1. All area unencumbered by buildings, paving or hard-surfaced, shall be landscaped with turf grass, prairie grass plantings, plant beds, shrubs, and trees.  No mow and low maintenance grasses should not be utilized within the street rights-of-way, within parking lots, and within the front yard area of any site and should be restricted to low traffic and low visibility areas or larger areas within a site intended to be preserved and maintained as a more natural area.
2. Except for detached single-family residential properties, wood-based mulch shall be used around all plantings and in all plant beds. Large areas of wood mulch that do not contain plantings shall not be permitted except when used around play structures. Inorganic ground cover material, including rock, chip brick, and synthetic turf (unless part of a designated sport field or play surface), is prohibited except along building foundations, around drainage structures, and in other limited applications as may be deemed acceptable by the Zoning Administrator.

1. The following minimum open space plantings shall be required for all sites except for detached single family residential properties.

   One (1) deciduous shade tree, two (2) deciduous ornamental trees, and two (2) shrubs shall be planted for every 2,000 square feet of required open space.  However, the minimum required landscape for all sites shall be no less than one (1) deciduous shade tree, two (2) deciduous ornamental trees, and two (2) shrubs.  This landscaping is in addition to landscaping required for parking lot landscaping and open space plant materials shall not count towards the fulfillment of any other landscaping requirement.

1. Applicability. The following standards shall apply to all off-street parking and loading areas with five (5) or more parking stalls or with more than 1,500 square feet of paved area.  Off-street and loading area required plant materials shall not count towards the fulfillment of any other landscaping requirement.
2. Parking Lot Design.
   1. All rows of parking shall be terminated with a curbed landscaped island that is a minimum nine (9) feet wide and no less than 16 feet in length (32 feet in length for head-to-head parking stalls).
   2. No off-street parking or loading area shall be more than 75 feet from a deciduous shade tree located within a landscaped open space area.
   3. Sidewalks that abut the front edge of any parking stall shall be no less than seven (7) feet wide to accommodate a two (2) feet vehicle overhang.
3. Landscaping Required.  All parking lot islands shall be landscaped with a combination of turf grass, prairie grass plantings, plant beds, shrubs, and trees. Rock, chip brick, pavers, pavement and similar hard surfacing shall not be permitted within a parking lot island. Sidewalks may be constructed within a parking lot island as necessary to accommodate pedestrian circulation. No less than one (1) deciduous shade tree shall be planted within each required landscaped island.
4. Parking Lot Screening.  Whenever an off-street parking area fronts along a public street an average of one (1) deciduous shade tree and two (2) deciduous ornamental trees shall be planted every 50 feet within the parking lot setback area. Additionally, a minimum three (3) foot tall vehicle headlight screen shall be installed between the parking lot and the adjoining street. This screen can be constructed with any combination of prairie plantings, shrubs, ornamental grasses, earth berming, and low masonry walls.

1. Between any residentially zoned or developed property and any adjoining commercial, office, or industrial uses.
2. Between any single family detached residentially zoned or developed property and any multi-family residential use.
3. Between any commercial or office zoned or developed property and any industrial use.
4. Double Frontage Lots.  Any proposed detached single-family residential lot that has both its front and rear lines abutting a street shall have a buffer from the street along its rear yard.  No fences or structures shall be permitted within this buffer and the rear yard building setback shall be measured from the buffer yard line. 

1. In the case of a buffer required between two (2) undeveloped properties, the property with the more intensive zoning shall be burdened with the buffer requirements.
2. In the case of a buffer required between an undeveloped and a developed property, the property proposing the development shall be burdened with the buffer requirements.
3. In the case of a buffer required between a property proposed for redevelopment and a developed property, the property proposed for redevelopment shall be burdened with the buffer requirements.
4. Two properties may agree to transfer or share the burden of a required buffer.

1. All building and parking lot setbacks shall be measured from the closest edge any required buffer yard.
2. No structures or parking lots or loading areas may be permitted within a required buffer.  Fences, sidewalks, and trails may be permitted within a required buffer except that no fence may be constructed within a buffer that fronts along a street.
3. Buffer plantings should be in small groupings to appear more natural versus evenly spaced in a line. 
4. Earth berming required within a buffer may vary and undulate to accommodate drainage and to provide a more nature appearance.

