Berm: A raised form of earth to provide screening or to add visual interest.

Buffer area: Land area with landscape plantings or other components used to visibly separate one use from another, or to shield or block noise, lights, or other nuisances.

Landscape area: The portion of a lot, excluding parking lot paved surfaces, that that consists of elements of nature, topography, and human-made objects combined in relation to one another, including but not limited to, trees, shrubs, vines, ground cover, flowers, grass, rock, stone, and architectural or structural features such as fountains, reflecting pools, artwork, screens, fences, and benches. For the purposes of this article, nonvegetative components may comprise up to 25 percent of a required landscape area.

Mechanical equipment: Equipment, devices, and accessories, the use of which relates to water supply, drainage, heating, ventilating, air conditioning, and similar purposes.

Ornamental grass: An annual or perennial grass plant valued for its texture and color in the landscape.

Plant materials: Trees, shrubs, vines, groundcovers, grass, perennials, annuals and bulbs.

Screen: A structure or planting that conceals the view of the areas behind such structure or planting.

Shrub: A multi-stemmed woody plant other than a tree.

Significant tree: Any deciduous tree with at least a 12-inch diameter as per standard diameter breast height, or any evergreen tree eight feet or more in height.

Streetscape: The scene as may be observed along a public street or way composed of natural and human-made components, including buildings, paving, planting, street hardware, and miscellaneous structures.

(Ord. No. 2542, § 1, 9-12-2017)

1.

The landscape and screening requirements of this article shall apply to any development that includes:

a.

A newly constructed or erected principal structure that is a nonresidential building or a residential building containing more than four dwelling units;

b.

Open off-street parking area containing more than four parking spaces and located adjacent to a residential property; or

c.

Planned Unit Development.

That portion of any development that includes authorized surfaces dedicated to the display and sale of equipment, product, or merchandise are exempt from the landscape and screening requirements of this article.

(Ord. No. 2542, § 1, 9-12-2017)

1.

A lot in the C-1, C-2, C-3, and CB districts that is adjacent to a lot in a residential district must contain a buffer area at least 15 feet wide to separate itself from the adjacent residential district lot.

2.

In the C-4, I-1, I-2, RC, or IN districts, the required side and rear yards of a lot that is adjacent to a lot in a residential district must not be less than 40 feet, and must include a buffer area at least 20 feet in width or depth.

3.

A lot located adjacent to Interstate 57 is required to have a yard at least 100 feet in width or depth, which includes a buffer area at least 25 feet in width or depth, to separate itself from the adjacent Interstate 57.

4.

Each of the required buffer areas in subsections (1), (2), and (3) above must additionally comply with the screen and landscape planting requirements for parking lot site perimeters in Section 46-187.

(Ord. No. 2542, § 1, 9-12-2017)

1.

When required by this Chapter, a screen must be designed, constructed or planted, and maintained in accordance with this section.

2.

Unless otherwise specifically provided, areas subject to this section must be effectively screened by a visual barrier through any combination of fences, walls, berming, or plant materials in accordance with the following standards:

a.

Outdoor storage, which includes, but is not limited to, the placing, maintaining, or keeping of raw materials, junk or salvage items, inoperable vehicles, wholesale commercial products not on display, construction materials, and machinery must be screened by a visual barrier with a minimum height of six feet and a maximum height of eight feet, to ensure that such outdoor storage is not visible from any public street or adjacent lot.

b.

Outdoor refuse dumpsters, recycling containers, compacting equipment, pallet storage, baled cardboard and other refuse or any recycling materials that are visible from a public street or adjoining lot when viewed from an observation height of five feet must be enclosed and screened on all sides by an opaque fence or wall to a height sufficient to provide screening of the dumpster, container, equipment, pallet or other material. Such enclosures must be gated and situated on a paved surface. No material that is visible above the height of the enclosure may be stored in the enclosure.

c.

Mechanical equipment located on the surface or on a rooftop must be located or be screened by a visual barrier so as to not be visible from a public streetscape view.

d.

Buffer areas and parking lot perimeter areas must comply with screen or planting requirements as required in Section 46-187.

e.

Screening and landscape areas, whether or not required by this Chapter, must not obstruct or interfere with visibility clearance areas at intersections and driveways as specified in Section 46-133.

