The purpose of the landscaping requirements and recommendations in this title shall be to promote the health, safety, and general welfare of the public; to stabilize property values by encouraging pleasant and attractive surroundings and thus create the necessary atmosphere to facilitate the orderly development of an attractive and harmonious community. Specific ways these purposes are accomplished include:

1. Enhancing the appearance and visual character of the community;
2. Promoting compatibility between all land uses by reducing visual, noise and light impacts of development on adjacent properties;
3. Reducing the area of impervious surfaces and storm water drainage impacts;
4. Providing shade to help mitigate heat and exposure on paved surfaces and to help conserve energy;
5. Encouraging the conservation of water resources through inclusion of more drought tolerant plants, and best practices;
6. Defining entry points on property and guides for the separated circulation of vehicles and pedestrians.
7. The relief of heat, noise, and glare through the proper placement of landscaping. (Ord. 12-02-2006, 12-6-2006, eff. 12-7-2006)
   

ACTIVITY ZONES: Portions of the landscape designed for recreation or function, such as storage areas, fire pits, vegetable gardens, playgrounds, etc.

ACTIVE RECREATION AREAS: Areas of the landscape dedicated to active play where lawn may be used as the playing surface (ex. sports fields).

CENTRAL OPEN SHAPE: An unobstructed area that functions as the focal point of a landscape and is designed in a geometric shape.

GATHERING AREAS: Portions of the landscape dedicated to congregating, such as patios, gazebo, decks, and other seating areas.

HARDSCAPE: Durable landscape materials, such as concrete, wood, pavers, stones, or compacted inorganic mulch.

LAWN: Ground that is covered with grass or turf that is regularly mowed.

MULCH: Any material such as rock, bark, compost, wood chips or other materials left loose and applied to the soil.

PARK STRIP: A typically narrow landscaped area located between the back-of-curb and sidewalk.

PATHS: Designed routes between landscape areas and features.

PLANTING BED: Areas of the landscape that consist of plants, such as trees, ornamental grasses, shrubs, perennials, and other regionally appropriate plants.

TOTAL LANDSCAPED AREA: Improved areas of the property that incorporate all of the completed features of the landscape. The landscape area does not include footprints of buildings or structures, sidewalks, driveways, and other non-irrigated areas intentionally left undeveloped.

All new residential dwellings must provide completely landscaped front yards and side yards, as defined in SCC 10.16.290, where such yard area is visible from the public street or private street. Acceptable landscaping must include plants and sufficiently control erosion, dust, and weeds to mitigate negative impact on neighboring residences. All single-family residential landscaping should meet the recommendations in SCC 10.52.030.B.1. and shall follow requirements in SCC 10.52.030.F. Unless an appropriate bond is posted, landscaping must be completed before the residential dwelling receives a certificate of occupancy.

In the event that a residential dwelling is completed when pressurized irrigation is not available, a cash bond may be provided to Santaquin City as per the approved fee schedule. If a cash bond is paid, the landscaping improvements shall be completed by the end of the following irrigation season before the City's pressurized irrigation is turned off in mid-October.

1. Scope Of Requirement: The provisions of this section shall apply to landscaping for all new and reconstructed landscaping for public agency projects, private nonresidential projects, developer installed landscaping in multi-family residential projects, and developer installed landscaping in single-family projects, which require project review and approval by the city. Such review may include initial or modified site plan reviews, modified conditional use permit review, and building permits issued for commercial and multi-family building exterior or site modifications, other than typical maintenance.
2. General Landscaping Standards: The following requirements and recommendations apply to all landscaping projects that are subject to city review:
   1. Site Landscaping: All areas not utilized in a building footprint or necessary for site access, parking, or vehicle and pedestrian circulation shall be planted with an effective combination of trees, ground cover, lawn, shrubbery, and/or approved dry landscape materials and mulches under the standards established by this section and in accordance with an approved landscape plan. Site landscaping should incorporate the following recommendations:
      1. If size permits, the landscaped areas of the front yard and back yard should include a designed Central Open Shape created by using Lawn, Hardscape, groundcover, or gravel.
      2. Gathering Areas should be constructed of Hardscape and placed outside of the Central Open Shape. In a landscape without lawn, Gathering Areas may function as the Central Open Shape. 
      3. Activity Zones should be located outside of the Central Open Shape and should be surfaced with materials other than lawn. 
      4. Paths should be made with materials that do not include Lawn, such as Hardscape, Mulch, or other ground surface material.
      5. All irrigation should be appropriate for the designated plant material to achieve the highest water efficiency. Drip irrifation should be used except in lawn areas. Drip irrigation systems should be equipped with a pressure regulator. filter, flush-end assembly, and any other appropriate components. 
      6. Each irrigation valve should irrigate landscaping with similar site, slope, and soil conditions, and plant materials with similar watering needs. Lawn and planting beds should be irrigated on separate irrigation valves. In addition, drip emitters and sprinklers should be placed on separate irrigation valves. 
      7. Landscaped areas should be provided with a WaterSense labeled smart irrigation controller which automatically adjusts the frequency and/or duration of irrigation events in response to changing weather conditions. all controllers should be equipped with automatic rain delay or rain shut-off capabilities.  
      8. At least 3-4 inches of mulch, permeable to air and water, should be used in planting beds to control weeds and improve the appearance of the landscaping.
         
