Springboro City Zoning Code
CHAPTER 1280
Landscaping
1280.01 PURPOSE.
The intent of this Chapter is to promote the public's health, safety, and general welfare by: minimizing noise, air, and visual pollution; improving the appearance of off-street parking and other vehicular use areas; requiring buffering between incompatible land uses; regulating the appearance of property abutting public rights-of-way; protecting and preserving the appearance, character, and value of the community and its residential neighborhood areas; preventing soil erosion and soil depletion; and promoting soil water retention, thereby helping to prevent flooding.
(Ord. 0-15-4. Passed 2-19-15.)
1280.02 APPLICATION OF LANDSCAPING REQUIREMENTS.
The provisions of this Chapter shall apply to all uses requiring site plan review per Chapter 1284. Additionally, the provisions of this Chapter shall also apply to all non-residential developments, redevelopments, and all residential developments with creation or development of 2 or more residential units. The regulations contained herein do not apply to individual single-family lots.
(Ord. 0-15-4. Passed 2-19-15.)
(Ord. 0-15-4. Passed 2-19-15.)
1280.03 LANDSCAPE PLAN REQUIRED.
All landscape plans shall include all of the information required by Section 1284.05. The City may require the landscape plan to be signed and sealed by a Professional Landscape Architect. (Ord. 0-15-4. Passed 2-19-15.)
1280.04 REQUIRED LANDSCAPING AND SCREENING.
(a) Ground Cover. All unpaved and undeveloped portions of the site shall be planted with grass, ground cover, shrubbery, or other suitable plant material, which shall extend to any abutting street edge.
(b) Preservation Existing Vegetation. Existing site topography and areas with substantial plant material, such as mature tree stands within required buffer yards, setbacks and required open space shall be preserved to the greatest extent possible and integrated into the overall site design to preserve the City's natural character and sense of place. Where healthy trees of native species are preserved in areas other than required buffer yards and setbacks, the Planning Commission may grant a reduction in the total number of new trees required as indicated in the following table. Pursuant to Chapter 280 Tree Authority, any party wishing to remove a tree shall first submit a permit to the City of Springboro. Any protected tree that is removed must be replaced complaint with Section 280.04, Specific Removal Controls and Replacement Requirements, of the Codified Ordinances.
Table 13. Tree Replacement Requirements
Trunk Diameter of Single Tree measured at DBH | Reduction in Number of New Trees Required |
4.00 - 6 inches | 1 tree |
6.01 - 14 inches | 2 trees |
14.01 - 20 inches | 3 trees |
20.01 + inches | 4 trees |
(c) Landscaping Adjacent to Roads. Landscaping adjacent to roads shall comply with all of the following requirements (see Table 14 and Figure 8 below):
Table 14. Landscaping Adjacent to Roads
Type | Requirement |
Shade tree or evergreen tree | 1 per 40 linear feet of road frontage or fraction thereof |
Ornamental tree | 1 per 100 linear feet of road frontage or fraction thereof |
Shrubs | 1 per 5 linear feet of road frontage or fraction thereof |
Note 1: For the purposes of computing length of road frontage, openings for driveways and sidewalks shall not be counted. Trees and shrubs may be planted at uniform intervals, at random, or in groupings.
Note 2: The ED, ADD-1, and ADD-2 Zoning Districts shall be exempt from the requirement to install landscaping adjacent to roads.