1. 30-Foot Wide Buffer.
   1. Minimum Width: 30 feet.
   2. Landscape Requirements: For every 25 linear feet of required buffer a minimum of 1-overstory tree, 3-evergreen trees, and 6-shrubs shall be planted.
   3. Earth Berming: three (3) foot tall.
2. 60-Foot Wide Buffer.
   1. Minimum Width: 60 feet.
   2. Landscape Requirements: For every 25 linear feet of required buffer a minimum of 2-overstory trees, 5-evergreen trees, and 10-shrubs shall be planted.
   3. Earth Berming: three (3) foot tall.

All plants shall be of the type and species appropriate for the climate and location being planted. All plant material shall be commercially produced and meet the minimum standards recognized by landscape professionals.

To reduce the threat and impact of plant disease, multiple plant types and species shall be utilized on each site. 

No less than 40% of the plant material on an individual site shall be species native to Iowa.

Ornamental and prairie grass plantings must be appropriate in size, scale, quantity, and type for the location they are being placed so not to appear unkept or encroach walkways and driveways. 

The City declares that invasive nonnative species as listed by the most recent publication of the Iowa Department of Natural Resources' (IDNR's) list of invasive plant species are a public nuisance that degrades landscaped and natural areas. The City shall prohibit the planting of any nonnative invasive plant species in all public and private properties.

1. Ash (all species/cultivars)
2. Black Locust
3. Birch, White/Paper
4. Boxelder
5. Eastern Cottonwood (seedless varieties are permitted)
6. Elm (all species/cultivars except Accolade and Commendation)
7. Maple, Silver/Norway/Amur
8. Pear (all species/cultivars)
9. Poplar (all species/cultivars)
10. Russian and Autumn Olive
11. Trees with thorns

1. Deciduous Shade Trees - minimum 2.0-inch caliper, measured six (6) inches above the immediate ground level
2. Deciduous Ornament Trees - minimum 1.5-inch caliper, measured six (6) inches above the immediate ground level
3. Evergreen / Coniferous Tree - minimum 5-feet in height
4. Shrubs - minimum three (3) gallon container
5. Ornamental Grasses - minimum one (1) gallon container

1. In general, all plants shall be sited and spaced in a manner to allow for appropriate growth to mature size.
2. Trees shall be located no closer than six (6) feet to the back of curb along any street or driveway and no closer than four (4) feet to the edge of any parking lot, sidewalk or walkway.
3. Ornamental and prairie grasses with a mature height of over four (4) feet shall not be permitted within the front yard area of any residential property.
4. Landscaping must meet minimum clearances from all fire hydrants and building sprinkler systems as required by the fire department.
5. Deciduous shade trees should not be placed within any public sanitary sewer, storm sewer or watermain utility easement.
6. No landscaping shall be planted in violation of the City's street intersection vision clearance requirements.
7. A permit must be obtained prior to planting any street tree or landscape material in the public right-of-way and shall comply with all City clearance and setback requirements.

1. One (1) deciduous shade tree may be substituted in place of 10 required shrubs.
2. One (1) deciduous ornamental tree may be substituted in place of five (5) required shrubs.
3. One (1) evergreen/coniferous tree may be substituted in place of one (1) required deciduous shade tree.
4. One (1) deciduous shade tree may be substituted in place of two (2) required deciduous ornamental trees.  Deciduous ornamental trees may not be substituted for required deciduous shade trees.
5. Three (3) ornamental grasses may be substituted for one (1) required shrub.

The preservation of existing trees on a site is encouraged when they are in good condition and at least 2-inch caliper in size.  Such trees may be counted as part of the required number of trees on a site. 

A credit of two (2) trees toward the number trees shall be given for each existing tree on a site that is of the type of tree listed in the above sections which is over ten (10) inch caliper in size measured six (6) inches above the immediate ground level.  However, this credit may not be applied in reducing the number of required interior parking lot trees, unless the tree is located within the parking lot area.