   2. Landscape Plans: A landscape plan is required for all developments under the scope of this chapter and shall be submitted to and approved by the development review committee prior to issuance of any permit or site plan approval. Each landscape plan shall address the functional aspects of landscaping such as grading, drainage, runoff, erosion prevention, wind barriers, provisions for shade, and reduction of glare. The landscape plan shall be prepared by a landscape architect registered in the state of Utah or professional landscape designer and shall contain the information required in exhibit A attached to the ordinance codified herein.
   3. Plant Selection: Plants selected for landscape areas shall be well suited to the microclimate and soil conditions at the project site as well as year round aesthetics of the property. Developments should include a good combination of evergreen trees in addition to deciduous trees in order to achieve a nonbarren landscape design during winter months when there are no leaves on the trees. Preference shall be given to those species listed in the city approved tree species list provided in the city's construction standards.
   4. Installation: All landscaping shall be installed according to sound horticultural practices in a manner designed to encourage quick establishment and healthy growth. The following shall also apply:
      1. It shall be the responsibility of the developer to grade, place topsoil, seed or sod, install automatic sprinkler irrigation systems, and properly plant trees, shrubs, and other approved plant materials. Plants with similar water needs shall be grouped together as much as possible.
      2. Landscaping shall be completed in accordance with the landscape plans submitted and approved by the Development Review Committee.
      3. All landscape work must be installed prior to a certificate of occupancy of the associated building or as otherwise approved by the Development Review Committee as seasonal conditions may dictate.
      4. The developer shall bond for such landscape improvements prior to occupancy to ensure that installations are completed as submitted and approved. Guarantee requirements for landscape improvements shall be the same as required by the city for all other site improvements.
   5. Maintenance: Trees and vegetation, irrigation systems, fences, walls, and other landscape elements shall be considered as elements of the project in the same manner as parking, and other site details. The applicant, landowner, or successors in interest shall be responsible for the regular and proper maintenance of all landscaping elements installed. Maintenance is required on all landscaping appropriate to the method and type, which may include, but is not limited to, mowing, removal of litter, trash, or garbage, pruning, watering, and repair of all landscape structures such as fences and walls, etc. Maintenance also includes replacing dead or dying plants with healthy stock of the same species or another as approved by the Community Development Department, and as required by the approved landscape plan. Failure to adequately maintain the health, condition, and number of plantings required by an approved landscape plan is a violation of this chapter.
   6. Vegetation Removal: Any alterations to site landscaping beyond typical maintenance shall be approved by the Zoning Administrator. Any vegetation removed or needing to be replaced due to disease, health, or condition, shall be replaced within one growing season. No vegetation required by a landscape plan shall be removed for purposes of greater visibility to a site or signage.
   7. Curbing: All landscape yards and areas abutting driveways, drive aisles, parking stalls and property lines shall be protected by a concrete curb, which shall be four inches wide and six inches deep (4" x 6"). No curbing is required along property lines where a shared landscaping area extends over a property line and the adjacent property has been or will be developed within six (6) months or is part of a master planned development. (Ord. 12-02-2006, 12-6-2006, eff. 12-7-2006)
   8. Landscaping Percentages:

      Minimum Landscaping Requirements
      MSBD (Commercial/Mixed Use)	20%
      MSBD (Multifamily)	30%
      C-1	10%
      RC (Commercial)	10%
      RC (Multifamily)	30%
      PC	10%
      I-1 & CLM	8%
      PO	10%
      Nonresidential in Residential Zones	15%

      
      
3. Landscape Yards And Screening:
   1. Required Landscape Yards: See individual zones for parking and building setbacks. Areas that are not being used for building or parking must be landscaped.
      
