A.   Landscape Plan Required. A landscape plan must be prepared for all sites that are subject to the landscaping and screening standards of this chapter. Landscape plans must be submitted in a form and in such numbers as specified by the official responsible for accepting the application.

   B.   Contents of Landscape Plan. A licensed landscape architect, landscape designer, landscape contractor, horticulturalist or Ohio Certified Nursery Technician must prepare every landscape plan required by this chapter. All landscape plans must include the following information:

      1.    Vicinity map, zoning districts, north arrow, readable scale no smaller than 1 inch = 30 feet, dimensions, and the dates the plans are submitted or revised.

      2.    The name of applicant or owner, and the name, address and phone number of the person or firm responsible for the preparation of the landscape plan.

      3.    The existing and proposed contours at a minimum of 2-foot intervals of the site. Contours must be shown at 1-foot intervals for berms.

      4.    All existing and proposed buildings and other structures, planted areas, light standards, signs, fences and other permanent features to be added and/or retained on the site.

      5.    All existing and proposed streets, sidewalks (on or adjacent to the property), curbs and gutters, railroad tracks, drainage ditches and other public or semipublic improvements within and immediately adjacent to the site.

      6.    The location of parking lot areas including parking stalls, driveways, service areas, etc.

      7.    The location of utilities (including underground).

      8.    The location of proposed plant material, mulch beds and other landscape improvements such as but not limited to berms, etc.

      9.    Plant schedule with botanical and common plant names, quantity of plants to be installed, plant size at installation and on-center planting dimensions where applicable.

      10.    All existing plant material to be removed or retained and all new landscaping materials to be installed.

      11.    All existing and proposed property lines and easements.

      12.    Typical elevations and/or cross-sections as may be required to adequately convey the aspects of the plan.

      13.    Details for the planting of the types of trees, shrubs and ground cover within the landscaped area.

      14.    Development summary that quantifies the landscape requirements as they relate to the development plan for the proposed site improvements.

      15.    Any other information that is deemed appropriate by the Planning Director.

   C.   Review Procedures.

   Landscape plans shall be reviewed at the time of Site Plan Review, or review and approval of a Special Use. For development not subject to these procedures, the Planning Director is responsible for reviewing and approving all landscape plans. Upon receipt of required drawings and plans, the Planning Director must, within 45 days of receipt, approve the landscape plan or make a determination as to whether the application:

      1.    Presents a unique situation, in which case the Planning Director must require the applicant to submit the application to the Plan Commission; or

      2.    Is not in conformance with the Landscaping and Screening standards of Chapter 1108. In such case the Planning Director must deny approval of the plan and send written notice of denial to the applicant along with the reasons for denial.

(Ord. 170-04. Passed 3-23-04.)

   In the event that the unusual topography or elevation of a development site, the size of the parcel to be developed, the extent of expansion or redevelopment of the site, the site plan, or the presence of existing buffers on adjacent developed property would make strict adherence to the requirements of this chapter serve no meaningful purpose or would make it physically impossible to install and maintain the required landscaping and or buffer, the Plan Commission may, upon proper application by the property owner and upon making findings of fact, modify and/or waive the requirements of this chapter provided the existing or resulting boundary features of the development site comply with the spirit and intent of this chapter, and other related chapters.

(Ord. 170-04. Passed 3-23-04.)

   To regulate the planting and preservation of landscape materials to promote general health, safety and welfare; to protect, preserve and promote the aesthetic appeal, character and value of the surrounding neighborhoods; provide coordinated streetscapes; reduce pollutants in stormwater runoff and improve the appearance of parking lots.

(Ord. 170-04. Passed 3-23-04.)

   The regulations of this chapter apply to all new development and redevelopment plans approved after June 6, 2004, including those that include construction of any principal building, redevelopment and rehabilitation that results in an increase in a principal building's floor area or building footprint, any increase in size of an off-street parking area, and any change in use that changes the treatment of the premises under this chapter.

(Ord. 170-04. Passed 3-23-04.)

