There shall be provided and maintained between any nonresidential district and between any multiple-family and single-family residential districts and between certain uses listed in this section an obscuring screening device of the type set forth and regulated in this section.

(1)

Screening devices permitted.

a.

Architectural masonry screen wall with cap;

b.

Landscaped earth berm;

c.

Planting screen.

(2)

Where required. An obscuring screening device shall be provided and maintained between:

a.

Any one-family residential district and any mobile home park district;

b.

Any one-family residential district and any multiple-family residential district;

c.

Any residential district and any office district;

d.

Any residential district and any commercial district;

e.

Any residential district and any industrial district;

f.

Any residential district and a parking district;

g.

Any off-street parking areas of nonresidential uses permitted in a residential district when next to or across a street from any residential land use;

h.

Any hospital emergency entrance and any residential district;

i.

Any utility building, utility stations or substations and any residential or office district.

(3)

Height requirements. The height of an obscuring screening device shall be in accordance with the following specifications:

a.

In those instances outlined in subsections 110-571(2) a., b., c. and d., of this article, a minimum of six feet in height, including the cap.

b.

In the instance outlined in subsection 110-571(2)f., of this article, a minimum of four feet six inches in height, including the cap.

c.

In the instance outlined in subsections 110-571(2)g. and h., four feet six inches except in the case of a hospital or medical clinic emergency entrance, or ambulance delivery area, and in the case of public utility buildings with outdoor substations, eight feet.

d.

In the instance outlined in subsections 110-571(2)e. and i., a minimum height of six feet, or to a sufficiently greater height to effectively screen outdoor storage areas from view; except, in no case shall a screening device designed and intended to screen outdoor storage exceed a height of 12 feet, unless the screen consists of natural features, such as sharp changes in topography or heavy natural foliage, all of which shall exist on the property of the use it is intended to screen.

(4)

Location on property line. Required screen walls and landscaped earth berms shall be located on the property line, except where underground utilities interfere and except in those instances where this chapter requires conformance with front yard setback lines in abutting residential districts. Any request or necessity for locating a screen wall or landscaped earth berm other than along a property line shall require review and approval of an alternate location by the building department or by the planning commission. The building department or the planning commission, in making its review of alternate screen wall or earth berm locations, shall consider the following conditions:

a.

The ability of the screen wall to maintain continuity beyond the property line.

b.

The effectiveness of the screen wall or earth berm to screen effectively in an alternate location.

c.

The impact an alternate location may have on site drainage, overall site appearance and the functional wellbeing of the development proposed for the property.

(5)

Replacing existing fences or screening devices. Whenever the location of a screening device shall require the removal or detaching of an existing wall, fence, planting screen, or landscaped earth berm, that wall, fence, planting screen or landscaped earth berm shall be replaced, restored, attached, or reattached to the new screening device by those responsible for erecting the new screening device, unless the screening device that was removed or detached is on an adjoining property and its owner will accept the new screening device and not require his to be replaced.

(6)

Openings for pedestrian and vehicular traffic. A screening device may be constructed with openings that do not in any square section (height and width) exceed 20 percent of the surface. Where a screening device is so pierced the openings shall be spaced so as to maintain the obscuring character of the screen and shall not reduce the minimum required height of the screening device. The arrangement of the openings shall be subject to review and approval by the building department or by the planning commission.

(7)

Landscape designer requirements. A registered landscape architect, certified arborist or botanist, or qualified landscape designer shall prepare any landscape plans required or permitted in this article. The designer's name, seal or certification number, and signature shall appear on the landscape plan.

(Ord. No. 802, § 1, 12-14-2020)

Whenever a screen wall structure is to be used as a screening device, it shall be an architectural masonry structure consisting of the following materials:

(1)

Reinforced concrete or concrete block with face brick on both sides of the wall. If the exterior walls of the principal use on the property shall contain any face brick material, the face brick on the screen wall structure shall consist of the same brick.

(2)

Reinforced concrete with a brick or stone etched appearance on both sides of the wall.

