(1) This Chapter is to:

(2) It is the intent of these requirements to:

(1) all new developments;

(2) any addition to an existing structure when the cost of the addition exceeds 50% of the current assessed valuation of the existing structure;

(3) any expansion of an MHP in which the number of new manufactured home lots exceeds 50% of the number of existing manufactured home lots;

(4) situations where this Chapter imposes a requirement for buffering or screening between two (2) uses, one of which is existing and the other new. The responsibility for satisfying this requirement rests entirely on the new use. (Ord. 25-08 §1 (Att. A), 2025; Ord. 03-33 §17, 2003; Ord. 87-9 §1, 1987).

(1) Parking areas with 20 or more spaces will have at least 10 percent of the total parking area landscaped. Parking areas with 100 or more spaces will have at least 25% of the required 10% to be landscaped located in the interior of the lot.

(2) No required planting areas will be less than 24 square feet in area, except for raised planter boxes around or in close proximity to buildings.

(3) When landscaping is required as described in subsection (1) of this section, then an average of at least one (1) tree will be planted for every 10 single row parking stalls or every 20 double row parking stalls within the parking area.

(4) Landscaping materials should consider the future size and spread, resistance to disease and pests, durability, adaptation to the current soil and climate, and the ability to grow with minimal watering.

(5) Landscaping in the interior of the parking area will be contained by a bumper rail or curb which is at least four (4) inches high.

(6) All off-street parking areas which include five (5) or more parking spaces and all loading berths will be screened from a contiguous residentially zoned lot or residential use. Screening will be in a wall, fence, or earth berm or slope at least four (4) feet in height and dense enough to shield from direct lighting, including automobile headlights. A Type I landscape strip as defined in PCC 17.45.080 may be substituted for such wall, fence, or berm.

(7) All off-street parking areas which include five (5) or more parking spaces and all loading berths will be screened from a residentially zoned lot or residential use that is located across a street from said parking area or loading berth. Screening will be in the form of a Type I landscape strip as described in PCC 17.45.080. Breaks or modifications in required screening may be permitted to provide vehicular or pedestrian access to a public right-of-way and to conform with the vision clearance area provisions defined in PCC 17.35.020(3). (Ord. 25-08 §1 (Att. A), 2025; Ord. 03-33 §18, 2003; Ord. 02-32 §6, 2002; Ord. 87-9 §1, 1987).

(1) When a nonresidential use except a park abuts a residentially zoned property or a residential use, the following screening provisions will apply to the nonresidential use:

(2) When a high-density residential zone (R3 or R4) abuts a low-density residential zone (R1 or R2), the following screening provisions will apply to any development in the R3 or R4 zone that requires site plan review in accordance with Chapter 17.135 PCC:

(3) When a fence is used as the screening device it will be composed of wood, vinyl, or other material approved by the Community Development Director. (Ord. 25-08 §1 (Att. A), 2025; Ord. 03-33 §20, 2003; Ord. 02-32 §7, 2002; Ord. 87-9 §1, 1987).

(1) Dumpsters and waste containers that are not in the public right-of-way must be screened on at least three (3) sides. This can be done with a building, hillside, sight-obscuring fence, or landscaping, or a combination of these. The side of the dumpster or container that faces a public street must also be one of the sides that is screened.

(2) Dumpsters and self-contained, liquid-tight, compacting solid waste containers within the public right-of-way will be screened on four (4) sides by a building, hillside, sight-obscuring fence, or sight-obscuring landscaping.

(3) Screening will not be required for dumpsters located on a temporary one-time basis to handle special circumstances such as construction projects and large-scale clean-up efforts.

(1) Definition. Significant trees are those trees which fall into the following categories:

(2) Retention. Significant trees will be retained to the maximum extent possible.

(c) Protection Techniques. To provide conditions likely to result in the retention of significant trees, the applicant will comply with the following requirements:

(i) The applicant will not excavate within the area defined by the drip line of any tree to be retained.

(ii) During the period of construction when a significant tree will be endangered, the applicant will erect a temporary but immovable four (4) foot high sturdy enclosure generally corresponding to the drip line of each tree to be retained.

(iii) If the grade level adjoining a tree to be retained is to be raised, the applicant will construct a dry rock wall or rock well around the tree. The diameter of this wall or well must be equal to the diameter of the tree plus five (5) feet.

(iv) The applicant will not install impervious surfaces within the area defined by the drip line of any tree to be retained.

(v) The applicant will prune branches and roots, fertilize, and water as appropriate.