   Development involving the construction of a single detached house or duplex shall be exempt from the Landscaping and Screening standards of this chapter.

(Ord. 170-04. Passed 3-23-04.)

   A.   Building Permits. Where landscaping is required, no building permit will be approved until the required landscaping plan has been submitted, approved, and bonded or otherwise assured.

   B.   Certificates of Use and Occupancy. All required trees, plants, groundcover, screening materials landscape material and irrigation improvements must be in place prior to issuance of the final Certificate of Use and Occupancy unless an extension is approved by the Planning Director secured either by the execution of a deferred completion agreement, the posting of full cash bond, or the posting of an irrevocable letter of credit from a banking institution with offices in Lucas County as a financial security. In no case must such a deferred completion agreement be extended for a period exceeding 180 days.

      1.   If landscape and screening has not been installed in compliance with the applicable standards of this Chapter within 180 days, the Planning Director shall authorize use of the funds or financial security to acquire and install required landscaping and screening.

(Ord. 510-21. Passed 9-28-21; Ord. 344-25. Passed 8-12-25.)

      2.    When landscaping and screening has been installed in compliance with the applicable standards of this chapter, the funds or financial security shall be returned to the developer or approved developer-authorized beneficiary.

   Landscaping installed to meet the requirements of this chapter should be designed to be functional - reducing the urban heat island effect of impervious surfaces, helping to control runoff, etc. - as well as aesthetically pleasing. The size of plants at maturity should be considered when selecting plant material and designing its installation. If any thematic elements are found in the surrounding area they should be continued, including plant types and planting patterns.

(Ord. 170-04. Passed 3-23-04.)

   A.   Applicability. An extensively landscaped frontage greenbelt shall be provided along public right-of-ways, but not including alleys. Plantings required to meet this section shall not be located within the public right-of-way. This requirement applies to all zoning districts except those districts defined in Section 1108.0300.

   B.   Requirements. Said frontage greenbelt shall include grass, trees and shrub plantings.

      1.    At least one tree must be provided for every 30 feet of lot frontage or fraction thereof. Trees are not required to be evenly spaced and may be clustered.

      2.    If a parking lot is proposed to be developed in the front of the property, the frontage greenbelt shall include a solid evergreen hedge planting to screen the parking lot so that no headlights of any vehicles can be seen from the public street. Low, undulating (horizontal and vertical) earth berms or decorative stone or brick walls (no concrete block), or ornamental metal fencing or combinations thereof may also be approved by the Planning Director.

      3.    Frontage greenbelts shall be a minimum width of 15 feet. For properties over 5 acres and/or those with over 500 feet of frontage, the frontage greenbelt shall be a minimum of 30 feet wide measured perpendicular from the street or place right-of-way abutting the property.

      4.    See also Section 1107.1202B.3. when within 50 feet of a Residential District.

      5.   Stormwater treatment facilities may occupy up to fifty (50%) percent of the frontage greenbelt provided they meet the criteria outlined in TMC Section 1108.0206 Stormwater Treatment Facilities. Retention and detention pond stormwater treatment facilities are not permitted within the required frontage greenbelt.

(Ord. 170-04. Passed 3-23-04; Ord. 156-16. Passed 4-26-16.)

   A.   Intent. The intent of this section is that effects of incompatible land uses on abutting properties be reduced by requiring screening and buffering between the uses in order to minimize the harmful impacts of noise, dust and debris, headlight glare, and other objectionable activities by an adjoining or nearby use. The buffer provides transition between the incompatible uses by requiring a landscape yard of a minimum specified depth along the shared side and/or rear property lines. The purpose of the screen is to provide a year round visual obstruction.

   B.   Applicability. Except as stated in Section 1108.0300, the buffer and screening requirements of this section apply to all development that requires Major or Minor Site Plan Review. (See Section 1111.0800.)

