properties shall be required in accordance with the requirements of the zoning district.
(c)
There shall be no structures, off-street parking areas, or travelways within buffer areas except for structures for public utilities, driveways, or sidewalks providing perpendicular access to the lot from a street, and freestanding signs not to exceed ten feet in height.
(d)
Building foundation landscaping shall be provided in accordance with the requirements of the DCSM.
(e)
Parking lot landscaping. See Article VI.
(Ord. No. O-2017-01, § 1, 8-22-2016)