St Bonifacius City Zoning Code
LANDSCAPING AND
SCREENING
§ 157.085 GENERAL.
(A) The primary purpose of this policy is to establish minimum requirements and standards relative to landscaping, buffering and screening to be implemented concurrently with site plans approved by the city.
(B) The objectives of these requirements are to establish and maintain forestation of the city; to provide appropriate ground cover vegetation to control soil erosion; to enhance, when necessary, the natural environment, particularly in instances where the natural environment is disturbed during the course of development; and to establish standards for utilization of natural materials to achieve desired screening and buffering.
(C) This policy sets forth minimum requirements of landscaping and limitations to assure that the result is consistent with reasonable maintenance requirements on a long-term basis and to assure that the results provide an aesthetically pleasing environment.
(Ord. passed 12-17-2014)
§ 157.086 MINIMUM STANDARDS FOR RESIDENTIAL ZONING DISTRICTS.
(A) An earth berm, not exceeding a slope of three to one, but at least three feet high, shall be placed in all newly-platted residential developments that abut a state highway or county road. The berm shall be placed on the side(s) abutting the state highway or county road, and shall be in addition to other minimum planting requirements. Evergreen trees and shrubs shall be planted on or at the base of the berm to at least 75% opaqueness at maturity and a total height (combined with the berm height) of at least six feet in order to screen the development from the highway or county road.
(B) In the R-1 and R-2 Zoning Districts, each newly-platted single- or two-family lot shall have two shade trees planted in the front building setback. Each new multi-family lot shall have one tree per unit planted in the front building setback.
(C) In the R-6 Zoning District, there shall be one shade tree or two ornamental trees for every two dwelling units on any given property.
(D) In the R-6 Zoning District, landscaped areas averaging three feet in width with at least one shrub every five feet shall be installed along sidewalks. If there is an off-street parking area with a required screen hedge along one side of a sidewalk, the landscape area requirement will be considered met along that stretch of sidewalk.
(E) Vacant lots shall be kept mowed to a height of not more than six inches by the developer or owner.
(F) Multiple-family dwellings shall have trash and trash handling equipment stored within the principal structure or within an attached structure accessible from within the principal structure that is screened, through the use of vegetation, from public streets and adjacent residential properties.
(G) Where any multiple-family use with more than four parking spaces abuts another residential use, the off-street parking for such use shall be screened from adjoining properties by a hedge or other various plantings as approved by the City Council.
(H) Light from automobile headlights and other sources shall be screened whenever it may be directed onto residential windows, including those within the same development.
(Ord. passed 12-17-2014)
§ 157.087 MINIMUM STANDARDS FOR BUSINESS AND INDUSTRIAL ZONING DISTRICTS.
(A) One tree for every 50 feet of site perimeter shall be planted. The City Council may determine that trees should be grouped in certain instances.
(B) If landscaping cannot be accommodated on a MU-BR District site, the City Council shall require the plantings to be placed in a city park or city right-of-way. Placement of such landscaping shall be approved by the City Council.
(C) Any off-street parking or stacking areas or drive aisles that face or abut a residentially-zoned area shall be screened so as to minimize the visual impact of the large expanses of asphalt and automobiles. This screening shall be accomplished by an earth berm, not exceeding a slope of three to one, but at least three feet high with shrubs at least two feet in height planted on top of the berm and spaced to create 75% opaqueness at the time of planting and growing to a 100% opaque hedge within two years. The berm shall be placed on the side(s) abutting the residential zone(s), and shall be in addition to other minimum planting requirements. An evergreen hedge installed at a minimum of 42 inches in height and 100% opaqueness at the time of planting or other combinations (including fences) may be approved by the City Council during site plan review.
(D) Loading docks, loading berths or other delivery areas that are on the side of the lot nearest a residentially-zoned area shall be screened so as not to be seen from the residential area. Various schemes of berms, plantings and/or fencing or walls approved by the City Council may be used.
(E) All trash and trash handling equipment shall be stored within the principal structure, within an attached structure accessible from within the principal structure that is screened, through the use of vegetation, from public streets and adjacent residential properties.
(F) Light from automobile headlights and other sources shall be screened whenever it may be directed onto adjacent residential windows.
(Ord. passed 12-17-2014)
§ 157.088 LANDSCAPING REQUIREMENTS APPLICABLE TO ALL DISTRICTS.
(A) Unless otherwise directed by the City Council, all plantings shall be placed on the private property on which the development is taking place.
(B) All areas not otherwise improved in accordance with approved site plans or subdivisions shall be sodded or seeded and maintained.
(C) All off-street parking areas shall include unpaved, landscaped islands at a rate of one island for each 12 parking stalls (the islands do not need to be installed at exact 12-stall intervals, but the total number of required islands must be met by spreading the islands at intervals designed to achieve the desired aesthetic effect of breaking up large expanses of pavement). Each landscaped island shall be 180 square feet in size (eight feet by 18 feet measured from back of curb; eight feet by 37 feet if combined in head-to-head parking row) and shall be contained by a raised concrete curb that meets city standards. Plantings shall include one shade tree and two shrubs per 18-foot island, or two shade or ornamental trees and four shrubs between the two trees per 37-foot islands. Sod or minimum-maintenance groundcover shall be placed on the remainder of the island.
(D) The owner shall provide the city with cash, approved letter of credit, or other surety satisfactory to the city to guarantee the proper installation and growth of the approved landscape plan. The performance bond shall be furnished by the developer prior to obtaining a building permit that is equal to the amount of the required landscaping to be installed. The bond may be held by the city for up to one year subsequent to the installation of required landscaping.
(E) Root barriers may be required for trees in parking islands or near pavement or utilities, at the discretion of the City Council as recommended by the City Planner or City Engineer.
(F) Transition areas between landscaped and sodded areas are required to have landscape edging installed.
(G) GROUNDCOVER is defined as minimum-maintenance, low-growing vegetation designed to be planted in lieu of grass, or ornamental rock, wood chips, mulch and the like.
(Ord. passed 12-17-2014)
§ 157.089 SIZE AND SPECIES OF PLANTINGS.
(A) (1) Required plantings shall be of the following minimum size:
Coniferous trees | 6’ ht. (total height with berm) |
Ornamental trees | 1.5” DBH |
Shade/deciduous island trees | 1.5” DBH |
Shade/deciduous perimeter trees | 1.5” DBH |
Shrubs | 5-gal or 24” ht. unless specified above |
(2) Shade/deciduous trees typically grow to a height of greater than 25 feet at maturity and have a canopied appearance; ornamental trees are shorter, typically flowering, without much shade value.
(B) (1) Required plantings shall conform to the following species standards: all trees used in site developments shall be indigenous to the appropriate hardiness zone and physical characteristics of the site.
(2) Perimeter trees may be 100% deciduous, but may not be more than 33% coniferous. The City Council may determine a different percentage is necessary to allow for screening, sight lines and the like.
(3) Required trees shall not be more than 25% of any single species.
(4) All tree, shrub and groundcover species submitted on the landscape plan will be reviewed by the City Planner.
(5) All trees shall be chosen from species other than those listed below.
Acer negundo | Boxelder (ash-leaved maple) |
Fraxinus (Alt) | Ash (all species, varieties and cultivars) |
Ginkgo biloba | Ginkgo (maidenhair tree female only) |
Populus deltoids | Eastern cottonwood |
Populus nigra italic | Lombardy poplar |
Rhamnus Cathartica | Buckthorn (common or European) |
Rhamnus Frangula | Buckthorn (glossy, including all cultivars) |
(Ord. passed 12-17-2014)