The purpose of this article is to promote the public health, safety and welfare by establishing minimum standards for the design, installation and maintenance of landscaping in parking lots, as greenbelts between uses and along roadways. Landscaping is considered by the city to be an important element of land development and is a critical factor in maintaining an attractive community character and conserving the value of land and buildings in the city. Landscaping also serves to buffer incompatible land uses, moderate harsh or unpleasant sounds, remove air pollutants, reduce the glare from vehicle headlights and separate vehicular and pedestrian circulation.

The landscape standards of this article are considered the minimum necessary to achieve the objectives noted above. In several instances, the standards are intentionally flexible to encourage flexibility and creative design. Applicants are encouraged to provide additional landscaping to improve the function, appearance and value of their property.

a)

The standards contained in this article shall be applicable to any site plan, special land use request, or PUD submitted for review and approval under this article.

b)

The regulations of this article shall not apply to individual single-family and two-family dwelling units.

For existing and proposed uses that require site plan approval to either expand or be built, landscaping should be installed insofar as practical. The planning commission in its review of the site plan has the authority to increase, decrease or otherwise modify the landscaping and screening requirements of this article. In doing so, the commission shall consider the following criteria:

a)

The amount of space on the site available for landscaping.

b)

Existing landscaping on the site and on adjacent properties.

c)

The type of use on the site and size of the development.

d)

Existing and proposed adjacent land uses.

e)

The effect the required landscaping would have on the operation of the existing or proposed land use.

f)

Whether additional landscaping is necessary to mitigate the adverse effects of adjoining land uses, to reduce headlight glare, reduce noise and to otherwise achieve the objectives of this section.

a)

Landscaping shall be installed within 180 days of occupancy of the building or structure unless a longer period is permitted in writing by the zoning administrator.

b)

All landscaping shall be hardy plant materials and maintained thereafter in a neat, healthy and orderly manner. Withered and/or dead plant materials shall be replaced within a reasonable period of time but no longer than one growing season.

c)

For the purpose of this article, a corner lot is considered as having a front yard along each street, and the appropriate landscaping shall be provided for both yards.

a)

A greenbelt or landscape area as required herein shall be provided as follows:

b)

Wherever a commercial or industrial zone abuts an R-1, R-M or PUD zone containing dwelling units.

c)

Wherever a C-R zone containing a nonresidential use abuts a R-1, R-M or PUD zone containing dwelling units.

d)

Wherever a commercial or industrial zone abuts a nonconforming residential use such as a house in a commercial or industrial zone.

e)

Wherever a nonresidential use such as a governmental building, church, school, hospital, or library which may be allowed in a residential zone abuts a residential use or an R-1 or R-M zone, a greenbelt shall be required.

f)

Wherever multi-family buildings in an R-M zone abuts an R-1 zone or a dwelling unit on adjoining property.

g)

The greenbelt shall be installed along the abutting lot line separating the different zoning districts.

h)

Landscaping requirements shall not apply where zoning districts are separated by a public street. In such case, the front yard landscaping requirements of this article shall apply.

a)

A greenbelt shall be a minimum of 15 feet wide.

b)

For each whole 50 linear feet abutting the adjacent property, three trees shall be planted within the greenbelt. Such trees shall be a mixture of evergreen, canopy and ornamental trees unless otherwise required by the planning commission.

c)

Two shrubs shall be planted for each tree planted and each shrub shall be a minimum of 30 inches at planting.

a)

Plant materials shall not be placed closer than six feet from the fence line or property line.

b)

Minimum size at time of planting:

1)

Coniferous evergreen trees: Four feet in height.

2)

Deciduous shade/canopy tree: 2½ caliper inches.

3)

Deciduous ornamental tree: 1½ caliper inches or six feet in height.

4)

Deciduous shrubs: 24 inches in height or 30 inches in spread.

5)

Upright coniferous shrub: 24 inches in height.

6)

Spreading coniferous shrub: 18 inches spread.