(3)

Natural stone materials or reinforced concrete or concrete block with cultured stone on both sides of the wall.

(4)

Reinforced concrete panel walls so long as the vertical posts are concrete as well and are the same color as the panels they will support.

(5)

All masonry screen wall structures permitted in this section, including concrete panel walls and brick etched concrete walls, shall include a cap. The cap shall be a vee-type of cap that shall consistently extend along the entire top of the wall. The angle of the vee shall not be less than 45 degrees so that it will quickly shed water and discourage walking on top of the cap. The vee cap shall extend out beyond the vertical sides of the wall.

Transition Wall Details

(6)

Screen wall structures with exposed reinforced concrete surfaces may be stained or may be made colorfast the color shall be of an earth tone.

(7)

Reinforced concrete panel walls shall be composed of heavy-duty panels the size and weight of which shall require installation by machine.

(8)

No screen wall structure shall consist of exposed cinder or cement block also known as concrete masonry units (CMU). Wood or wood products are specifically prohibited as a screen wall material.

(9)

All screen walls shall be found by the building department to consist of durable, weather resistant, rust proof and easily maintained materials.

(10)

When a screen wall structure is placed next to an off-street parking space or parking spaces it shall be protected by bumper blocks, a guardrail constructed next to but physically independent from the screen wall structure, or by other means acceptable to the building department.

(11)

All screen wall structures shall be maintained at all times in a structurally sound condition, neat, orderly and attractive in appearance. All screen wall structures shall be kept free of graffiti. Encouraging vine growth to take place on the screen wall structure may discourage wall graffiti.

(Ord. No. 802, § 1, 12-14-2020)

The building department or the planning commission may permit, in place of an architectural masonry screen wall, a landscaped earth berm, provided the earth berm shall have a minimum height of not less than that required for a screen wall. An earth berm shall also:

(1)

Have a side slope no steeper than three on one (three feet of horizontal plane for each foot of vertical rise);

(2)

Consist of undulating top and side slopes;

(3)

Have a crest at the top of the earth berm of not less than two feet in width;

(4)

Include an adequately designed drainage swale on the property line side of the berm to accommodate stormwater runoff. The drainage swale shall be subject to review and approval by the city engineer;

(5)

Be seeded or covered with sod so as to prevent erosion of the sides of the earth berm and be attractively landscaped with plant materials acceptable to the city. The building department or the planning commission in making its review of the landscape planting plan for the earth berm may require installation of an automated irrigation system to properly maintain the landscaping materials on the earth berm. All landscape materials approved by the building department or the planning commission for the earth berm shall be maintained in a living, growing condition, neat and orderly in appearance.

Transition Berm Details

(6)

In order to properly screen an area effectively, the ends of a landscaped earth berm may be required by the building department or the planning commission to include an architectural masonry screen wall extension at the ends of the berm structure. The structure would be made an integral part of the berm and would extend out from the top of the earth berm to a peripheral property line or driveway entrance. Any such extension shall be subject to the applicable requirements of this article pertaining to screen wall structures, and the restricted clear corner vision requirements set forth in Article XXIX, in this chapter.

(7)

Wherever an earth berm abuts any part of an off-street parking space or parking spaces, or a service drive, it shall be placed behind a raised concrete curb.

(Ord. No. 802, § 1, 12-14-2020)

The building department or the planning commission may permit, in place of an architectural masonry screen wall structure or a landscaped earth berm, the following screening alternative:

(1)

The establishment of a dense planting screen, when one or more of the following conditions is deemed to exist on the property:

Greenbelt Planting Screen Details

a.

Severe soil or topographic conditions in the area of the property where a screening device is required which precludes erecting an architectural masonry screen wall structure or a landscaped earth berm, or

b.

Dense foliage, which ought to be preserved, and which can augment an effective planting screen that exists on the property where a screening device is required, and which would be diminished or destroyed by the erection of a masonry screen wall structure or landscaped earth berm, or

c.

For aesthetic purposes, a planting screen will create a more pleasing buffer between a one-family residential district and a multiple-family residential district than an architectural masonry screen wall structure or a landscaped earth berm.