   C.   Requirements. Refer to Table 1108.0203 to determine any screening requirements for the proposed development. First identify the type of zoning for the proposed development (along the left side of the table) and each adjoining property (along the top of the table). Find where the zoning of the proposed development and each adjoining property intersect on the matrix. If a screen is required, a capital letter will indicate the type of buffer to be applied.

 

   D.   Landscape Buffer Standards. For all landscape buffers (Type A, and B):

      1.    One and a half understory trees or one evergreen tree may be substituted for one canopy tree for up to 50 percent of the required canopy trees.

      2.    A fence, wall, or berm 6 feet to 8 feet in height may be used and can substitute for shrub requirements except for a Type A landscape buffer with a minimum width of 10 feet.

      3.    All landscape material required for the buffer must be confined to the required width of the boundary buffer.

      4.    Plant material shown in the illustrations for the buffer width is for illustrative purposes only. The actual landscape design for placement and spacing of the plant material will vary per buffer area, although the landscape design and installation must equal the required amount of plant material per buffer.

      5.    If the buffer is part of the site drainage system, the ground cover and soil must be capable of filtering stormwater runoff prior to discharge into the City's storm sewer system.

   E.   Type A Landscape Buffer.

 

 

   F.   Type B Landscape Buffer.

 

 

   G.   Dumpster/Trash Receptacle Screening.

      1.    Screening must be a minimum height of 6 feet.

      2.    All four sides of the dumpster must be screened.

      3.    The screen should incorporate access to the dumpster by using a wooden fence or other opaque device to serve as a gate.

      4.    Screening materials can be any combination of evergreen plantings, fence or wall structure.

      5.    A dumpster may not be in any required setback or landscape buffers and shall be located as far away from residential areas as possible.

      6.    Dumpsters and trash receptacles serving commercial or industrial uses may not be located in Residential Districts.

      7.    Dumpsters may not be located in the public right-of-way as stated in Section 1361.10(b)(10) of the Building Code.

   H.   Outdoor Storage Screening. In all Commercial and Industrial Districts, fencing to screen from public view open storage areas, except display areas for customer viewing when abutting a Commercial or Industrial District, shall be required in accordance with the following criteria:

      1.    The fencing shall be at least 6 feet high, but not higher than 10 feet, except that, when adjacent to a Residential District or residential use, fencing no higher than 3 1/2 feet high shall be installed within the front setback.

      2.    The fence type may be shadow box, chain link with slats, stockade, or another type approved by the Plan Commission.

      3.    Wherever possible a Type A landscape buffer should be used to soften the appearance of the fence. (See Section 1108.0203E.)

      4.    No part of any fencing may extend into the public right-of-way.

      5.    See Section 1104.1600 for Storage of Towaway Vehicles screening standards.

   I.   Stormwater Facilities.

      1.    No rip-rap, crushed stone, concrete or other impervious materials may be exposed above the average pool elevation for any retention pond.

      2.    Trees and other plant material can be planted along the stormwater facility.

      3.    Buffers or landscape screening areas that are part of the stormwater runoff system must comply with the City's stormwater discharge control policies pursuant to Chapter 941 of the Streets, Utilities and Public Services Code as administered by the Department of Public Utilities.

(Ord. 170-04. Passed 3-23-04.)

   A.   Applicability.

      1.    Parking lots include the parking use area, access drives, driveways, aisles and loading areas for the purpose of this section.

      2.    The standards of this section applies to all off-street parking lots containing five or more off-street parking spaces for any use, except in those districts defined in Section 1108.0300 and IG Districts unless the IG District abuts a residential use.

      3.    Where an existing parking lot is expanded by 20 percent or more, landscaping must be provided for the entire area and not merely to the extent of its expansion.

      4.    See also Section 1108.0202 for frontage greenbelt requirements and Section 1109.0303 for additional standards that apply to Large-Scale Retail projects.

   B.   Area and Dimensional Standards.

      1.    The total interior landscaping required in parking lots is 20 square feet per parking and stacking space. Any landscaping required for frontage greenbelt plantings (Section 1108.0202) or that required between the building and parking lot does not account for required interior parking lot landscaping.

