The landscaping and screening regulations provide additional guidance on developing sites within Oskaloosa by addressing landscaping and screening requirements. They are designed to improve the community's appearance, buffer potentially incompatible land uses from one another, and conserve the value of properties within the city.

(Ord. No. 1465, § 2(Att.), 9-11-2023)

A.

The provisions of this chapter shall apply to the following:

1.

On each lot or site for multi-unit residential, public, institutional, commercial, industrial, and miscellaneous uses.

2.

Where additionally specified in this chapter.

3.

Where standards in this zoning ordinance reference application of this chapter's landscaping, screening, or buffering standards.

B.

The standards of this chapter do not apply to the following:

1.

Reconstruction or replacement of a lawfully existing use or structure following a casualty loss.

2.

Remodeling, rehabilitation, or improvements to existing uses or structures which do not substantially change the location of structures, parking, or other site improvements.

3.

Additions or enlargements of existing uses or structures which increase floor area or impervious coverage area by less than twenty percent. Where such additions or enlargements are twenty percent or greater, these provisions shall apply only to that portion where the new development occurs.

a.

The landscaping and screening standards shall apply where cumulative increases amount to over twenty percent within a five-year period.

C.

The PZ commission, city council, or board of adjustment may require buffering and screening above or in addition to the requirements of this chapter during relevant application review when warranted based on evidence of adverse impacts on adjacent property or the public.

(Ord. No. 1465, § 2(Att.), 9-11-2023)

A.

Review Procedure.

1.

The provisions in this chapter shall be applied for each individual lot or site when an application for a building permit on such lot is made. A landscape plan shall be submitted with each application for a building permit. The zoning administrator shall review such plan for compliance with the provisions of this chapter.

B.

Landscaping Materials.

1.

Plantings used in required landscaped areas or bufferyards:

a.

Shall be appropriate for the conditions of the location, including sun and wind exposure, air quality, salt exposure, soil type, expected moisture content of soil, and slope.

b.

Shall not be an invasive or a potentially invasive species.

c.

Shall be, wherever possible, native, or naturalized to the Oskaloosa region.

d.

All plant materials shall conform in size, species, and spacing with this chapter.

e.

Dangerous or nuisance planting, as determined by the zoning administrator, shall be avoided.

2.

No artificial trees, shrubs, plants, or turf shall be used to fulfill the minimum requirements for landscaping. Inorganic materials, such as stone or decorative pavers, may be used provided that such material does not comprise more than thirty-five percent of the minimum required landscaped area. Other concrete and/or asphalt pavement surfaces may not be used within the minimum required landscaped area except for driveways and walkways.

C.

Installation Standards.

1.

In any landscaped area:

a.

No landscaping or screening installed shall obstruct the view from or to any driveway approach, street, alley, or sidewalk; be within any sight triangle definition; or be placed within any public utility easement.

b.

Plants shall be sited and spaced to allow for proper growth to mature size.

c.

No tree shall be planted under or within ten lateral feet of any overhead utility line unless the species can accommodate pruning or has a mature height that avoids interacting with utility lines.

2.

The zoning administrator or their designee shall review all earth berm locations to determine how the berms relate to drainage and public utilities.

3.

Landscaping shall be fully installed before issuing a permanent certificate of occupancy.

D.

Maintenance.

1.

Upon installation of required landscape materials, each owner shall take appropriate actions to ensure their continued health and maintenance. Required landscaping that does not remain healthy shall be replaced consistent with this chapter and the approved landscaping plan for the project.

E.

Measurements.

1.

When the computation of the required number of trees, shrubs, or other required materials results in a fraction of 0.5 or greater, the requirement shall be rounded up to the next whole number.

2.

Caliper is the measured diameter (inches) of the tree trunk taken six inches above the ground or top of the root ball up to and including four inch caliper size.

3.

Plants, as used in this chapter, shall meet the following minimum size at installation:

a.

Large tree: 2.0-inch caliper.

b.

Medium tree: 1.5-inch caliper.

c.

Evergreen/Coniferous tree: Six feet in height.

d.

Shrub or hedge: Three-gallon container.

e.

Ornamental grasses: One-gallon container.

F.

Types of Screening. The following types of screening methods may be used to satisfy screening requirements in this section unless specified otherwise.

(Ord. No. 1465, § 2(Att.), 9-11-2023)

A.

Existing trees shall be preserved to the greatest extent possible and when preserved shall be counted toward the satisfaction of landscaping standards. The following efforts shall be made to retain existing trees:

1.

Parking areas and building sites shall be located to the maximum extent practicable to preserve existing trees.

2.

Grates or other permeable materials or surfaces shall be used within the drip line (outermost limit of horizontal branch extension) of existing trees to allow water and air to reach the tree roots.

3.

Fill shall be prohibited in areas under the drip line of existing trees.

4.

Drastic changes in drainage patterns which might negatively affect existing trees shall be avoided.

B.

Any approved tree species planted or maintained with a caliper of three inches or above shall count as 1.5 trees toward the satisfaction of the requirements of this chapter. An approved existing tree with a caliper of eight inches or above preserved on a site shall count as two trees toward the satisfaction of this chapter's requirements.

(Ord. No. 1465, § 2(Att.), 9-11-2023)

A.

Unless otherwise noted, each unenclosed parking facility with a paved surface of six thousand square feet or more and all drive-through lanes shall comply with the following regulations.

1.

Each unenclosed parking facility shall provide a minimum landscaped buffer width of ten feet along any street property line with at least one medium or large tree or evergreen every forty linear feet of the property line along the buffer.

2.

