The objective of this chapter is to improve the appearance of setback and yard areas, including off street vehicular parking and open lot sales and service areas in the city and to protect and preserve the appearance, character, and value of the surrounding neighborhoods and thereby promote the general welfare by providing for installation and maintenance of landscaping for screening and aesthetic qualities. (Ord. 07-30 § 2)

This chapter applies to all land uses and zone districts in the city unless specifically exempted. (Ord. 13-03)

   A.   Installation Of Landscape And Related Improvements; Landscape and related improvements required by this chapter shall be installed if:

      1.   A conditional use permit is required; or

      2.   A site plan review is required; or

      3.   The cost of construction or remodeling exceeds fifty percent (50%) of the market value of the structure.

         a.   Market value of a structure shall be determined according to the most recent county property tax rolls, or at the applicant’s option and sole expense, by an appraisal from a state certified general appraiser, as defined in Utah Code Annotated title 61, chapter 2g.

         b.   Façade Exemption: For facade improvements or remodeling that involves exterior changes only, the requirement for installation of landscaping and related improvements does not apply.

   B.   Landscape Plan Required; Exemptions:

      1.   Conditional Use Permit And/Or Site Plan Review: In association with a conditional use application and/or site plan review, the applicant shall submit a formal landscape plan (per phase if the project is multiphased) as indicated on the appropriate application. The plans must be submitted with the site plan, and must include or show:

         a.   The project name, exact street address, by whom the plan was prepared, the name and phone number of a contact person (architect, landscape architect, builder, etc.), and the date of the plan;

         b.   “North” direction indicator, the scale of the drawing, all existing and proposed building outlines, sidewalks, curbs, mow strips, driveways, parking areas, fences, utility power poles, and property lines, with adjacent streets accurately named;

         c.   Specific locations of existing and proposed evergreen trees, including all existing evergreen trees which are scheduled for removal;

         d.   Specific locations of existing and proposed shade, ornamental, and/or fruit trees, including all existing trees of these types which are scheduled for removal;

         e.   All areas to be planted in shrubs;

         f.   All areas to be planted as flowerbeds and/or with living ground cover plants;

         g.   All areas to be planted in sod, with any berming to also be indicated;

         h.   All areas to be treated with nonliving landscape materials (paving, boulders, cobblestones, bark, etc.).

      2.   Building Permit Application: In association with a building permit application, the applicant shall submit a formal landscape plan prepared and sealed by a Utah registered landscape architect (per phase if the project is multiphased) for review and approval by community and economic development division staff. Plans for office conversions or new buildings of four thousand (4,000) square feet or less do not require a signature by a registered landscape architect. The formal landscape plan must include or show:

         a.   Complete identification of the project name, exact street address, the name and phone number of the architect, landscape architect, or other contact person, and a date the plan was prepared;

         b.   “North” direction indicator, the scale of the drawing, all existing and proposed buildings, walls, sidewalks, curbs, mow strips, driveways, and property lines, with adjacent streets accurately named;

         c.   All nonconcrete retaining walls or bumper strips associated with landscaping, including the type and dimensions of materials to be used;

         d.   The location of each existing and proposed tree and each shrub clearly identified, with indication by name or code of what species of plant each location represents. Shrub plantings must also indicate the spacing at which the plant will be initially installed;

         e.   All areas to be planted in sod. Berms are permitted in lawn areas but shall not exceed thirty six inches (36") in height including vegetation;

         f.   All flowerbed/living ground cover areas, with perennial plant species that are to be used indicated by name or code. Perennial ground cover plantings must also indicate the spacing at which the plants will be initially installed;

         g.   The locations of boulders, bark, wood chips, or any other nonliving ornamental ground covers, with a designation of the number (boulders), sizes, and depth of cover (bark, etc.), and indication of the underlying layer of a landscape fabric that allows maximum air and water penetration while providing a weed control barrier;

         h.   A summary table (planting index or plant materials schedule), listing botanical and common species names, associated coding (if used), quantity of each species, sizes of plants intended to be used (height and caliper for broad leaf trees, height for evergreen trees, spread for shrubs), and size/type of root ball or container as well as the percentage of landscaping for the site and interior lots at the time of planting and at maturity;

         i.   The percentage of landscape proposed for the site and interior lot(s);

         j.   A copy of an automatic sprinkler system design layout, showing location and type of heads (impact, rotor, spray, drip emitter, spaghetti tubing, bubbler, etc.), location and diameter of lines, pipe schedules to be used, location of water source(s) to be used, and location of electric timer unit(s).