      2.   Landscape areas within the parking area must be peninsular or island types and must be constructed with 6 inch by 18 inch concrete curbing, cast-in-place, extruded, or by some other process approved by the Planning Director, to minimize damage to plant material. Where the landscape area is part of the stormwater treatment facility for the parking lot, curb openings or wheel stops shall be required to allow for drainage into the stormwater treatment facility.

(Ord. 155-16. Passed 4-26-16.)

      3.   Topsoil must be back filled to provide positive drainage of the landscape peninsula or island, unless landscape peninsula or island is being utilized as a stormwater treatment facility.

(Ord. 155-16. Passed 4-26-16.)

      4.   All parking spaces must be within 100 linear feet of a landscaped area.

      5.   All landscaping areas must have a minimum dimension of at least 9 feet and be at least 160 square feet in area.

      6.   Landscaped areas may not contain bare soil, aggregated stone or decorative rock. Any ground area must be covered with hardwood mulch, grass or other vegetative ground cover, unless approved as part of the stormwater treatment facility.

(Ord. 155-16. Passed 4-26-16.)

      7.    Landscaped terminal islands must be provided at the end of each parking row.

      8.    Divider medians that form a continuous landscaped strip may be installed between abutting rows of parking spaces. The minimum width of divider medians must be 10 feet.

      9.    Perimeter landscaping must be installed along any parking lot area adjacent to a street, place, or driveway, or which is visible from an immediately adjacent property.

         a.    Perimeter landscaping must consist of a landscape area at least 10 feet in width, exclusive of sidewalks, walkways, trails, or right-of-way and must be located between the parking lot and the property line.

         b.    For overlap with another perimeter buffer area see Section 1108.0204D.

      10.    Wheel stops must be provided to ensure that vehicles cannot overhang directly on plant material.

   C.   Quantity Requirements.

      1.    Interior.

         a.    Two canopy trees are required to be installed in interior landscape areas for each 10 parking spaces within the parking lot.

         b.    Six shrubs are required to be installed in interior landscape areas for each 10 parking spaces within the parking lot. One canopy tree may substitute for three shrubs.

         c.    Trees and shrubs do not have to be equally spaced, but may be grouped.

      2.    Perimeter.

         a. A perimeter landscape buffer shall be provided abutting the parking area and to visually screen all off-street loading facilities from view of Residential districts and public right-of-ways. A minimum of at least one canopy tree must be provided for each 30 linear feet, plus a continuous shrub with a minimum height of 18 inches (when installed so as to achieve full screening at maturity).

      3.    Credit.

         Existing healthy trees and shrubs on a site may be used to meet these requirements upon review and approval by the Planning Director.

   D.   Overlapping Requirements.

      1.    The parking lot perimeter landscaping width and planting requirements of Section 1108.0204 when along a public right-of-way will count towards the width and planting requirements of the frontage greenbelt requirement of Section 1108.0202.

      2.    The parking lot perimeter landscaping width and planting requirements of Section 1108.0204 when adjacent to another property will count towards the width and planting requirements of the buffer and screening requirements of Section 1108.0203.

(Ord. 170-04. Passed 3-23-04.)

   A.   Applicability. All developments and redevelopment, except those districts defined in Section 1108.0300, including alterations or expansions to existing developments, must provide interior landscaping in addition to other landscaping requirements. Interior site landscaping must consist of foundation shrub plantings and new tree planting or the preservation of existing trees or hedges within the development site.

   B.   Standards. The following interior landscape standards apply:

 

 

   C.   Accessibility.

Interior landscaping must not prohibit or block access to emergency facilities (e.g., fire hydrants).

(Ord. 170-04. Passed 3-23-04.)

