The requirements set forth in this chapter for Open Space and Landscaping shall apply to any development or redevelopment within the City of Norwalk, Iowa, by zoning district as listed within this chapter.

It shall be recognized that the extensive use and excessive congestion of land is detrimental to the general health and welfare of the community. Therefore, the intent of this chapter shall be to require open space which is necessary to provide adequate light and air and the desired qualities and beauty that landscaping provides the City.

The following open space requirements shall be adhered to for any development within the City of Norwalk:

   1.   Each principal structure of an apartment or office complex shall be separated from any other principal structure in the complex by an open space of not less than fifteen (15) feet in width except as required in Subsection 2 of this section.

   2.   Where door and windows in the exterior walls of a living unit face a wall of the same building and/or a wall of another building in the same apartment complex site, there shall be provided a minimum open space of not less than thirty (30) feet. Said distance to be measured on a line projected at right angles at the opening, from the wall containing the opening to the opposite wall.

   3.   Cantilevers and uncovered decks may project from the building wall into the required open space, provided an uncovered deck shall not cover more than 50% of the open space within the front yard. Open stairways may project from the building wall into the required open space not more than seven and one-half (7-1/2) feet. Stairways when located in the required open space shall be cantilevered or supported by the necessary columns only; support by a wall other than the exterior building wall is strictly prohibited.

   4.   On each lot there shall be provided an open space equal to at least the following percentage of the total lot area for each zoning district listed. Said open space shall be unencumbered with any structure, or off-street parking or roadways, ingress-egress access drives and shall be landscaped and well maintained with grass, trees and shrubbery, except for areas used for pedestrian walks, courtyards or plazas.

 

 

   5.   Any existing use in the C-4 Old Town Business District shall be exempt from this chapter; however, all redevelopment or new development in the C-4 District shall be subject to compliance.

Any development in the City of Norwalk, except single-family detached residences, shall provide the following minimum number and size of landscape planting based on the minimum required open space for the development. Lots with single-family detached residences shall have one tree of a minimum 8-foot height for deciduous or 6-foot height for evergreen for each five thousand (5,000) square feet of lot area, or portion thereof. The following is the minimum requirement of trees and shrubs, by number and size, and type of ground cover. Street trees planted in public street right-of-way shall not be counted toward fulfillment of the minimum site requirements set forth below. Plant species to be used for landscaping shall be acceptable to the City and not considered a nuisance or undesirable species, such as trees with thorns, cottonwood or cotton-bearing poplars, elm trees prone to Dutch elm disease, box elder, and silver maple. Existing trees and shrubs to be retained on site may be counted toward fulfillment of the landscaping requirements.

   1.   Minimum tree requirements at the time of planting for any development, except single-family detached residences - two (2) trees or one (1) tree of the following size per 1,500 square feet of open space, whichever is greater:

      40 Percent minimum   2" - 2-1/2" caliper diameter deciduous and/or 8-foot height or greater evergreen.

      Balance   8-foot height deciduous and/or 6-foot height evergreen.

   2.   Minimum shrub requirements at the time of planting for any development, except single-family detached residences - 6 shrubs, or 1 shrub per 1,000 square feet of open space, whichever is greater. Shrubs shall be a minimum of 18" height or minimum one (1) gallon potted.

   3.   To reduce erosion, all disturbed open space areas shall have ground cover of grass or native vegetation which is installed as sod, or seeded, fertilized and mulched.   However, all single-family residential lots shall be sodded from the front of the front yard building setback to the street pavement.