21.1

Landscaping, Screening, and Buffer Areas. The following standards are intended to enhance the appearance and natural beauty of the Town and to protect property values through preservation of existing vegetation and planting of new screening and landscaping material. Specifically, these standards are intended to reduce excessive heat, glare, and accumulation of dust, to provide privacy from noise and visual intrusion, and to prevent the erosion of the soil, excessive run-off of drainage water, and the consequent depletion of the ground water table and the pollution of water bodies.

For purposes of this Section, landscaping shall consist of any of the following, or combination thereof: grass, shrubs, hedges, and trees. With the approval of the Commission, existing natural vegetation, and unique site features such as existing stonewalls, large boulders or rock outcroppings may be included in the area used to satisfy this requirement. Detention basins and other storm water impoundment areas shall not be used to meet the minimum landscaped area requirement.

For purposes of this Section, the following standards are intended for development as specified in Section 8.1a, Sections 10, 11, 15, 16 and 17.

21.2

General Requirements.

a.

Any disturbed portion of a developed lot or property that will not be used for the location of buildings, structures, accessory uses, off-street parking and loading areas, sidewalks, or similar purposes, shall be landscaped and maintained in order to minimize storm water runoff. All landscape material shall always be maintained.

b.

Landscaping, trees, and plants required by these regulations shall be planted in a growing condition according to accepted horticultural practices and shall be maintained in a healthy growing condition. The property owner shall replace all landscaping, trees, and plants that do not meet the above requirements during the next planting season. The Commission shall maintain a list of unacceptable plant materials. All trees shall have a caliper of two and one-half (2½) inches and a minimum height of ten (10) feet. The tree's caliper shall be measured three and one-half (3½) feet from the top of the root ball.

c.

Irrigation may be required by the Commission for all landscaped areas, except one-family and two-family dwellings.

d.

The property owner shall maintain a screening fence or wall required by these regulations in good condition throughout the period of the use on the lot.

e.

The Commission may require all landscaping, trees, and planting material adjacent to parking areas, loading areas, or driveways to be protected by barriers, curbs, or other means from damage by vehicles. All curbing shall be constructed of bituminous curbing, concrete and/or granite.

f.

Existing healthy mature trees, if properly located shall be fully credited against the requirements of these regulations.

g.

Where lot size and shape or existing structures make it infeasible to comply with the requirements for a front landscaped area or landscaped parking area, the Planning and Zoning Commission may allow the applicant to substitute planters, plant boxes, or pots containing trees, shrubs, and/or flowers to comply with the intent of the regulations.

21.2.1

Buffer Area.

a.

The purpose of a buffer area is to provide privacy from noise, headlight glare, and visual intrusion to a residential zoning district. A buffer area, which shall be in addition to the landscape requirements contained in other sections of these regulations, shall be required for the following circumstances:

1.

The establishment of any use, other than a one-family, on a lot abutting, or directly across a street from, any lot in the residential zoning district.

2.

The establishment or expansion of any use, other than a one-family or two-family dwelling, on a lot or parcel abutting, or directly across a street from, any lot on which a one-family or two-family dwelling already exists.

b.

The minimum width of buffer areas shall be twenty-five (25) feet for all other lots located adjacent to a residential zoning district.

1.

Where lot size and shape or existing structures make it infeasible to comply with the minimum widths required above, the Commission may modify the width requirements provided the buffer area meets the intent of these regulations.

c.

Nature of Buffer.

1.

The buffer area shall be of evergreen planting of such type, height, spacing, and arrangement as, in the judgment of the Planning and Zoning Commission will effectively screen the activity on the lot from the neighboring residential zoning district. At a minimum, the planting shall consist of trees ten (10) feet in height at intervals of eight (8) feet on center or less. Non-evergreen planting may be included to supplement evergreen planting, but not to take its place

2.

An earthen berm, wall, or fence of location, height, design, and materials approved by the Planning and Zoning Commission may be substituted for any portion of the required planting and/or buffer area strip.

3.

Where existing topography and/or landscaping provide adequate screening, the Planning and Zoning Commission may modify the planting and/or buffer area requirements.

21.2.2

Landscaped Parking Areas. In addition to the front landscaping area and buffer area requirements, parking areas shall comply with the following standards:

a.

All parking aisles that contain more than five (5) spaces shall be required to have landscaped islands at each end. Each landscaped island shall be a minimum of nine (9) feet wide, the length of such island shall be equal to the dimension of the parking space that abuts the island. Each landscaped island shall contain a minimum of one (1) shade trees having a caliper of two and one-half (2½) inches and a minimum height of ten (10) feet.

b.

Landscaped islands shall separate every two parking bays throughout the interior of all parking areas. The landscaped island shall be installed along the entire length of the aisle. Each landscaped island shall be a minimum of eight (8) feet wide with curb stops and ten (10) feet wide. At a minimum, one street shade tree having a caliper of two and one-half (2½) inches and a minimum height of ten (10) feet shall be planted for each thirty (30) feet of landscaped island or a fraction thereof. A portion of the island may be used for accessible space access.

c.

Landscaped areas shall be provided along the perimeter of any parking area except where the parking area is functionally integrated with an adjoining parking area on an abutting lot. The landscaped area shall have a minimum dimension of ten (10) feet, shall be planted with grass or shrubs, and shall include at least one deciduous tree of not less than two and one-half (2½) inch caliper, at least a minimum of ten (10) feet in height for every thirty (30) feet along the perimeter of the parking area.

d.

Landscaped areas shall be provided along all interior roads. The landscaped areas shall be installed along the entire length of the road, minus an intersecting road. The minimum width of the landscaped areas for all roads that provide access to the site shall be fifteen (15) feet. The minimum width of the landscaped areas for all other roads that provide access within the site shall be ten (10) feet. At a minimum, one (1) street shade tree having a caliper of two and one-half (2½) inches and a minimum height of ten (10) feet shall be planted for each thirty (30) feet of linear landscaped area or a fraction thereof

21.2.3

The Planning and Zoning Commission may modify the requirements of deciduous trees if the lot size and shape or existing structures make it infeasible to comply with the minimum requirements.

21.3

Street Trees. Subject to existing conditions, development plans and at the discretion of the Seymour Planning and Zoning Commission, street trees shall be installed along all streets subject to the following conditions:

a.

All trees shall be planted within the road right-of-way at a minimum distance of five (5) feet from the edge of the roadway pavement. If the right-of-way is of insufficient width to meet this requirement or the Commission finds that the intent of this regulation is best served by planting outside of the public right-of-way, the Commission may permit the planting of the street trees outside of the public right-of-way. However, all street trees to be planted shall be planted within twenty-five (25) feet of the edge of the roadway.

b.

All trees shall be nursery stock, balled and burlapped and shall be a minimum of two and one-half (2½) inches caliper, at least a minimum of ten (10) feet in height.

c.

One (1) street tree shall be planted for each seventy-five (75) feet of street frontage on both sides of the street.

d.

No tree shall be planted or left standing within thirty-five (35) feet of an intersection unless the Seymour Planning & Zoning Commission determines otherwise.

e.

Tree species shall be selected from the following list including, Red Maple, Red Oak, White Oak, Black Oak, Sugar Maple or Honey locust. The Commission may permit the substitution of another species of tree if it finds it suitable in characteristics for use as a street tree.