   A.   A Stormwater Treatment Facility is defined by 941.01. In all zoning districts except the Downtown Overlay District (DOD), Stormwater Treatment Facilities may be located within the required landscaping areas, frontage greenbelt area, buffer area, parking lot screening area, or landscape islands provided the following criteria are met:

      1.   Traditional detention/retention ponds are prohibited in the front yard. For the purpose of this Section, traditional detention/retention ponds are collection areas that are designed to detain or retain water onsite and either allow it to slowly drain through an outlet, or maintain stormwater onsite at a set level without the use of natural infiltration and vegetative filtration systems as their main system of stormwater handling and disbursement.

      The Plan Director may waive this requirement if, in consultation with the City of Toledo's Division of Engineering Services, it is determined that physical site characteristics or constraints cause placement of these facilities elsewhere impractical. In no case shall traditional detention/retention ponds be situated within the frontage greenbelt.

      2.   Facilities must be designed to infiltrate to drain dry or have a bottom slope minimum of 1% to drain dry.

      3.   Side slopes shall have a maximum side slope no more than 3:1 (three units horizontal to one unit vertical).

      4.   If located within the frontage greenbelt the stormwater treatment facility may only occupy up to 50% of the actual available green space.

         a.   Footprint of stormwater treatment facility is defined by the top of any slope that is 5:1 or steeper.

         b.   Footprint of stormwater treatment facility may cross the greenbelt boundary.

      5.   Concrete drainage structures must be located to provide maximum benefit for stormwater treatment effectiveness, and must also be mostly concealed within the side slope, and be surrounded by landscape screening rather than visibly protruding into the landscaping.

   B.   Plantings and ground cover.

      The stormwater treatment facility must be planted and landscaped as such:

      1.   All landscaping requirements of TMC Ch. 1108 - Landscape and Screening must nonetheless be achieved for the frontage greenbelt area, buffer area, parking lot screening area, or landscape islands.

      2.   Bioretention filter beds must be planted with turf, trees, and/or perennial plant materials chosen from lists provided by the Rain Garden Initiative.

      3.   Rock is only permitted when designed for dissipation of velocity at locations of concentrated stormwater runoff or for pretreatment considerations according to design guidelines.

      4.   Side slope shall be grass or sod.

      5.   Bottom of pond shall be native plants and grasses appropriate for the type of stormwater facility.

         i.   A list of acceptable native plants may be obtained from the Toledo-Lucas County Rain Garden Initiative.

         ii.   A stormwater treatment facility may be planted with grass however additional screening will be required in accordance with TMC Section 1108.0200 or TMC Section 1108.0300.

   C.   Designs must be approved by DPU, including but not limited to:

      1.   A maintenance-free outlet.

      2.   No stone, riprap, concrete or other impervious materials shall be allowed within the stormwater treatment facility unless required by the ODNR Rainwater and Land Development manual and approved by the Division of Engineering Services.

      3.   Design is according to the State of Ohio Construction General Permit (latest version) and the City Storm Water Management Plan (latest version), both of which include regularly updated design guidance.

   D.   The stormwater treatment facility shall meet the approval of The City of Toledo's Division of Engineering Services. Facilities not constructed as approved shall be in violation of this code and may also be subject to fees and penalties as set forth in TMC Chapter 941.

   E.   The landowner, or successors in interest, or agent, if any, or lessee must be jointly responsible for the regular maintenance of the stormwater treatment facility. Stormwater treatment facilities not properly maintained shall be a violation of this code and may also be subject to fees and penalties as set forth in TMC Chapter 941.

   F.   In the Downtown Overlay District, bioretention areas shall be restricted to roof gardens, rear yards and courtyards only.

   G.   If a stormwater treatment facility alters an approved landscape plan, it shall be resubmitted for the review of the Director of the Planning Commission.

(Ord. 253-09. Passed 4-28-09; Ord. 155-16. Passed 4-26-16; Ord. 481-24. Passed 9-25-24.)

   The intent of this subsection is to recognize that compliance with the landscape standards of Section 1108.0200 may be difficult or impossible for urban, pedestrian-oriented development and to therefore provide more flexible landscape standards for redevelopment of existing structures and infill development in such areas of the City.

