Suffield City Zoning Code
ARTICLE VIII
Landscaping and Buffers
§ 315-81 Statement of purpose.
The purpose of this regulation is to protect and maintain property values by preserving existing vegetation and requiring the planting of new materials; to reduce excessive heat, glare, and accumulation of dust; to provide for water recharge areas; to protect privacy from visual intrusion; to provide natural visual screening of parking and loading areas; to prevent the erosion of soil and runoff of stormwater; to ensure public safety by using landscaping materials to define parking and loading areas and manage internal vehicular and pedestrian circulation; to reduce sound pollution; and to improve the environmental quality and aesthetics of the Town of Suffield.
§ 315-82 Definitions.
For the purpose of applying the provisions of this section the terms below shall be defined as follows:
An earthen mound designed to provide visual interest on a site, screen undesirable views, buffer properties from adjoining uses, reduce noise, or control the direction of surface water flow.
Dogwood, Redbud, Crab apple, or similar.
Grass, turf, vinca, pachysandra, myrtle or other plants. White gravel, brick or stone paving may be used in combination with plants.
Evergreens at least four feet in height at the time of planting, which shall be maintained at a height of six feet. A hedge shall provide complete visual screening.
An area covered with grass or ground cover, where additional planting is either specifically required or left to the discretion of the property owner.
Contiguous plantings or fencing as determined by the Commission which creates a complete visual screening at least six feet in height.
Deciduous shade trees such as Sugar Maple, Oak, London Plane, or Linden, and conifers such as White Pine, Austrian Pine, or Canadian Hemlock.
The desired effect is partial visual screening of an object. The width of the screening strip may be varied by the Commission or the applicant, but shall be at least five feet. Plant material shall consist of shade trees spaced 40 feet on center or flowering trees spaced 20 feet on center or a mixture of both. Where a continuous landscaped screening strip is impractical, trees may be located in islands at least 20 square feet in area.
The desired effect is partial visual screening between zoning districts. Plant material shall be the same as specified for Type "A" screening except that 1/2 of the trees shall be evergreens and the number of trees required is doubled.
The desired year-round effect is complete visual screening of parking and loading areas. The screening material shall consist of a berm, hedge, screening fence or wall, or a combination thereof. The screening strip shall be at least five feet wide for a fence or wall and landscaped, and at least 10 feet for a hedge.
The desired effect is separation and partial visual screening without creation of visual obstructions for traffic. The screening material shall consist of planting materials with low growth habits interspersed with flowering trees at about 20 feet on center and deciduous shade trees space 40 feet on center. Said strip shall not be less than 10 feet in width within the property line.
§ 315-83 General requirements.
These regulations shall apply to any use requiring a special permit or site plan approval, and shall include all associated disturbed portions of property not otherwise used for buildings, structures, parking and loading areas, sidewalks, or similar purposes. In addition, the following shall apply:
A.
All plant materials required by these regulations shall be nursery grown and conform to the standards of the American Association of Nurserymen.
B.
All plant materials shall be planted in a growing condition according to acceptable horticultural practices and shall be maintained in a healthy growing condition.
C.
All landscaping, planting, and ground cover materials shall be of a noninvasive species. Nonnative invasive species are not permitted.
[Amended 1-4-2019]
D.
Trees and shrubs shown on an approved site plan that are not in growing condition shall be replaced by the property owner during the next planting season.
E.
At the time of planting, trees shall be balled and burlapped and shall be of the following minimum size caliper according to the American Nursery and Landscape Association:
F.
Mulched planting beds at least four inches deep shall be placed around all trees and shrubs to help retain moisture. Mulching material shall be shredded bark, wood chips, or other organic substitute and shall be replaced yearly.
G.
No trees 12 inches or greater in caliper as measured four feet above grade shall be removed unless approved by the Commission.
H.
Landscaping, trees and screening material contiguous to parking and loading areas shall be properly protected by barrier, curbs, or other means.
I.
All portions of nonresidential properties which shall be proposed as locations for buildings, structures, off-street parking and loading areas, sidewalks or similar improvements shall be landscaped and permanently maintained in such manner as to minimize stormwater runoff and harmoniously blend such nonresidential uses in with the residential character of the Town.
J.
Depending on site conditions and the type of use proposed, the Commission may require a landscaping plan prepared by and containing the seal of a landscape architect registered by the State of Connecticut.
§ 315-84 Screening and buffers.
Screening and buffers shall be required as follows:
A.
Agricultural buffer. The Commission may require partial or complete screening in an agricultural buffer.
D.
Uses in Neighborhood Commercial Zoning District. Type "B" when abutting a residential lot.
E.
Uses in Town Center Village Zoning District. Type "B" when abutting a residential lot.
F.
Uses in West Suffield Village Zoning District. Type "B" when abutting a residential lot.
§ 315-85 Other requirements.
A.
The Commission may consider and approve modifications to the landscape requirements when unusual conditions require more extensive screening for noise abatement or to protect surrounding residential properties, or when excellence in building or landscape design demands less landscaping.
B.
All landscaping shown on the approved plan shall:
(1)
Be completed prior to issuance of a certificate of occupancy; or
(2)
Be guaranteed of completion by filing a bond with the Town, in an amount and form satisfactory to the Town Engineer and Commission counsel, assuring completion within a specified time (not to exceed one year), which bond shall be forfeited if the required work is not completed.