Each parking facility that abuts a residential district shall provide a ten foot wide landscaped buffer along its common property line with the residential district that includes at least one medium or large tree or evergreen every forty linear feet of the property line along the buffer.

B.

Any parking facility, regardless of size, which abuts a residential district shall provide a solid fence, landscape screen, or earth berm not less than three feet in height for the length of the common boundary. A grade change, terrace, or other site feature which blocks the sight line of headlights into a residential property may satisfy this requirement, subject to the determination of the zoning administrator.

C.

Each unenclosed parking facility within any front or street yard shall provide an interior landscaped area equal to no less than five percent of the total paved area of the parking facility.

1.

Interior landscaped areas shall be at least located at the end of parking rows.

2.

An individual interior landscaped area shall not be smaller than forty square feet.

3.

No parking or loading area shall be more than one hundred feet from a tree located within a landscaped area.

4.

Interior landscaping shall be credited toward satisfying overall landscaping requirements set forth in this chapter.

5.

Parking facilities within the LI and GI districts shall be exempt from this requirement.

D.

Sidewalks that abut the front edge of any parking stall shall be no less than seven feet wide to accommodate a two foot vehicle overhang.

E.

Landscaping or screening installed in any required landscaped area shall not obstruct the view from the off-street parking facility to any driveway approach, street, alley, or sidewalk. Landscaping shall not obstruct any views among parking spaces, circulation ways, or visibility between vehicles and pedestrians.

(Ord. No. 1465, § 2(Att.), 9-11-2023)

Bufferyards are areas that include a variety of methods to screen the potential impacts of intensive uses, whereas the yards required in Chapter 17.05 Site Development Regulations are distance requirements.

A.

Bufferyard provisions. The owner, developer, or operator of the use within District A shall install and maintain a landscaped bufferyard on their lot or site, as set forth in this chapter. A bufferyard is different than a yard setback in that a bufferyard also requires vertical plantings, as described in this section.

1.

Bufferyards are required between zoning districts with a common lot line, as indicated in Table 17.08.A Bufferyard Requirements. Bufferyard requirements do not apply when a street separates adjacent zoning districts.

2.

Bufferyards are required for certain uses and circumstances as indicated in this zoning ordinance.

3.

Bufferyards are not required for single-unit, two-unit, zero-lot line, or townhouse use types in any district.

4.

Bufferyard distances are the same as the required setback, including when adjacent to R districts, which are listed in the development regulation tables in Chapter 17.05 Site Development Regulations.

B.

Bufferyard Planting Treatment.

1.

Each required bufferyard must be entirely landscaped and free of paved areas, access ways, storage, or other disturbances.

2.

At least one medium or large tree, one evergreen, and five shrubs or hedge plants shall be planted for every forty linear feet within the bufferyard.

3.

Bufferyard plantings may be located in small groupings to appear more natural or evenly spaced.

4.

Low impact development and similar stormwater management features are permitted in a required bufferyard.

C.

Screening Application. Screening is required when one or more of the following conditions in the more intensive zoning district in Table 17.08.A Bufferyard Requirements is directly visible from and faces toward the boundary of the less intensive zoning district, or for certain uses and circumstances listed in this zoning ordinance:

1.

Outdoor storage areas or storage tanks unless otherwise screened.

2.

Loading docks, refuse collection points, and other service areas.

3.

Major machinery or areas housing a manufacturing process.

4.

Major on-site traffic circulation areas or truck and/or trailer parking.

5.

Sources of glare, noise, or other environmental effects.

6.

Ground-mounted mechanical equipment, including, but not limited to, air-conditioning condensers, heat pumps, ventilation units, and computer cooling equipment.

7.

Bailing or stockpiling of cardboard or other shipping or packaging materials.

8.

Surface parking lots with one hundred or more stalls directly adjacent to less intensive districts.

D.

Screening Treatment.

1.

A six foot opaque barrier shall be provided which visually screens the conditions listed in Subsection 17.08.060.C Screening Application, or for certain uses and circumstances listed in this zoning ordinance, from less intensive uses as follows:

a.

A solid wood, PVC, and/or masonry fence or wall at least six feet in height.

b.

A landscaping screen using evergreen or deciduous materials capable of providing a substantially opaque, hedge-like barrier and attaining a minimum height of six feet within three years of planting.

c.

A landscaped earth berm with a maximum slope of three to one, rising no less than six feet above the existing grade of the lot line separating the zoning districts.

d.

Any combination of these methods that achieves a cumulative height of six feet.

2.

Screening shall not adversely affect surface water drainage.

3.

Screening may be interrupted to provide access drives to service areas, building loading purposes, or pedestrian and bicycle access. Such breaks or interruptions shall not exceed twenty percent of the length of the required screened area.

(Ord. No. 1465, § 2(Att.), 9-11-2023)

A.

A development may continue to comply with the bufferyard and screening requirements in effect at the time of issuance of its original permit, regardless of whether an adjacent lot or site is subsequently rezoned to a less intensive district which would otherwise require compliance with bufferyard or screening provisions.

B.

Perimeter parking lot landscaping is not required when the area being buffered is thirty inches or more below the street elevation.

C.

Bufferyard and screening requirements are not required when there is an elevation difference between two adjacent properties that is six feet or greater or the view between properties is otherwise blocked by natural features or built structures, not including those requiring screening application.

D.

Natural areas that separate adjacent properties shall be exempt from bufferyard and screening requirements.

E.

The PZ commission may approve reductions in bufferyard or screening requirements for infill development sites.

(Ord. No. 1465, § 2(Att.), 9-11-2023)