(Ord. 170-04. Passed 3-23-04.)

   The Urban Commercial Landscape Standards of this section apply:

   A.    In the CM, CS, -PO, -DO, -HO, Monroe Street Corridor UNO District and Main Street/Starr Avenue UNO District.

   B.    Unless the Planning Director determines that there are no architectural characteristics or physical constraints of the site and existing or proposed structures that preclude compliance with the standards of Section 1108.0200.

(Ord. 170-04. Passed 3-23-04; Ord. 497-07. Passed 7-24-07; Ord. 95-10. Passed 3-2-10.)

   A.   Any part of a lot area not used for buildings, other structures, or for roads, walks, parking, service areas or accessways must be landscaped with a combination of groundcover, trees and shrubs. Grass may be used in conjunction with other plant material.

   B.   Landscape improvements must be provided in the sidewalk or other paved area in front of a building with tree grates, or other walkable surface material treatment for open tree pits, in the form of one shrub or understory tree for every 30 feet of lot frontage. The minimum tree pit size will be 4 feet by 4 feet unless otherwise approved by the Planning Director.

(Ord. 170-04. Passed 3-23-04.)

   This section is intended to buffer the effects of uses on adjacent properties by requiring a screen and/or buffer between the uses in order to minimize the harmful impacts of noise, dust/debris, headlight glare and other objectionable activities by an adjoining or nearby use. Any screening buffer area must be maintained in good order at all times by the owner of the property. When deemed necessary by the Planning Director to provide an effective visual screen, additional landscaping or other improvements may be required.

   A.   Land Use Buffers. Where deemed necessary by the Planning Director, any of the following may be required to ensure effective buffering and screening:

      1.    A masonry wall or fence with a minimum height of 6 feet, with no openings;

      2.    A solid 6-foot high evergreen hedge, with minimum plant height at installation of at least 3 feet;

      3.    Any combination of the above; or

      4.    Any alternative buffer of equal quality approved by the Planning Director.

   B.   Dumpsters and Trash Receptacle Screening. 

      1.    Screening must be a minimum height of 6 feet.

      2.    All sides of the dumpster must be screened.

      3.    The screen should incorporate access to the dumpster by using a wooden fence or other opaque device to serve as a gate.

      4.    Screening materials can be any combination of evergreen plantings, fence or wall structure.

      5.    Dumpsters may not be in any required setbacks or landscape buffer and shall be located as far away from residential areas as possible.

      6.    Dumpsters and trash receptacles serving commercial or industrial uses may not be located in Residential Districts.

      7.    Dumpsters may not be located in the public right-of-way as stated in Section 1361.10(b)(10) of the Building Code.

(Ord. 170-04. Passed 3-23-04.)

   A.   Perimeter landscaping must be installed along any parking lot area adjacent to a street, place, or driveway. Perimeter landscaping will consist of one of the following, located between the parking lot and the property line:

      1.    Landscaped area at least 5 feet wide, exclusive of easements, sidewalks, or rights-of-way, planted with at least one shrub for every 3 to 5 feet of property line, as determined by growth characteristics;

      2.    3½ feet high metal tube or solid bar fence, with at least one shrub for every 3 feet of property line planted on the outside of the fence; or

      3.    Solid 3½ foot high brick or stone wall.

   B.   Wheel stops (i.e., parking blocks) must be provided to ensure that vehicles cannot overhang directly on plant material, if a landscaped area is used.

(Ord. 170-04. Passed 3-23-04.)

   A.   Only those plant species shown on the "City of Toledo Approved Plant Materials List" or those otherwise identified by a licensed Landscape Architect, Horticulturist, or Ohio Certified Nursery Technician as appropriate for this region may be used to satisfy the landscaping and screening standards of this chapter.

   B.   Plants installed to satisfy the requirements of this chapter must meet or exceed the plant quality and species standards of the most recent edition of "American Standards for Nursery Stock" published by the American Association of Nurserymen.