(Caliper inches measured six inches above grade, height measured above grade.)

a)

Except for the C-1 zone, where any off-street parking area directly abuts or faces a public street, a screen shall be required between the parking area and the road right-of-way. Such screen shall consist of, at a minimum, one of the following:

1)

A strip of land at least five feet in width and a solid screen comprised of a vegetative hedge or decorative wall, or any combination thereof, which measures at least three feet in height; or

2)

A strip of land at least ten feet in width within which for each 50 feet in length of road frontage two trees shall be planted. A mixture of evergreen, canopy and ornamental trees is encouraged to provide a variety of plantings along the street. Driveways shall not be counted in the determination of road frontage.

3)

Shrubs at a rate of one per each tree required.

4)

Earthen berms may be permitted within the required front yard landscape area. Credit of up to 25 percent may be received against providing the required plantings through the use of berms three feet in height or greater.

b)

If landscaping is not required along the street frontage by subsection 16.08(a) of this section, then the front yard shall be landscaped according to the following requirements:

1)

For each 50 feet in length of road frontage two trees shall be planted within the front yard. A mixture of evergreen, canopy and ornamental trees is encouraged to provide a variety of plantings along the street. Driveways shall not be counted in the determination of road frontage.

2)

Shrubs at a rate of one per each tree required.

3)

Earthen berms may be permitted within the required front yard landscape area. Credit of up to 25 percent may be received against providing the required plantings through the use of berms three feet in height or greater.

All parking areas having 20 or more parking spaces shall be landscaped according to the following minimum requirements:

a)

One canopy tree for every 20 parking spaces, with a minimum of two trees, shall be planted adjacent to and within the parking area.

b)

Trees shall be located to prevent damage by motor vehicles.

c)

Landscaping islands shall be dispersed through the parking lot in order to break up large expanses of paved surfaces and improve traffic flow and line of sight for drivers. Each landscape island shall be a minimum of six feet wide and shall contain at least one canopy tree.

d)

Landscaping shall be arranged so as not to obscure traffic signs or fire hydrants or obstruct drivers' sight distance within the parking area and at driveway entrances.

e)

All landscape areas shall be protected by raised curbs, parking blocks or other similar methods.

f)

Landscaping required for greenbelts and front yard landscaping that abuts off-street parking areas may substitute for up to 50 percent of the required parking lot landscaping.

If a berm is used for all or part of the greenbelt, required plant material quantities may be reduced by 25 percent. The berm shall comply with minimum standards contained in this article. All plant materials shall be placed along the top and exterior side slope of the berm. The greenbelt width shall be increased as needed to accommodate maximum berm side slopes of one-foot vertical rise to three feet horizontal.

Landscaped areas and plant materials required by this chapter including shall be kept free from refuse and debris. Plant materials, including lawns, shall be maintained in a healthy growing condition, neat and orderly in appearance in accordance with the approved site plan. If any plant material dies or becomes diseased, it shall be replaced within a reasonable period of time upon written notice from the city or within an extended time period as specified in said notice.

a)

All landscaping required by this chapter shall be planted before obtaining a certificate of occupancy or the appropriate financial guarantee may be placed in escrow in the amount of the cost of landscaping to be released only after landscaping is completed. A temporary certificate of occupancy may be issued for projects needing additional time planting the approved landscaping elements based on seasonal limitations.

b)

Plantings near utility lines and fire hydrants and clear vision requirements.

1)

Required plant materials and screening shall be arranged to avoid conflicts with underground and overhead utility lines and access to or visibility of fire hydrants.

2)

The anticipated height at maturity of trees planted near overhead utility lines shall not exceed the line height above grade.

c)

Clear vision requirements. No plantings shall be established or maintained on any lot which will obstruct the view of a vehicle driver approaching an intersection. Such unobstructed area shall mean a triangular area formed by the street property lines and a line connecting them at points 25 feet from the intersection of the street lines or in the case of a rounded property corner from the intersection of the street property lines extended. This shall not prohibit the establishment of shrubbery less than 30 inches in height. Landscaping shall be arranged so as not to obscure traffic signs or obstruct drivers' sight distance within the parking area and at driveway entrances.