Figure 8. Example of Landscaping Adjacent to Roads
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(d) Buffers. The intent of buffer yards is to reserve an appropriate area to screen: (1) different uses of land; (2) screen parking lots from adjacent property; and (3) enhance the long term attractiveness and vitality of the City through the use of landscape materials such as trees, bushes and shrubs in combination with earth mounds, desirable fences, and decorative masonry walls. As such, the only development permitted in a buffer yard are sidewalks and bicycle paths. Buffer yards with required landscaping and screening materials shall be provided adjacent to perimeter boundaries and between individual lots as specified in the following tables:
Table 15. Required Landscaping & Buffer (see Table 6 for use descriptions)
Proposed Use | Adjacent To | |||||
R-1 and R-2 Districts 1, 2 | R-3 District | O-R and O Districts | LBD, HBD, & CBD Districts | ED, M-1 & M-2 Districts | Interstate or State Route 3 | |
Single- Family Residential | 10-ft. wide buffer; 1 tree per 40 ft. | 10-ft. wide buffer; 1 tree per 40 ft. | 10-ft. wide buffer; 1 tree per 40 ft. | 10-ft. wide buffer; 1 tree per 40 ft. | 20-ft. wide buffer; 1 tree per 25 ft. (min. of 40% evergreen trees) | 30-ft. wide buffer; 1 tree per 20 ft. (min. of 50% evergreen trees) |
Two-Family, Multi-Family or Other Residential | 30-ft. wide buffer; 1 tree per 20 ft. (min. of 50% evergreen trees) | 10-ft. wide buffer; 1 tree per 40 ft. | 10-ft. wide buffer; 1 tree per 40 ft. | 10-ft. wide buffer; 1 tree per 40 ft. | 20-ft. wide buffer; 1 tree per 25 ft. (min. of 40% evergreen trees) | 30-ft. wide buffer; 1 tree per 20 ft. (min. of 50% evergreen trees) |
Community, Civic, Institutional, Commercial, Office and Service, and Other Uses | 30-ft. wide buffer; 1 tree per 20 ft. (min. of 50% evergreen trees) | 30-ft. wide buffer; 1 tree per 20 ft. (min. of 50% evergreen trees) | -- | -- | 20-ft. wide buffer; 1 tree per 25 ft. (min. of 40% evergreen trees) | 30-ft. wide buffer; 1 tree per 20 ft. (min. of 50% evergreen trees) |
Industrial and Extraction Uses | 50-ft. wide buffer; 1 evergreen tree per 10 ft. | 50-ft. wide buffer; 1 evergreen tree per 10 ft. | 40-ft. wide buffer; 1 tree per 15 ft. (min. of 70% evergreen trees) | 40-ft. wide buffer; 1 tree per 15 ft. (min. of 70% evergreen trees) | 10-ft. wide buffer; 1 tree per 40 feet | 40-ft. wide buffer; 1 tree per 15 ft. (min. of 70% evergreen trees) |
Note 1: No minimum screen height is required unless the Planning Commission finds that screening is needed between similar uses that have varying degrees of density of land use intensity. Note 2: Uses in the Historic District shall be exempt from the requirement to install buffer landscaping. | ||||||
Footnotes to Table 15:
(1) Landscape requirements apply only to subdivision or condominium development in one family residential zoning districts. The buffer yard may be accommodated on or within lots, and need not be provided in a separate landscape area.
(2) Where the rear yard of lots or units in a plat or condominium face a perimeter road, a minimum 8 foot tall opaque screen shall be provided along the entire length of frontage. Such screen may be provided by preserving existing vegetation and/or by additional plantings.
(3) In respect to the designation of Interstates 75 and State Routes 73 and 741, such designations are not zoning districts. It is intended that the buffer and screening shall be for development in any zoning district with frontage along an interstate or state route where the rear yard faces the street right of way.
(4) Residential Buffers. All required buffers within residential developments must be placed within defined landscape buffer easements and may not be part of any individual residential lot.
(5) Existing Vegetation. The buffer or planting requirements may be waived or modified by the Planning Commission if existing vegetation will provide an equal or greater screen than that required in Table 15. If existing vegetation is removed or damaged during construction, buffer plantings shall be provided in accordance with the requirements of Table 15.
(e) Parking Lot Landscaping.
(1) Parking Lot Screening along Central (SR 73) and North Main (SR 741). Parking located along Central (SR73) and North Main (SR 741) that are located in front or on the side of a building shall be screened from the Central (SR 73) and North Main (SR 741) with a 3-foot high brick or stone wall, evergreen landscaping, berm, or approved alternative. Appropriate species of evergreens shall be chosen, and dwarf species are recommended in the interest of minimizing pruning and maintaining the natural form of the plant material.
(2) Internal Parking Lot Landscaping. Landscape islands internal to parking lots are required to separate parking aisled, direct traffic, and break large expanses of impervious surfaces. Required landscaping elsewhere on the lot shall not be counted in meeting the parking lot landscaping requirements(see Figure 9 below).
A. Landscape Ratio. Off-street parking areas containing greater than 15 spaces shall be provided with at least 10 square feet of interior landscaping per parking space.