(2)

The planting screen where permitted, shall consist of densely placed evergreen planting materials, the minimum height of which, at the time of planting, shall be not less than the minimum height required for a screen wall structure, and shall be planted and maintained in accordance with the applicable landscape screening requirements of the landscape planting standards in this article.

(Ord. No. 802, § 1, 12-14-2020)

The building wall of an existing or proposed building may serve as a screening device or partial element of a screening device when the wall shall generally parallel the parcel line or district line along which a screening device is required by this article, and provided further that;

(1)

The building wall shall be at least six feet in height along its entire length;

(2)

Shall consist of architectural masonry materials, shall have no openings, and shall have no other accessory buildings, uses or functions including loading and unloading facilities or any outdoor materials storage located between the building wall and the property or zoning district line.

(3)

The yard area between the building wall and the property line shall consist of a landscaped lawn area that may include trees and shrubs placed for aesthetic purposes. All landscaping shall be maintained in a healthy growing condition, neat and orderly in appearance.

(Ord. No. 802, § 1, 12-14-2020)

After review, the building department or the planning commission may approve one of the screening alternatives set forth in this article or a combination thereof. The building department or the planning commission may also recommend to the Trenton Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) that the screening requirements of this article be varied or waived, provided it is determined that at least one of the following conditions exists on the property:

(1)

The abutting residential district for which a screening device is required is determined to be an area in land use transition and which is likely to become a nonresidential district in the future. The building department or the planning commission shall rely on the land use recommendations of the Trenton Master Plan Map when evaluating the future use of the land abutting the subject property.

(2)

Changes in topographic conditions between the nonresidential and residential lands that are to be screened is such that a screen wall structure or landscaped earth berm, as set forth and regulated in this article, will not screen effectively and therefore will serve no useful purpose. The planting screen alternative may be applicable in such instances.

(3)

Sufficient natural vegetation exists along the common property line between the nonresidential district and the affected residential district to serve as an equally effective or better screen than the required screen wall or any of the other permitted screening devices would provide. The building department or the planning commission, in determining this alternative, shall:

a.

Find the existing foliage to be extensive enough to create an effective year-round screen; and

b.

Require documentation in writing from the landowner that the natural screen is fully on the development property and will be preserved and maintained as a natural screen for as long as a screening device shall be required by the city for the property. The building department or the planning commission in reviewing the effectiveness of a natural screen may require the placement of additional planting materials to augment the screening capability of the natural foliage.

(Ord. No. 802, § 1, 12-14-2020)

The purpose of this section is to establish minimum standards for the development, installation, and maintenance of pervious landscaped areas within all cluster housing, multiple-family and all nonresidential districts and for all nonresidential uses permitted in a residential district. This section further recognizes that the proper management and use of trees, plants and other types of vegetation will improve the appearance, value, character and quality of the living environment in the City of Trenton and promote resourceful site planning and creative design. To this end, the following regulatory standards of this section are established:

(1)

Required conditions for landscape planting screens. Wherever in this article a landscape planting screen is permitted or landscape planting materials are required, such landscape planting materials shall be subject to the following conditions:

a.

All planting screens and landscape planting materials shall be planted in accordance with an approved planting plan and planted to completion prior to issuance of a certificate of occupancy by the building department. If a use is ready for occupancy between April 1 and September 30, a certificate of occupancy may be issued. If a use is ready for occupancy between October 1 and March 31, a temporary certificate of occupancy may be issued; however, all required planting materials should be placed to completion within 60 days after March 31. Failure to have such required planting material placed to completion within 60 days after March 31 shall be grounds for termination or revocation of a temporary certificate of occupancy. No additional certificate of occupancy, either temporary or final, shall be issued thereafter until all required landscape planting materials are placed to completion. A period of establishment shall start at the completion of all planting and shall continue through the succeeding summer growing season of June, July and August as set forth in this section.

b.

Whenever any aesthetic planting areas or permitted planting screens approach a street or driveway intersection, the restricted clear corner vision requirements of Article XXIX in this chapter shall be observed. In all cases care shall be taken relative to plant material, height and location so as not to impede the view of pedestrians or motor vehicle traffic.

c.