      3.   Exemptions: A landscape plan is not required to be submitted in association with the following city approvals:

         a.   A building permit for interior remodeling which does not involve a change of use from residential to nonresidential or a change of use from a single-family dwelling to either a two-family dwelling or a multi-family dwelling.

         b.   A permit for the following activities: reroofing, siding, temporary electrical power, change of electrical service, change of furnace, mobile home setup, addition of interior plumbing, addition of interior electrical, fencing, on premises sign, and off premises sign.

         c.   A license to encroach upon public utility easement.

         d.   A development project where the existing vegetation to be retained meets or exceeds the requirements of this chapter.

         e.   A development project where the existing vegetation to be retained meets or exceeds the requirements of this chapter.

   C.   Formal Landscape Plan: Any formal landscape plan which has been approved by the city must be strictly adhered to. Any proposed alterations in the approved plan, due to problems of species availability, plant size availability, or other circumstances, must be reviewed and approved by community and economic development division staff prior to implementation. Approved alterations must be shown on a revised copy of the formal landscape plan which must be received by the city before a final inspection of the project will be performed.

   D.   Improvements: When an area is required to be landscaped under the terms of this chapter, the requirement shall be met by the installation and maintenance of improvements as set forth below:

      1.   The installation of a permanent irrigation system as approved by the city, to ensure adequate coverage (80 percent efficient) of water to the landscape plants.

      2.   Plant materials shall be selected from those species and varieties known to thrive in the Murray City area and shall adhere to the landscape design approved by the city.

      3.   Water conserving landscape designs shall be used. All landscaping must be irrigated and planted with substantial live plant material and/or appropriate xeriscaping for the purpose of buffering, screening and beautifying the site, and shall comply with applicable landscape requirements found in this chapter.

      4.   Evergreen trees are prohibited except in areas at least twenty five feet (25') wide. Other types of trees shall have a minimum caliper (measured at 12 inches above the soil surface of the plant’s root ball) of two inches (2") and shall not require a support stake to remain upright. If the trees are container grown, the container shall be a minimum volume of twenty (20) gallons, but more importantly shall be appropriate to the size of tree to have avoided the plant being root bound. Shrubs shall be a mix of one gallon and five (5) gallon containers, and shall be spaced as designated on the approved landscape plan. All plant materials used shall be in a healthy condition at the time of installation, free from mechanical injuries, insects, or disease. Wire or nonbiodegradable root ball containers around root balls shall be removed prior to backfilling planting holes on all plants supplied with such containers.

      5.   Required landscaping must be properly maintained and watered by an adequate irrigation system which includes backflow prevention, a rain shutoff device and identification of all irrigation equipment and be approved by community and economic development division staff. Landscape planters within parking areas shall be irrigated with drip emitter or bubbler type irrigation systems only. (Ord. 25-29 § 2: Ord. 15-20: Ord. 14-01: Ord. 13-03)

The following standards apply to all commercial, industrial, mixed-use and multifamily developments.

   A.   Perimeter:

      1.   Front Setback Areas:

         a.   Landscaping in these areas shall consist of three (3) trees, and five (5) 5-gallon and ten (10) 1-gallon shrubs per one hundred (100) linear feet of frontage. The trees and shrubs shall either be clustered or spread out at regular intervals. The remaining area shall be planted with living ground cover in order for the front setback area to meet a minimum fifty percent (50%) of landscape bed coverage at maturity. Landscaping shall consist of a water efficient design with watering zones having plants and similar water needs. All unpaved areas not utilized for parking or access shall be landscaped in a similar manner,

         b.   The entire area between the curb and the building or parking setback line shall be landscaped and irrigated, except for any access driveway in said area,

         c.   In no case shall the front landscaped area be less than ten feet (10') behind the back side of sidewalk or street right of way line, except in the TOD, CC-FBC, MCMU, CMU, and VMU districts,

         d.   All commercial, manufacturing and multi-family residential development fronting public or private streets shall plant trees in conformance with species and spacing specified in the applicable streetscape plan,

         e.   Where a park strip is provided, the park strip shall be planted with low growth which may include ground cover and shrubs not exceeding three feet (3') in height, and/or high branching trees (branching shall begin not less than 6 feet above the soil surface). Park strip areas shall also meet the minimum landscape bed coverage of fifty percent (50%) at time of maturity.

         f.   Ground cover is required to provide fifty percent (50%) bed coverage at time of maturity. Coverage calculations shall be included in the formal landscaping plan. Ground cover includes grasses, shrubs and other low growing vegetation, but does not include turf grass/lawn or trees. Evergreen trees may be counted as ground cover if branches reach the ground.

      2.   Abutting Properties: Where multi-family residential, commercial or manufacturing uses abut legal conforming single-family residential or where commercial or manufacturing abut legal conforming multi-family residential uses, a masonry wall, measuring six feet (6') high plus a minimum ten foot (10') wide landscaped buffer consisting of trees and water efficient plant material as required by this section shall be placed between the property line and any paved area.

