(A)

The purpose of these landscape requirements is to create an attractive environment which lends itself to the quality of life in the City of Montrose. It is contemplated that these requirements will result, over time, in the enhanced beauty of the City environment, the visual relief from large expanses of off-street paving in commercial and industrial areas, and the promotion of quality development which contributes to the image of the overall community. To this end, well-designed and maintained landscaping is strongly encouraged in all developments, and the requirements set forth below should be regarded only as minimum requirements toward establishing these objectives.

(1)

All landscape areas shall consist of at least 80 percent living plant material, unless otherwise approved as part of the overall site development plan. Living plant material shall be projected to maturity in determining area coverage (or seasonal peak growth for flowers).

(2)

Non-plant material such as rock or wood chips, may be used to cover up to 20 percent of the landscape area, unless otherwise approved as part of the overall site development plan.

(3)

Newly installed landscape parcels in excess of 800 square feet shall include a properly designed and functioning automatic irrigation system providing full coverage to all plant material. All landscape areas not requiring an irrigation system shall be within close proximity of an adequate water supply. It is recommended that plants with similar water requirements be grouped together, and mulches are suggested for all planting beds due to the highly inorganic nature of the soils in this area. Steep grades shall be minimized and erosion shall be prevented in all circumstances.

(4)

To the extent necessary to establish suitable planting beds, the soil should be properly tilled and prepared prior to installation of the landscaping.

(B)

The following requirements shall apply in determining landscape areas:

(1)

For all lots, a minimum of 25 percent of the linear frontage of the developed site abutting public rights-of-way, excluding alleys, unexcavated streets and rights-of-way not currently used for public travel, shall be landscaped to a depth of no less than 15 feet, unless the City approves an alternative plan as presenting a more effective landscape view. For example, alternative designs such as the use of planters shall be considered. Such frontage landscape areas shall be utilized in calculating the minimum area requirements set forth in Subsection (B)(2) of this Section.

(2)

Inclusive of the above frontage requirement, landscaping shall meet the following minimum area requirements. These percentages represent the overall minimum space requirements for landscaping:

(a)

For lots in Residential Zoning Districts, a minimum of 15 percent of the entire lot size not covered by buildings shall be landscaped.

(b)

For lots in Commercial Zoning Districts, a minimum of eight percent of the entire lot size not covered by buildings shall be landscaped.

(c)

For lots in Industrial Zoning Districts, a minimum of four percent of the entire lot size not covered by buildings shall be landscaped.

(3)

In all landscape areas, the plant materials shall not conflict with existing or proposed public utilities. For example, deep root species shall be avoided in places with underground utilities.

(4)

In parking lot areas with more than a single driveway aisle, landscape islands shall be provided. These islands shall collectively comprise no less than six percent of the interior area of the entire parking lot area, and shall each be large enough to accommodate a mature tree, and no less than six feet in its longest base dimension.

(a)

Parking lot islands shall be dispersed so to provide visual relief from large expanses of pavement and adequate tree shading.

(b)

Each island shall include at least one tree, and shall be subject to the 80 percent ground coverage requirement set forth in Subsection (A)(1) of this Section unless otherwise approved as part of the overall site development plan.

(c)

Parking lot islands shall be constructed with concrete curbing adequate to provide protection to the landscape area, and shall be constructed and located in such manner as to not obstruct visibility of intersecting driveway aisles, maneuvering areas, entrances and exits, and pedestrian areas.

(C)

Each landscape area shall include a variety of plant types which are regarded as suitable for this climate. Creative and attractive design is encouraged. Additionally, the following minimum quantities of trees and shrubs shall be required for all site developments:

(1)

On all frontage property subject to the 25 percent requirement set forth in Subsection (B)(1) of this Section, one tree shall be planted for every 30 linear feet of frontage, subject to the visibility requirements in Subsection (E) of this Section.

