Newtown City Zoning Code
§ B70-7.09
Landscape requirements.
Site development in all zones shall preserve major trees and existing landscape features wherever possible, and provide intensive replanting of all disturbed areas to control erosion, to moderate climatic extremes, and to preserve the rural residential quality of the community.
A.
Landscaping: The many mature trees in the Village District are to be maintained to the extent possible consistent with a high quality overall design for the site.
(1)
Landscape plans are required for all applications. Plans shall provide the following information:
(2)
Plants should be selected with consideration of location and overall effect upon neighboring properties and streetscape. Provide the plants common and scientific names, size of plant ball or caliber, plant height at installation and height at maturity, form, growth habit and expected life span, plants disease and pest resistance and where near road or driveways, the salt resistance. Invasive plants are not permitted. Plants listed on University of Connecticut's invasive plants list are not permitted.
(3)
All non-residential lots abutting residentially zoned property shall maintain an effective planted buffer of at least 50 feet in depth along the common boundary with such residentially zoned property in accordance with Section 2.16.B, provided, however, that in the event that any such abutting residentially zoned property is devoted to a use that would require a special exception pursuant to these Regulations, and a fifty-foot buffer is not reasonably necessary to protect such special exception use from the proposed activity on such non-residential lot, then the Commission shall have the authority to approve a planted buffer less than 50 feet in depth. The planted buffer requires sufficient depth and density of planted and natural growth to form an effective buffer, and may require supplemental planting as determined necessary by the Commission.
B.
Types of landscape treatment:
(1)
Details of the proposed planting shall be shown on the required site plan, including location, specie, initial and mature size, density, and spacing of all plantings and other significant landscape features.
(2)
Various types of landscape material required are:
(a)
Shade trees; for purpose of summer shade for roads, parking, buildings and activity areas. Requires hardy deciduous trees, minimum two-inch caliper 12 inches above ground, with shade tolerant ground cover (ground cover plants, low shrubbery, grass or mulch) in adjacent ground area.
(b)
Slope plantings: for purpose of stabilizing cut banks and controlling erosion. Requires hardy shrubs, erosion-resistant plants and vines, terracing, stabilized rock cuts or retaining walls wherever slope would exceed 1.0:1.5 (vertical: horizontal), rip-rap or stabilizing planting along created drainage channels.
(c)
Open Landscaping: for purpose of site aesthetics, building enhancement, recreation. Requires perennial grass or ground cover, suitable shrubs, trees or ornamental plantings, regularly maintained for attractive appearance.
(d)
Screening: for purpose of visual concealment of specific areas (such as parking and commercial areas). Requires dense evergreen hedge in double offset rows, of hardy type with full growth at ground level and at least eight feet in height. May also require supplementary fences or masonry walls, or both, as determined necessary by the Commission.
(e)
Natural Buffer: for purpose of interrupting light, sound and visibility between incompatible uses through retention of natural woods and dense undergrowth. Requires sufficient depth and density of natural growth for effective buffer, and may require supplemental planting as determined necessary by Commission.
C.
Required landscaped areas - minimum type required.
Location | Type | |
|---|---|---|
Surrounding parking lots and non-residential uses (including buildings, storage and all activity areas) in Residential Zones. | Screening, planted buffer, or effective natural buffer. | |
Parking lot islands, and adjacent to paved parking in all Zones. | Shade trees at average spacing of 30 to 40 feet plus landscaping or natural buffer. | |
Bank slopes within and adjacent to developed areas in all Zones. | Slope Plantings | |
Roadsides, in all non-residential zones. | Shade trees at average spacing of 30 to 40 feet plus appropriate open landscaping or natural buffer. | |
Adjacent to Residential Zone Boundary lines, in all non-residential zones. | Screening or effective natural buffer, or planted buffer or the combination. | |
Front, side and rear yards, wherever roadways or available for Planting, in all Zones. | Open landscaping, natural buffer, or visible combination of both. |
D.
Suitability of plantings.
(1)
Plantings chosen must be well suited to environmental conditions, properly installed and located to serve intended purposes (see Sections 7.09A and 7.09B).
(2)
Placement of plantings shall not interfere with safe visibility at road intersections or exit driveways, nor cast dense winter shadows on potentially icy roadways.
E.
Maintenance.
(1)
The owner of the site shall be responsible for proper maintenance of all plantings and other installed landscaped features as shown on the approved site plan, and for replacement of such in event of its non-thriving, demise or destruction.
(2)
The Commission may require a performance bond, to remain in effect at least three years, to assure the proper survival or replacement of plantings and landscaping shown on the approved site plan.
F.
Street trees. Trees for the purpose of planting under power lines, adjacent to public roads, and within 25 feet of buildings. Street trees must grow no more than 30 feet at maturity, must be noninvasive and must not be on the Connecticut Banned Plant List (UCONN). Street trees that are selected must thrive in the following conditions:
[Added 12-10-2014, effective 12-22-2014]
(1)
Minimal amounts of water, road, deicing salts, restricted root zones, soil compaction, high soil alkalinity to leaching from cement, low soil fertility, poor soil structure, pollution and toxins, winds created by clusters of buildings, radiated heat and light, and people pressure.