(vi) The grade level around any tree to be retained will not be lowered within the greater of the following areas:

1. the area defined by the drip line of the tree;

2. an area around the tree equal to one (1) foot in diameter for each one (1) inch of tree diameter as measured one (1) foot above grade.

(1) TYPE 1: SCREEN. Type 1 landscaping will mainly include evergreen plants like trees, shrubs, and ground covers. Evergreen trees must be at least four (4) feet tall when planted. The plants will be spaced so they grow together within three (3) years to create a barrier that blocks sight. The whole planting area must be landscaped, but at least five (5) feet of it should be covered with plants that form a sight-obscuring screen. Existing plants can be used instead of new ones as long as they help meet the goals of the landscaping requirements.

(2) TYPE 2: VISUAL BUFFER. Type 2 landscaping will include a mix of evergreen and deciduous plants like trees, shrubs, and ground covers. Shrubs and ground covers should be spaced to fully cover the landscaping area. Shrubs should grow to about six (6) feet tall within three (3) years to block views along the strip. Deciduous trees should have a trunk diameter of at least 1.75 inches when planted. Trees should be spaced so their branches touch after 10 years of growth. Existing plants can be used instead of new ones if they help meet the landscaping goals.

(3) TYPE 3: SEE-THROUGH BUFFER. Type 3 landscaping will include a mix of evergreen and deciduous plants like trees, shrubs, and ground covers. Shrubs and ground covers should be spaced to fully cover the landscaping area within three (3) years. Shrubs should not grow taller than four (4) feet at maturity. Deciduous trees should have a trunk diameter of at least 1.75 inches when planted and be spaced so their branches touch after 10 years of growth. Evergreen trees should be at least four (4) feet tall when planted and spaced to match their mature size. Existing plants can be used instead of new ones if they help meet the landscaping goals.

(4) TYPE 4: OPEN AREA LANDSCAPING. Type 4 landscaping will include canopy-style evergreen and deciduous trees or spreading evergreen trees planted in wells or strips, along with a mix of evergreen and deciduous ground covers, low shrubs, and grass. Shrubs should not grow taller than four (4) feet at maturity. The size of the planting wells or strips should suit the plants. Deciduous trees should have a trunk diameter of at least 1.75 inches when planted. Evergreen trees should be at least four (4) feet tall when planted. Existing plants can be used instead of new ones if they help achieve the landscaping goals.

(1) The Director of Community Development may authorize reduced width of plantings or may waive some of the landscaping or screening requirements in the following instances:

(2) The Director of Community Development will take into account any written statements submitted by adjoining property owners in making a decision to modify landscaping requirements.

(3) The decision of the Director of Community Development regarding alternative landscaping will be final unless an aggrieved person appeals that decision to the Hearing Examiner under the procedures defined in Chapter 17.185 PCC. (Ord. 25-08 §1 (Att. A), 2025; Ord. 22-2 §8, 2022; Ord. 03-33 §23, 2003; Ord. 02-32 §8, 2002; Ord. 87-9 §1, 1987).

(1) boundaries and dimensions of the site;

(2) location and identification of all streets, alleys, and easements on or abutting the site;

(3) proposed location and dimensions of all on-site buildings;

(4) existing and proposed topography at maximum five (5) foot contour intervals;

(5) proposed landscaping including location, size at time of planting, and description of landscape materials, using both botanical and common names;

(6) identification and location of existing vegetation to be retained; identification of all evergreen trees with trunks greater than eight (8) inches in diameter, and all deciduous trees greater than 12 inches in diameter, as measured four (4) feet above ground level which are to be retained;

(7) details of any proposed berm, walls, retaining walls and similar man-made barriers;

(8) location of existing and proposed driveways, parking surfaces, curbs, and sidewalks; and

(9) type and location of the proposed irrigation system to maintain landscaping. (Ord. 25-08 §1 (Att. A), 2025; Ord. 03-33 §24, 2003; Ord. 87-9 §1, 1987).

(1) All required landscaping must be installed prior to occupancy or use; the Director of Community Development, however, may authorize up to a one (1) year delay in planting when a high probability of plant loss would occur. In no case may the property owner delay performance for more than one (1) year.

(2) The property owner must maintain all required landscaping in a healthy growing condition and will remove and replace any unhealthy or dead plant materials in conformance with the approved landscape plan for two (2) years from the time of installation. (Ord. 25-08 §1 (Att. A), 2025; Ord. 87-9 §1, 1987).