(Ord. No. 2542, § 1, 9-12-2017)

This section sets forth minimum landscaping requirements. The Morton Arboretum Tree and Shrub Handbook is hereby adopted as a guide for appropriate plantings. A copy of this handbook is on file with the village clerk.

1.

Natural or existing topographic patterns must be preserved and developed. Modification to topography will be permitted only where maintaining the natural or existing topography is not technically feasible due to site construction, or where it contributes to improved site appearance.

2.

Trees are a critical part of the vegetation that serve to decrease and filter stormwater runoff, to mitigate the urban heat island effect created by paved and other built surfaces, to remove pollutants from the air, to abate visual and noise pollution, and to provide habitat for wildlife. Tree removal increases the burden on the community to effectively address these issues. The goals of the tree preservation provisions are to reduce tree loss during development, to reduce damage to standing trees during construction, to provide for replacement of trees lost during construction, to provide for the planting of trees where none existed previously, and to provide for the maintenance of preserved trees after construction is completed.

3.

All healthy significant trees on a site must be preserved where feasible. No tree may be removed until it is determined that it is not a healthy, significant tree. Where preservation is not feasible, significant trees that are removed must be replaced on-site.

4.

It is preferred that all replacement trees be planted on-site. However, where this is not feasible, the applicant may pay a fee in lieu of the replacement tree as provided in Section 46-186, subsection 3.d.

5.

For every significant tree removed from a site there must be a tree replacement ratio, as follows:

a.

Less than one acre: One to one ratio of replacement tree to removed tree, with at least one six-inch caliper or two, four-inch caliper replacement trees.

b.

One acre up to 10 acres: 1.5 to one ratio of replacement tree to removed tree, with at least one six-inch caliper, or two, four-inch caliper replacement trees.

c.

More than 10 acres: Two to one ratio of replacement tree to removed tree, with at least one six-inch caliper or two, four-inch caliper replacement trees.

6.

Where vegetation exists along a site's perimeter and provides a screen to adjacent properties, such vegetation must not be removed unless the vegetation is found to be unhealthy. If a new landscaping plan is approved for the perimeter, the new plantings must be phased into the existing vegetative screen so as to maintain a continuous screening effect for neighboring properties.

7.

If a berm is provided as part of a landscape area, the following requirements apply:

a.

A berm must have earthen sides and a crest area of at least four feet in width.

b.

The slope of the berm may not exceed one foot of vertical rise per three feet in horizontal distance.

c.

Organic topsoil must cover the entire berm in a way that facilitates plant growth.

(Ord. No. 2542, § 1, 9-12-2017)

1.

A landscape plan must be prepared and submitted as part of the building permit application to the Zoning Administrator for review for developments identified in Section 46-182 of this Article. The landscape plan must include plant location, number, species, size, and expected maturity size. A landscape plan must be to scale and must include a directional north arrow. The landscape plan must indicate the mature height and spread of any tree, as well as overhead and underground utilities, driveways, sidewalks, road signs, and lighting.

2.

In a development that involves the erection or new construction of a principal building as indicated in 46-182, the general site landscape requirements are as follows:

a.

One canopy tree shall be planted every 50 feet along any public or street frontage between the front lot line and the back of the curb or roadway, but must not encroach within the intersection visibility area or driveway visibility area specified in Sections 46-133.

b.

At least 20 percent of the total lot area, exclusive of any public or street frontage, shall include a landscape area, with the exception of development within the Central Business District.

c.

Except for any landscaping required to be located along any parking lot perimeter or any parking lot interior, plant materials are not required to be evenly spaced throughout the site landscape area.

3.

The minimum number of trees, shrubs and plantings required to satisfy the parking lot perimeter, the parking lot interior, buffer area requirements, and screening requirements, as applicable, must be provided. Required plantings for remaining site landscape areas are as follows:

a.

One tree for each 2,500 square feet of remaining landscape area. Significant trees preserved on-site count toward the number of trees for the landscape area.

b.

Three shrubs for each 1,000 square feet of remaining landscape area. Shrubs may be replaced with ornamental grasses or perennials; however, such replacement shall not exceed 50 percent of the required number of shrubs.

c.

Outside of tree and shrub masses, the landscape area must be planted in sod, turf, grass, groundcover, perennials, or other vegetable cover, and may include the placement of rock, mulch and related landscape materials associated with any such planting.

d.