   B.   Interior:

      1.   Nonparking Areas: All unpaved areas not utilized for parking or storage, shall be landscaped utilizing drought tolerant ground cover, shrub and tree materials, and/or grass.

      2.   Parking Areas: For parking lots with fifty (50) or more parking stalls, the following standards apply:

      a.   Distance To Landscape Area: All parking spaces shall be within seventy five feet (75') of a landscape area. Parking islands may be used to meet this standard.

         b.   Parking Islands:

         (1)   Parking islands shall be a minimum of one hundred sixty two (162) square feet in area, not including the curbing required by subsection C of this section.

         (2)   Parking islands shall be at least nine feet (9') wide including the curbing required by subsection C of this section.

         (3)   One tree and four (4) shrubs shall be required for each parking island installed.

         c.   Ground Cover Required: Ground cover is required to have fifty percent (50%) coverage at time of maturity. Coverage calculations shall be included in the formal landscaping plan. Ground cover includes grasses, shrubs and other low growing vegetation but does not include trees. Evergreen trees may be counted as ground cover if branches reach the ground.

         d.   Trees; Required Size: Trees required for installation within interior parking areas shall be no less than two inch (2") caliper size at time of planting.

         e.   Trees; Location: Trees planted within interior landscape areas shall be located at least three feet (3') away from curb.

         f.   Shrubs; Size: Shrubs shall be no less in size than what is customarily accommodated within a one gallon size container, in accordance with industry standards.

   C.   Lawn Restrictions:

      1.   Turf grass/lawn shall not be installed in locations that are smaller than eight feet (8') in width.

      2.   Turf grass/lawn shall not be installed in park strips, paths or on slopes greater than 25% or a 4:1 grade.

      3.   Turf grass/lawn areas shall not exceed 20% of the total landscaped area, outside of active recreation areas.

   D.   Concrete Curbing:

      1.   Where required landscaping is located by driveways, parking areas, aisle space, docking areas or other similar usage in multiple-family, commercial and manufacturing districts, the landscaping must be enclosed by a six inch (6") poured concrete curb wall;

   E.   Accommodation Of Bus Benches And Shelters:

      1.   A bus bench or shelter may be placed in the landscape setback area required by this chapter if:

         a.   The bench or shelter does not violate the sight distance restrictions applicable to fences and similar structures applicable to the same property under chapter 17.64 of this title,

         b.   The remaining area of the landscape area complies with this chapter, such as the concrete curbing, planting and irrigation requirements, and

         c.   The proposed bench or shelter meets any other conditions the community development director deems appropriate;

      2.   This subsection D does not require a property owner or occupant to allow placement of a bench or shelter in the landscape setback;

      3.   This subsection D does not grant or confer upon any person any right to place a bus bench or shelter without permission of the property owner or occupant;

      4.   If the bench or shelter is permanently removed from a landscape setback area, the landscaping and related concrete curbing and irrigation shall be installed or restored as required by this chapter. (Ord. 25-29 § 2: Ord. 25-20 § 4: Ord. 14-01: Ord. 13-03)

Following approval of a proposed residential subdivision, the developer or applicant shall post a cash bond or letter of credit sufficient to cover the costs of acquiring and planting street trees in said subdivision. The amount of the security shall be determined by the city and shall be based upon a cost estimate provided by the developer and verified by the city based upon the then prevailing market price of quality tree stock and an estimate of the appropriate number of trees needed for said subdivision. The city will complete the planting of said trees and draw upon the security for payment thereof. (Ord. 13-03)

Turf grass/lawn shall not be installed in locations that are smaller than eight feet (8') n width at its narrowest point.

   A.   Turf grass/lawn shall not be installed in:

      1.   park strips, or

      2.   paths, or

      3.   on slopes greater than 25% or 4:1 grade.

   B.   Turf grass/lawn shall not exceed 35% of the total landscaped area in the front and side yards of new residential construction.

      1.   Small residential lots, which have no back yards, which the total landscaped area is less than 250 square feet, and which the front yard dimensions cannot accommodate the minimum eight feet (8') wide lawn area requirements, are exempt from the eight feet (8') minimum width lawn requirement and maximum of 35% lawn requirement.

   C.   Whenever a residential dwelling is constructed, landscaping shall be installed in the front yard within one year from the date of the occupancy of the building. Landscaped areas shall consist of an effective combination of materials which may include trees, ground cover, shrubbery and xeriscape. All unpaved areas not utilized for access or parking shall be landscaped in a similar manner. All landscaping shall be maintained in a neat and orderly fashion. (Ord. 25-29 § 2: Ord. 07-30 § 2)