   2. Required Landscaping Amounts Within Landscape Yards:
      1. Landscape yards abutting residential zones shall include a minimum of one tree and five (5) shrubs for each thirty (30) linear feet or fraction thereof of the landscape yard area (as measured along the property line).
      2. Side and rear landscape yards abutting a nonresidential development or property zoned for such shall include a minimum of one tree and four (4) shrubs for each forty (40) linear feet or fraction thereof of the landscape yard area (as measured along the property line).
      3. Front and street side landscape areas shall include a minimum of one tree for each forty (40) linear feet or fraction thereof of the landscape yard area (as measured along the property line).
      4. In addition to the above, ground cover shall be provided over all landscape areas. (Ord. 07-01-2016, 7-6-2016, eff. 7-7-2016)
   3. Plant Spacing: Trees and shrubs may be spaced irregularly in informal groupings or be uniformly spaced, as consistent with larger overall planting patterns and organization of the site. Perimeter landscaping along a street shall be designated and integrated with the streetscape in the street right of way.
   4. Park Strips: Developments which front onto a public road shall install one tree per thirty feet (30') of frontage or fraction thereof and ground cover in accordance with city approved streetscape designs, materials and plantings between the sidewalk and curb. Maintenance of these areas is to be performed by the adjacent property owner.
   5. Utility Screening: All aboveground utility equipment (e.g., power, phone, cable boxes, etc.) as well as ground mounted HVAC equipment, etc., shall be screened from public view by a wall or plantings equal to or greater than the equipment height.
   6. Fencing And Property Line Screening:
      1. In addition to the required landscaping, screening along rear or side property lines should incorporate berming, open construction barriers, low maintenance fencing materials or decorative walls constructed of stone, masonry or decorative iron.
      2. Screening heights along front property lines and along side property lines within the existing or proposed building front setbacks shall be the same as outlined in SCC 10.16.260 for all fences, walls, and hedges.
      3. Fences or walls along rear or side property lines shall not exceed six feet (6') in height for general nonindustrial uses. Walls may be ten feet (10') tall to lessen the sound and visual impacts of industrial uses or uses where diesel traffic or noise caused by service bays, loading docks, crushing operations, etc., is expected. Walls greater than six feet (6') in height must be architecturally articulated (e.g., materials, planes, columns, crown features, etc.) and landscaping around such walls shall be designed to soften the wall presence.
      4. Screening shall be designed and located to provide a natural crime deterrent. Barbed or razor wire is not permitted unless specifically approved by the planning commission for security, public safety, health, or general welfare of the citizens and property owners of Santaquin and/or their property. This provision does not apply to agricultural uses and public utility facilities. (Ord. 12-02-2006, 12-6-2006, eff. 12-7-2006)
   7. Decorative Materials: Materials such as crushed rock, redwood chips, pebbles, pavers, or stamped concrete and stones may not cover more than fifty percent (50%) of the areas required to be landscaped. Artificial plants are not acceptable.
   8. Clear View Areas: Landscaping within designated clear view areas shall comply with SCC 10.16.090. (Ord. 07-01-2016, 7-6-2016, eff. 7-7-2016)
4. Building Landscaping:
   1. Except within MBD areas, exposed sections of building walls that are in high visibility areas along arterial and collector streets as well as on site, general public access areas, shall have planting beds approximately six feet (6') wide placed directly along at least fifty percent (50%) of such walls. These planting areas may overlap required landscape yards.
   2. Trash enclosures and other accessory structures shall have a minimum five foot (5') wide planting area along three (3) sides and a minimum of four (4) shrubs per landscaped side. These planting areas may overlap required landscape yards.
   3. Except within MBD areas, a group of four (4) shrubs and one tree shall be provided in a landscape area or grade adjacent to the front and side elevations of a building per fifty (50) linear feet or fraction thereof, of elevation where the building exceeds one hundred feet (100') in length (e.g., 110 feet of building face would require 3 of the above groupings). (Ord. 07-01-2016, 7-6-2016, eff. 7-7-2016)
5. Parking Area Landscaping: In addition to the required landscape yards, parking lots shall have landscaping which reduces the area of impervious surfaces and stormwater drainage impacts, provides shade to help mitigate heat and exposure on paved surfaces and to help conserve energy, and helps to define entry points on property and guides for the separated circulation of vehicles and pedestrians. The following shall apply: (Ord. 12-02-2006, 12-6-2006, eff. 12-7-2006)
   1. Landscape Areas: Landscaping shall be provided in the amount of six percent (6%) of the interior space of parking lots with less than one hundred (100) spaces, and ten percent (10%) of the interior space of all parking lots with one hundred (100) spaces or more. For single developments on less than two (2) acres, this percentage will count toward the minimum landscape requirement provided in paragraph C,1. (Ord. 07-01-2016, 7-6-2016, eff. 7-7-2016)
   2. Screening: Screening from the street and all nonresidential uses shall be of sufficient height and opacity to continuously block the lowest three feet (3') of the cross section view of the parking area from the street or adjacent use. These screening standards may be met in any number of different ways, including, but not limited to, a garden wall, earthen berm, constructed planter, dense hedge, or combination of ways. Landscape plans submitted for review shall include a graphic depiction of the parking lot screening as viewed from the street. Plant material used for the required screening shall achieve required capacity in its winter seasonal condition within three (3) years of construction of the vehicular use area.
   3. Pedestrian Walking/Refuge Areas: Pedestrian walking/refuge areas shall be provided between parking aisles closest to major business entries where one hundred (100) or more parking spaces are required. Such areas shall be at least eleven feet (11') wide and have a five foot (5') wide meandering sidewalk running the length of the area. Those portions of this area not utilized as sidewalk shall be landscaped with at least one tree and four (4) shrubs per sidewalk return. Additionally, ground cover shall be provided over the entire landscape area.
   4. Planter Islands: Landscaped islands shall be provided at the end of parking aisles and appropriately spaced at intermediate locations along parking aisles.
      1. Dimensions: Islands at the end of single stall width parking aisles shall be at least six feet (6') in width and eighteen feet (18') in length. Islands at the end of dual stall width parking aisles shall be at least six feet (6') in width and thirty-six feet (36') in length, with at least one hundred sixty (160) square feet of ground area per shade tree or one hundred (100) square feet of ground per ornamental tree to allow for root aeration.
      2. Vegetation: Islands shall include one or more canopy shade trees and four (4) or more shrubs per eighty (80) square feet of planter area. Additionally, ground cover shall be provided over the entire landscape area.
      3. Curbing: All islands shall have raised concrete curbs surrounding them. Curb extents shall not be included in the required dimensions. (Ord. 12-02-2006, 12-6-2006, eff. 12-7-2006)
6. Water Conservation Landscaping Requirements:
   1. Lawn shall not be less than eight (8) feet wide at its narrowest point. 
   2. Lawn shall not exceed 35% of the Total Landscaped Area.
      1. Small residential lots, which have no back yards, which the Total Landscaped Area is less than 250 square feet, and which the front yard dimensions cannot accommodate the minimum 8 feet wide lawn area requirement, are exempt from the 8 feet minimum width lawn area requirement and maximum of 35% lawn requirement. 
   3. Lawn shall not be installed in Park Strips, Paths or on slopes greater than 25% or 4:1 grade. 
   4. In commercial, industrial, institutional, and multi-family development common area landscapes, lawn areas shall not exceed 20% of the Toal Landscaped Area, ourside of Active Recreation Areas. 
   5. In commercial, industrial, and multi-family projects, all Planting Beds shall have commercial grade weed barrier fabric installed.
      