Trees of a species whose roots are known to cause damage to public roadways or other public utilities shall not be planted closer than 12 feet to such roadway or public utility unless the tree root system is completely contained within a barrier, for which the minimum interior containing dimensions shall be five feet square and five feet deep, and for which the construction requirements shall be four inch-thick concrete reinforced with No. 6 road mesh (six inches by six inches by six inches) or equivalent.

d.

Ground cover used in lieu of grass shall be planted in such a manner that it will not exceed spacing of eight to ten inches on centers depending on the material used and its growth rate, so as to provide reasonably complete coverage.

e.

Grass (lawn) areas shall be planted and grown as permanent lawns. Lawns may be seeded and mulched or covered with sod and shall be protected from erosion until the coverage is permanently established.

f.

To prevent vehicular encroachment, including vehicle overhang onto or into landscaped areas including lawns, planting materials in areas involving motor vehicles shall be protected by the use of wheel stops, raised concrete curbs, or other satisfactory and acceptable methods of barrier.

g.

All open ground areas on any site, including pervious surfaces used in the calculation of lot coverage requirements, yard areas, open ground areas disturbed by construction, and other similar areas where such landscaping is appropriate and feasible, shall be provided with coverage of grass, ground cover, shrubs, or other approved landscaping material. Materials that prevent or inhibit to an unreasonable extent the percolation of water into the soil shall be considered unacceptable materials for the treatment of these areas.

h.

Trees and shrubs shall be provided with a minimum thickness of at least two inches of mulch no less than at least 24 inches beyond the trunks or stems of all newly planted trees and shrubs. Such mulch shall be provided at the time of planting and shall be maintained and resupplied as needed thereafter.

i.

All landscaped areas shall be maintained by an automated in ground irrigation system approved by the building department. Individual planters and isolated planting areas shall have appropriate irrigation sources provided within each separate planting area.

j.

All irrigation systems shall be maintained in an operable condition capable of providing adequate irrigation to landscaped areas as required. Any inoperable irrigation system or components thereof shall be promptly repaired or replaced so that adequate coverage of landscaped areas is restored and maintained.

k.

All planting materials shall be properly planted so as to be in a healthy, growing condition at the time of establishment. All planting material shall consist of permanent, living plant materials and, when planted to completion, shall thereafter be maintained in an attractive and presentable condition, free of weeds, refuse and debris, and shall be continuously maintained in a sound, healthy and vigorous growing condition, free of plant diseases and insect pests. Top pruning or other severe pruning or maintenance practices of landscaping materials that results in stunted, abnormal, or other unreasonable deviation from the normal healthy growth of trees, shrubs, and other required landscaping components shall be considered as the destruction of these materials, and replacement shall be required as described in this article. Failure of the property owner to maintain the premises in good condition, as set forth in this article, shall make the owner liable for the applicable penalties set forth in this chapter.

l.

All plant materials shall meet current American Association of Nurserymen standards.

m.

No approved landscaped area shall be abandoned, paved over, encroached upon by vehicular traffic, or otherwise used without submission of a site plan and approval by the building department or the planning commission pursuant to the procedures set forth in this article.

(2)

Planting plan. Whenever a landscaped earth berm or landscape planting screen is permitted under the provisions of this article, a detailed planting plan of such screen shall be submitted to the building department or to the planning commission for review and approval prior to issuance of a building permit. The planting plan shall be drawn to the same scale as the site plan and shall accurately depict the location, spacing, starting size and identification by botanical and common name of each type of plant material proposed for use within the required screening area. Detailed plans shall include at least the following information:

a.

The minimum scale of the drawing shall be one-inch equals 30 feet, or the same scale as the site plan involved, if a requirement for site plan approval.

b.

Existing and proposed contours shall be depicted with contour intervals not to exceed two feet.

c.

The planting plan shall indicate the location, size, spacing and root type (bare root, balled in burlap, or container-grown) of all plant materials.

d.