(2)

No less than one tree and three shrubs shall be required for every 800 square feet of the entire landscape area. This requirement represents an overall minimum tree requirement, and shall be inclusive of trees planted in frontage areas pursuant to Subsection (C)(1) of this Section and trees planted in parking lot islands pursuant to Subsection B (4) of this Section.

(3)

On and after January 1, 2026, no site development under this Chapter shall permit the installation, planting, or placing of any nonfunctional turf, artificial turf, or invasive plant species as a public or private improvement within the site development, except as permitted by C.R.S. § 37-99-101 et seq.

(D)

For properties with existing landscaping prior to development or modification, the existing landscaping, to the extent that it conforms with these Site Development Standards, shall be accounted in determining whether the above spatial requirements and minimum tree and shrub requirements are satisfied.

(E)

In areas critical to pedestrian and vehicular traffic, shrubs and other plants must be installed and maintained to provide clear visibility. On-site comers abutting intersecting roadways, all landscaping shall be limited to natural turf, ground cover or shrubs below 30 inches above the level of the roadway for a distance of at least 25 feet along each side of the comer, or 50 feet along arterial or collector streets. Landscaping near entries intersecting roadways shall also be subject to this same restriction.

(F)

Use of the Right-of-Way for Landscaping.

(1)

The owner of the abutting property is encouraged to landscape those portions of abutting street right-of-way not being used for street, sidewalk, bike path or other public purposes.

(2)

Existing landscaping, including ground cover, turf, trees, and shrubs may not be removed unless such removal is approved by the City.

(3)

The use of irrigated ground cover, turf, flowering plants, shrubs and trees is encouraged. Xeriscape landscaping making substantial use of low water-consumptive plant species and non-plant materials such as decorative rock is permissible, subject to Subsection (H) below and the following condition:

(a)

At least ten percent of the xeriscape area is covered with living plant material, and the xeriscape area is planned and constructed in such a manner as to enhance compatibility with other abutting landscaped areas.

(G)

The property owner of record, or homeowner's association where applicable, shall be ultimately responsible for landscape maintenance. All landscape shall be continuously maintained including necessary watering, weed removal, litter removal, pruning, pest control and replacement of dead or diseased plant material. Replacement or dead or diseased plant material shall be of the same type of plant material as set forth in the approved landscape plan (i.e., a tree must be replaced with a tree), and all replacement must occur with due diligence, but in no event shall it occur in more time than one year.

(H)

The following Materials Standards shall be required:

(1)

All plant materials shall be acclimated and selected for their adaptability to local conditions.

(2)

The minimum size and characteristics of plant materials at the time of planting shall be as follows:

(a)

Deciduous trees: One and one-half-inch caliper, measured six inches above ground.

(b)

Coniferous trees: Six feet in height.

(c)

Deciduous and evergreen shrubs: Five-gallon size.

(d)

Ground covers and vines: One-gallon size; except for junipers and other shrub-like ground covers, which shall be five-gallon.

(3)

All plant materials must meet specifications of the American Association of Nurserymen (AAN) for number one grade. The AAN Standards are on file with the City, and available for review.

Landscaping in public right-of-way must comply with the City's approved ROW plant list; all other landscaping must be appropriate to the region with no invasive plant species.

(I)

In instances where non-plant materials are to be used in landscape areas by City approval, underlying weed barriers (geotextile fabric) shall be applied. The following requirements shall also apply:

(1)

If rock or stone is being applied, it must be one to three inches in size, and applied to a minimum of three inches in depth. If redwood bark or woodchips are being applied, the depth must be at least three inches.

(2)

All landscape timbers or railroad ties must be new, unless specified otherwise by the City, and must be pressure-impregnated with a wood preservative meeting federal standards.

(3)

The applicability of any specific deviation in spatial requirements and plant material quantities shall be evaluated on its own unique site-specific condition and in reference to the design and content of the overall site development plan, the relationship of adjacent land uses and overall landscape architectural character of the surrounding area.

(J)

All landscape installation shall be done in accordance with Section 4-6-8 of the Montrose Regulations Manual.

(Ord. No. 2677, § 1(exh. A), 12-17-2024)