(a)

The following codes will apply as the base requirements for landscaping and lighting in multi-family, mixed use, commercial, and industrial new and infill developments proposed in the city. These codes are subject to PZC discretion as unique situations occur.

(1)

Lighting.

a.

Lighting plans required. Whenever a building site and operation plan or building site and operation plan amendment is required by this Code, such plans shall include an exterior lighting plan to determine whether the requirements of this section have been met (city design guides may also apply).

b.

Exterior lighting performance standards. Exterior lighting serves multiple functions, including illumination of obstructions, orientation of site users, and security. To assure that exterior lighting serves these functions without hindrance or nuisance, all exterior lighting plans submitted pursuant to this Code shall comply to the following standards (Note: standards below are subject to PZC discretion when extenuating circumstances apply):

1.

Fixture height: Shall not exceed the greater of 15 feet, or the eave line of the building.

2.

Fixture location: All fixtures intended to illuminate parking and drive areas shall generally be mounted on poles located within protected landscaped areas, on concrete pedestals not exceeding six inches above grade. Where the PZC deems that such locations are not practical, and that a location within the parking field is appropriate, said poles may be mounted on concrete pedestals at a height to be determined by the PZC, but generally not exceeding 36 inches above grade.

3.

Cut off required: All luminaries regardless of mounting location shall be housed within down cast full cut off fixtures, with zero degree tilt.

4.

Intensity: Exterior lighting shall generally not exceed nine foot candles in intensity. The PZC may permit a greater intensity of illumination where necessary to meet the purpose of this Code.

5.

Light trespass prohibited: In no case shall exterior lighting result in illumination greater than one-half foot-candles at any property boundary.

c.

Exterior lighting plan requirements. An exterior lighting plan submitted pursuant to this Code shall have, at a minimum, the following elements:

1.

A catalog page, cut sheet, or photograph of the luminaire and its mounting method.

2.

A photometric data test report of the proposed luminaire graphically showing the lighting distribution at all angles vertically and horizontally around the luminaire.

3.

A site plan, drawn to the same engineering scale as the building site and operation plan submittal, indicating the location of the luminaries proposed, mounting and / or installation height in feet, and the overall illumination levels (in foot candles) at the property lines.

4.

A graphic depiction of the luminaire lamp (or bulb) concealment and light cut off angles.

(2)

Landscaping.

a.

Landscaping plans are required for multi-family, mixed use, commercial, and industrial new and infill developments: Whenever a building site and operation plan or building site and operation plan amendment is required by this Code, such plans shall include an exterior landscape plan to determine whether the requirements of this section have been met (city design guides may also apply).

b.

General requirements.

1.

A mix of deciduous and evergreen trees should be used across the developed site for variety and to ensure that green landscaping remains in the winter months.

2.

Suitable species. Plant material should be appropriate to the hardiness zone for the city.

3.

Overall composition and location of landscaping shall complement the scale of the development and its surroundings. In general, larger, well-placed contiguous planting areas shall be preferred to smaller, disconnected areas.

4.

Where screening is required, it shall be at least six feet in height, unless otherwise specified by the PZC.

c.

Landscape point system. The minimum required landscaping for a site shall be based on a point system as follows:

1.

Landscaping shall be distributed throughout the site including street frontages, parking lots, district boundaries, building foundations, service area boundaries, and the general site.

2.

Preservation of existing trees is encouraged and shall count as 1.5 times the normal required point value, provided they otherwise satisfy landscaping location requirements.

3.

Point calculations shall be rounded up to the nearest whole number and fractional distances and areas shall be prorated.

4.

Landscaping that satisfies more than one locational requirement, excluding general site landscaping, may be counted for each.

5.

Points are calculated as follows:

6.

Additional landscaping beyond what is required by the point system may be required as determined by the zoning administrator, PZC, and/or city council to ensure proper buffers, screening, and aesthetic quality.

7.

Landscaping that doesn't meet the point system may be approved by the PZC and/or city council.

d.

Street frontage landscaping.

1.

Landscaping shall be provided along the edge of the site within the required building and parking lot setback areas along adjacent streets to enhance the view from public rights-of-way and define the street edge.

2.

For each 100 lineal feet of developed lot frontage, a minimum of 40 points of landscaping are required within 30 feet of the right-of-way.

3.

Street frontage landscaping may be reduced to 50 percent of the normal requirement in order to maintain visibility of commercial buildings and signage, provided the landscaping is added to other locations on the site at the discretion of the zoning administrator, PZC, and/or city council.

4.

This section does not apply to planting of trees within the public right-of-way as part of a subdivision plat.

e.

Property boundary landscaping.

1.

Screening and landscaping shall be provided along the rear and side property lines where the site abuts an existing or planned less intensive use or zoning district, determined by the zoning administrator, PZC, and/or city council.

2.

For each 100 lineal feet of property edge, a minimum of 50 points of landscaping are required within 30 feet of the property line.

3.

Evergreen landscaping shall comprise at least 50 percent of the total required points.

4.

Earthen berms, with no greater than a four-to-one slope and a minimum height of three feet may be counted toward meeting the minimum landscape requirements at a rate of ten points per 100 lineal feet.

5.

Parking areas adjacent to residential uses on neighboring properties may require buffering with opaque decorative walls or fencing at the discretion of the zoning administrator, PZC, and/or city council to minimize impacts from noise and headlights.

f.

Parking lot landscaping.

1.

Landscaping shall be provided within and surrounding parking lots with ten or more vehicle parking spaces to soften and interrupt large paved areas.

2.

For every 20 vehicle parking spaces (or fraction thereof), a minimum of 30 points of landscaping are required within internal parking lot islands or within 15 feet of the lot perimeter.

3.

Shrubs, ground cover, or ornamental grasses used within internal parking lot islands adjacent to drive lanes shall be limited to a height of two feet in order to maintain driver visibility.

g.

Building foundation landscaping.

1.

Landscaping shall be provided along the foundation to accent and define building foundations and accentuate building entrances.

2.

For each 100 lineal feet of building foundation viewable from publicly accessible areas, a minimum of 40 points of landscaping are required within 15 feet of the foundation. Portions of building foundations directly adjacent to paths or other paved areas shall be excluded from the calculation.

3.

Building foundation plantings shall be located in a mulched planting bed and primarily consist of shrubs and ornamental grasses. Properly scaled ornamental trees, not to exceed 50 percent of the total landscape points, may also be used.

h.

General site landscaping.

1.

Landscaping shall be used throughout the open space on the site to enhance natural areas, green space, stormwater management areas, plazas and major entrances and should be grouped to create significant features.

2.

For each 10,000 square feet of developed area for the total site, a minimum of five points of landscaping are required for general landscaping to be used throughout the site. The developed area shall be the portion of the site that is not left in an undisturbed natural state.

i.

Service area (refuse/loading/mechanical) screening.

1.

Service and loading areas, building mechanicals, and refuse/recycling containers shall be screened with opaque evergreen landscaping and/or decorative walls or enclosures when not otherwise hidden from public view.

j.

Maintenance.

1.

Landscaping shall be maintained in a healthy condition with a neat and orderly appearance and shall be kept free of refuse, weeds, and debris. Plants shall be replaced as necessary within one growing season to maintain the minimum required landscaping standards.

2.

Mulch within planting beds shall be replenished as necessary to maintain a neat, weed-free appearance.

k.

Perpetuity: All approved landscape plans as part of a BSO shall be installed and kept up in perpetuity. Any dead or dying landscaping shall be replanted as soon as possible so as to adhere to the originally approved landscape plan for a property.

(Ord. of 5-6-2024)