B. Minimum Area. Landscaped areas in parking lots shall be no less than 5 feet in any single dimension and no less than 150 square feet in area. Landscaped areas in or adjacent to parking lots shall be protected with curbing or other means to prevent encroachment of vehicles.
C. Required Plantings. Requirements for plant material shall be based on the location, size, and shape of the parking lot landscaped area. A minimum of 1 tree shall be planted per 300 square feet or fraction thereof of interior landscaped area. At least 50 percent of each interior landscaped area shall be covered by living plant material, such as sod, shrubs, ground cover, or trees.
Figure 9. Example of Internal Parking Lot Landscaping
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(f) Site Landscaping. In addition to the other landscaping required in this Chapter, 1 tree shall be planted per 3,000 square feet of lot area.
(g) Screening of Mechanical Equipment. Mechanical equipment such as transformers and HVAC shall not be located in front yards. All mechanical equipment, including both ground-mounted and roof-mounted equipment, shall be screened from view from adjacent public and private rights-of-way, as well as from all property zoned or used for residential purposes, through the use of evergreen plantings or enclosures.
(h) Screening of Trash Receptacles. Trash receptacles shall be located in side or rear yards and screened on three (3) sides with durable building materials consistent in appearance and materials with that of the principal building. The fourth side shall be screened with an opaque gate with a lockable latch assembly.
(Ord. 0-15-4. Passed 2-19-15; Ord. O-20-2. Passed 1-2-20.)
1280.05 PLANTING STANDARDS.
(a) The plant palette should emphasize native trees, shrubs, ground cover which is hardy to this region. The City shall keep and revise a list of preferred and prohibited species.
(b) Shade trees shall have a DBH (diameter at breast height) of at least 2.5 inches; Ornamental trees shall have DBH of at least 2 inches and evergreen trees shall be at least 6 feet high at the time of planting. Deciduous and evergreen shrubs shall be a minimum of 18 inches high at the time of planting with no fewer than 6 main branches.
(c) Plants shall be salt-spray tolerant, compatible with existing soil conditions and tolerant of a wide range of conditions.
(d) The planting design shall use massing or groupings of materials to create a stronger visual impact for high speed areas, use plant diversity for long term health of the plants, use repetition for continuity and create visual interest by incorporating spring and summer flowers and fall color. The design shall incorporate the Planning Commission's desired visual effect and, equally important, the intent of the City to coordinate landscaping on adjoining properties.
(e) New landscaping should be naturalistic looking by being sensitive to area's existing natural features. New landscaping should blend with existing vegetation and topography. Earth mounds should undulate horizontally and vertically to look as natural as possible.
(f) Plants shall not be located where they interfere with overhead utilities or block visibility for pedestrians and motorists at the time of planting or upon maturity of the plant.
(g) Landscape areas must be routinely maintained; dead and diseased plant material shall be replaced; and irrigation to landscape areas is strongly recommended.
(Ord. 0-15-4. Passed 2-19-15.)
1280.06 INSTALLATION, MAINTENANCE AND COMPLETION.
(a) All required landscaping shall be planted prior to obtaining a Certificate of Occupancy or, where the applicant can demonstrate to the Zoning Inspector that seasonal conditions prohibit the installation of the plant material prior to desired occupancy, the plant material will be installed within 6 months of receipt of such Certificate.
(b) All landscaping and landscape elements shall be planted, and earth moving or grading performed, in a sound workmanlike manner and according to accepted good planting and grading procedures.
(c) The owner of property required to be landscaped shall maintain such landscaping in a reasonably healthy condition, free from refuse and debris. All unhealthy and dead material shall be replaced within 1 year of damage or death or the next appropriate planting period, whichever comes first. (Ord. 0-15-4. Passed 2-19-15.)
1280.07 MODIFICATIONS.
The Planning Commission may grant modifications to any buffer yard and general landscaping requirement where existing or proposed vegetation meets the intent of these regulations, or when, because of the unique shape, location, or character of the property, alternative landscaping requirements would produce a more appealing landscape design. However, the Planning Commission may require additional tree plantings or other landscape elements where existing or proposed vegetation is sparse and/or the intent of these regulations is not met.
(Ord. 0-15-4. Passed 2-19-15.)