   C.   Plants must be nursery-grown and adapted to the local area. No artificial plants or vegetation must be used to meet any standards of this section.

   D.   All plant material will be mulched with shredded hardwood mulch, or approved equal. Plant material massings will be incorporated into mulch beds.

   E.   All plant material must be installed according to sound nursery practices in a manner designed to encourage vigorous growth that is not intrusive to utilities, pavement, pedestrian traffic or vehicular traffic.

   F.   All required plant material must be planted within 6 months or by the next planting season, as outlined in the latest edition of "American Standards for Nursery Stock," after all construction activity in the area of the new planting has ceased.

   G.   Plant material will be specified and placed to minimize conflict with overhead and underground utilities.

(Ord. 170-04. Passed 3-23-04.)

   In computing landscaping and planting requirements, any fractional number must be rounded to the next highest whole number.

(Ord. 170-04. Passed 3-23-04.)

   A.   Trees.

      1.    Deciduous Canopy Trees must be a minimum of 12 feet overall height or a minimum caliper of 2 inches when installed.

      2.    Evergreen Trees must be a minimum of 5 feet in height when installed.

      3.    Understory Trees (ornamental) must be a minimum of 5 feet in height in clump form or 1½ inches caliper in single stem form when installed.

   B.   Shrubs.

      1.    Shrubs must be at least 18 inches in height or 24 inch spread when installed.

      2.    Shrubs for parking lot perimeters will be maintained to provide the necessary visibility into the site for safety along the street right-of-way. Shrubs must be maintained no greater than 42 inches high along the street right-of-way, or where a taller shrub would interfere with sight at the intersection of streets or of driveways with streets. (See Section 1107.2000.)

      3.    Shrubs installed for buffer and screening must have a mature height of 5 feet or greater.

   C.   Grass or Ground Cover.

      1.    Grasses may be sodded, plugged, sprigged, or seeded, except in swales or other areas subject to erosion where solid sod, erosion-reducing net, or suitable mulch must be used.

      2.    Groundcover must be planted not more than 12 inches on center, in such a manner as to present a finished appearance. Rocks, pebbles, sand and similar materials are not approved groundcover.

(Ord. 170-04. Passed 3-23-04.)

   A wall, fence, or berm, whether or not intended to satisfy the landscape and screening requirements of this chapter, must comply with the following standards.

(Ord. 122-21. Passed 3-2-21.)

   A.   All landscape material must be properly maintained. The landowner, or successors in interest, or agent, if any, or lessee must be jointly responsible for the regular maintenance of all landscape materials as well as any plant material removed.

   B.   Proper maintenance includes all actions necessary to keep plantings healthy and orderly in appearance and to keep walls, fences, berms, irrigation improvements and other landscape features depicted on plans approved by the City in good repair and neat appearance.

   C.   Any landscape material that fails to meet the minimum requirements of this section at the time of installation must be removed and replaced with acceptable materials. All unhealthy or dead plant material, installed or credited to meet these requirements, must be replaced by the next planting period, or within 6 months, whichever comes first. All plant material must be protected from damage by motor vehicles or pedestrians. Topping trees, or the severe cutting of limbs larger than 3 inches in diameter to stubs, within the tree crown, and to such a degree as to remove the normal canopy, must be considered improper maintenance of trees as required by this chapter.

   D.   No approved plant material shall be removed for any reason without being replaced with like kind, or without submitting a revised landscaped plan to the Planning Director for review or approval.

(Ord. 170-04. Passed 3-23-04.)

   Landscaped areas must be irrigated as necessary to maintain required plant materials in good and healthy condition. All landscaped areas shall be provided with a readily available water supply. Water outlets (hose bibbs) shall be provided within 100 feet of all required plant material unless a subsurface irrigation system is used. Plantings may be further than 100 feet from water outlets in areas where sufficient xeriscaping is used. If a subsurface irrigation system is used, irrigation plans must be submitted with development plans and must contain all construction details. If xeriscaping is used, a xeriscaping plan must be submitted to the Plan Director containing a watering plan during plant establishment (approximately three years) and detailed depictions of xeriscaping features and techniques used, including soil type, drainage, topography, and plant cultivars/nativars. A xeriscaping plan shall be considered part of its respective landscape plan and shall be reviewed as outlined in Section 1108.0500.