When planting within the landscape area is not feasible, the applicant may pay a fee in lieu to the village. This fee will be used to pay for a comparable planting on village property. The fee shall be in the amount determined by the Zoning Administrator, based on the fee schedule established by the Village Board.

e.

In locations where plants will be susceptible to injury by pedestrians or motor traffic, such plants must be protected by appropriate curbs, tree guards, or other devices where possible.

(Ord. No. 2542, § 1, 9-12-2017)

1.

The requirements of this section apply to the parking lot perimeters of all new private and public off-street parking lots, and to any expansion of any existing lot by more than 25 percent of the number of existing spaces.

2.

All parking lots must be screened from public streets and adjacent residential properties by complying with one of the following parking lot perimeter options:

a.

If abutting a public street, a parking lot perimeter area must have a minimum width of seven feet to accommodate a two-foot vehicle overhang and a five-foot wide landscape area.

b.

If abutting a residential district, a parking lot perimeter area must have a minimum width of 10 feet, and include a screen consisting of an opaque fence, wall, berm, or evergreen shrub planting hedge not less than three feet in height.

3.

The following plant materials must be provided, at a minimum, in the landscape areas of a parking lot perimeter:

a.

One canopy, ornamental or evergreen tree for every 50 linear feet of perimeter area, excluding driveway openings. Trees may be spaced evenly or grouped.

b.

Organic mulch, vegetative groundcover, or decorative landscape rock.

A reduction in the amount of canopy, ornamental or evergreen trees required by these provisions adjacent to any public street may be obtained when the existing on-site trees are taken into account.

(Ord. No. 2542, § 1, 9-12-2017)

1.

All new private and public off-street parking lots with 40 or more parking spaces and any expansion of an existing lot by more than 25 percent so as to contain 40 or more spaces are subject to the parking lot interior landscape requirements of this section.

2.

Minimum landscape coverage are as follows:

a.

Parking lots with 40—200 spaces must include landscape areas on at least seven percent of the interior lot area.

b.

Parking lots with more than 200 spaces must include landscape areas on at least five percent of the interior lot area.

3.

The requirements for interior landscape areas are as follows:

a.

Interior landscape areas must be evenly distributed throughout the parking lot. Required plantings must also be evenly distributed in the landscape areas.

b.

Landscaped areas may be in any shape or configuration, and all landscape areas must be a minimum of 150 square feet.

4.

Minimum plant quantity are as follows:

a.

40—200 parking spaces: Two trees and five shrubs or ornamental grasses per 20 spaces.

b.

Over 200 parking spaces: Two trees and five shrubs or ornamental grasses per 40 spaces.

5.

Trees must be distributed evenly throughout the parking lot interior and not clustered.

(Ord. No. 2542, § 1, 9-12-2017)

1.

The selection of plant materials shall be based on the village's climate and site conditions. Plant material shall be selected for interest in its structure, texture, and color and for its ultimate growth. Plants that thrive in Hardiness Zone 5 and are harmonious to the design and of good appearance shall be used. Plant diversity is required for the health of the overall landscaped area.

2.

All plants must be A-Grade or No. 1 Grade and free of defects. All plants must be of normal health, height, leaf density, and spread as defined by the American Standard for Nursery Stock, ANSI Z60.1 latest available edition, or the American Association of Nurserymen. Plants must have full, even, well-developed branching and a dense, fibrous, and vigorous root system.

3.

The following minimum sizes are required:

a.

Canopy tree: 2.5-inch diameter breast height, balled and burlapped.

b.

Ornamental tree: Two-inch diameter breast height, balled and burlapped, or seven feet for a multi-stemmed tree.

c.

Evergreen tree: Six feet high, balled and burlapped.

d.

Shrubs: 18-inch balled and burlapped, or three-gallon minimum container size.

e.

Ornamental grasses: One-gallon minimum container size.

f.

Perennials: One-gallon minimum container size.

(Ord. No. 2542, § 1, 9-12-2017)

1.

Landscape materials, other than plant materials, that have deteriorated or have been damaged or defaced, must be properly repaired or replaced.

2.

Plant materials that have deteriorated or died must be replaced with healthy plantings, or the area must be redesigned with other treatment to provide an attractive appearance.

3.

Plant materials must be kept watered, fed, cultivated, and pruned as required to give a healthy and well-groomed appearance during all seasons.

(Ord. No. 2542, § 1, 9-12-2017)