7. Species Diversity And Minimum Standards:
   1. Diversity: To prevent uniform insect or disease susceptibility and eventual uniform maturity and agedness on a development site or in the adjacent area or the district, species diversity is required and extensive monocultures are prohibited. The following requirements shall apply to site development plans:
      
      

      Number Of Trees On Site	Maximum Percentage Of Any One Species
      10 - 19	75%
      20 - 39	60%
      40 or more	50%

   2. Plant Sizes: The following minimum plant sizes shall be required: (Ord. 12-02-2006, 12-6-2006, eff. 12-7-2006)
      
      

      Type	Minimum Size
      Canopy shade (deciduous) tree	2.0 inch caliper balled and burlapped equivalent
      Canopy shade (deciduous) tree as a street tree on a residential local street only	2.0 inch caliper container or equivalent
      Evergreen tree	6.0 foot height balled and burlapped or equivalent
      Ornamental tree	1.5 inch caliper balled and burlapped or equivalent
      Shrubs	5 gallon or adequate size consistent with design intent

      (Ord. 12-02-2006, 12-6-2006, eff. 12-7-2006; amd. Ord. 10-02-2007, 10-17-2007, eff. 10-18-2007)
8. Waivers And Exceptions: The city's land use authority may waive a requirement of a site plan if, in its opinion, specific requirements are unnecessary or inappropriate due to circumstances unique to the property, or if the requirements have been previously submitted and approved. Such requirements may be set aside only to the extent that the intent and purpose of this chapter is not violated. (Ord. 12-02-2006, 12-6-2006, eff. 12-7-2006)
9. Nonconforming Status: Any use of property, which, on the effective date hereof, is nonconforming only as to the regulations relating to landscaping may be continued in the same manner as if the landscaping were conforming until such time that any such land use, parking area, site development or landscaping changes. (Ord. 12-02-2006, 12-6-2006, eff. 12-7-2006)