(Ord. 170-04. Passed 3-23-04; Ord. 480-24. Passed 9-25-24.)

   The intent of this section is to provide and encourage the protection and preservation of existing woodlands and established plant material.

   A.   Tree Preservation. All existing trees on a site with a caliper of 4 inches or more must be mapped prior to site planning.

      1.    Existing trees should be incorporated into the landscape plan to the maximum practical extent.

      2.    All trees in excess of 12 inches in diameter must be retained to the maximum practical extent.

   B.   Existing Landscape Material Credits.

      1.    Trees. Credit may be given for existing Canopy Trees, Evergreen Trees and Understory Trees as follows:

         a.    Existing healthy non-nuisance trees may be preserved and used to fulfill landscape requirements for any required planting provided they are in accordance with the standards in this section.

         b.    Trees may be credited only one time towards any one buffer, screen or other landscape requirements set forth in this chapter and other related chapters. Trees must be located within the required landscape area to which it will be credited, or approved for credit, by the Planning Director.

         c.    Trees which conform to these standards and are proposed to be used for credit must generally have location, species, caliper and drip line indicated on the required landscape plan.

         d.    Trees must be credited according to the following criteria in the quantities shown:

 

 

         e.    To be credited, a tree must have the minimum landscape area prescribed by the previous chart surrounding the tree, or the area of the dripline of the tree, whichever is greater. The surrounding landscape area must be undisturbed land.

         f.    If any preserved tree dies it must be replaced with another tree or trees that are at least equal to the credited value of the preserved tree.

      2.    Shrubs. Shrubs may be credited on a one-to-one basis towards landscape material requirements if the following criteria are met. The Planning Director is authorized to grant additional credit for preservation of existing shrubs if it is determined that preservation would better meet the intent of this chapter than would new plantings:

         a.    Existing healthy shrubs may be used to fulfill landscape requirements for any required planting provided they conform to the standards set forth in this chapter and in other related chapters.

         b.    Shrubs may be credited only one time towards any one buffer, screen or other landscape requirement. Shrubs must be located within the required area for the buffer or screen to which it will be credited or approved for credit by the Planning Director.

         c.    Shrubs which conform to these standards and are proposed to be used for credit must have location, species, width and height indicated on the required landscape plan.

(Ord. 170-04. Passed 3-23-04.)

   If trees or shrubs are to be credited towards landscaping requirements they must be protected during all phases of construction as follows:

   A.   Prior to any site demolition, or grading, barriers must be constructed around existing trees and shrubs to be preserved.

   B.   Barriers around trees to be preserved must include the area under the drip line of the tree.

   C.   Barriers around shrubs to be preserved must include the area within 3 feet of the shrub mass.

   D.   Failure to maintain barriers may result in revocation of the building permit.

   E.   When large machinery is to be used on the site, these barriers must be sturdy fences or a similar barrier and must be made more visible by high visibility orange paint or construction flagging. When large machinery is not to be on site, high visibility construction flagging or similar device must clearly delineate the protected area.

   F.   The following activities are prohibited during demolition and construction under tree canopies and within any areas enclosed by protective fencing as required by this section:

      1.    Placing backfill or storing material;

      2.    Storing construction equipment;

      3.    Changing site grades within the drip line of trees or within 3 feet of shrubs or changing site grades so that drainage flows into or collects near protected trees or shrubs; and

      4.    All other construction activity not previously mentioned.

   G. For projects not requiring a site grading plan, the required barriers must be constructed by the property owner and approved by the Commissioner of Building Inspection to issuance of a building permit.

(Ord. 170-04. Passed 3-23-04; Ord. 510-21. Passed 9-28-21.)