Where an earth berm is used in conjunction with a planting screen, the planting plan shall provide typical cross-section drawings depicting the slope, height and width of the berm and the type of ground cover intended to be placed on it. If architectural masonry screen walls are used in conjunction with an earth berm, the height of the wall and the type of materials to be used in the construction of the wall, as well as the type of materials to be used in the wall footings, shall be detailed in cross-section format.

e.

The planting plan shall depict significant construction details, where applicable, to reflect specific site conditions; e.g., tree wells to preserve existing trees, culverts to maintain natural drainage patterns, etc.

f.

The planting plan shall indicate existing tree cover that is to be used in conjunction with or in place of the screen planting requirements of this article, including types of trees and overall tree height.

(3)

Layout standards. Landscape planting screens when permitted as an alternative to a masonry screen wall structure or landscaped earth berm, or in conjunction with either, shall consist of diversified planting materials and shall be laid out in conformance with the following guidelines:

a.

Plant materials, except creeping vine-type planting materials, shall not be located within four feet of the property line.

b.

Where plant materials are placed in two or more rows, they shall be staggered in rows.

c.

Except as otherwise specified in this paragraph, evergreen trees shall not be less than six feet in height. When planted in informal groupings, they shall be spaced no less than ten feet on centers. When spaced further apart, additional screen planting materials shall be used to achieve the desired screening effect intended by this article. When planted in rows, they shall be planted not less than ten feet on centers. Narrow evergreen trees shall not be less than six feet in height at the time of planting. When planted in informal groupings, they shall be spaced not more than ten feet on centers. When planted in rows, they shall be planted not more than four feet on centers.

d.

Except as otherwise restricted in Article XXIX regarding corner clearance, in this chapter, large shrubs shall not be less than 30 inches in height. When planted in informal groupings, they shall be spaced not more than six feet on centers. When planted in single rows, they shall not be spaced more than four feet on centers.

e.

Small shrubs shall not have a spread of less than 18 inches, and shall not be planted more than four feet on centers.

f.

Deciduous trees shall not be less than 2½ inches in trunk caliper. For the purpose of this division, the caliper of the trunk shall be taken six inches above ground level, up to and including four-inch caliper size and 12 inches above the ground level for larger trees.

When placed in informal groupings they shall be planted not more than 30 to 35 feet on centers.

Tree Caliper Size

g.

Small deciduous trees shall not be less than two inches in trunk caliper, measured in the same manner as set forth in this subsection when planted in informal groupings, they shall be spaced not more than 15 feet on centers.

Recommended distances between like and unlike plant materials:

Suggested (not required) plant material:

Trees:

Evergreen: Abies (fir), Picea (spruce), Pinus (pine), Psuedostuga (Douglas fir), Tsuga (hemlock)

Note: Exceptions are dwarf, globe, pendulous specie/cultivars.

Narrow evergreen: Juniperus (juniper), Thuja (arborvitae)

Note: Exceptions are dwarf, globe, and spreading specie/cultivars.

Large deciduous: Acer (maple, except Japanese), Betula (birch), Gleditsia (honey locust, thornless Cultivars only), Gingko (ginkgo), Platanus (sycamore, linden), Quercus (oak), Tulip Tree (Liriodendron), Linden (Tilia)

Small deciduous: Amelanchier (juneberry), Cercis (redbud), Cornus (dogwood, tree form), Crataegus (hawthorn), Malus (crabapple, disease-resistant cultivars), Prunus (flowering plum, tree form), Pyrus (flowering pear), Sorbus (mountain ash), Syringa (lilac, tree form)

Large shrubs:

Deciduous/broadleaf evergreen: Cornus (dogwood, shrub form), Cotoneaster (cotoneaster), Forsythia (forsythia), Lonicera (honeysuckle), Philadelphus (mock orange), Prunus (flowering plum), Rhamnus (buckthorn), Rhus (sumac), Spiraea (spirea), Syringa (lilac), Viburnum (viburnum), Weigela (weigela)

Note: Defined as plants maturing at five feet and up.

Evergreen: Juniperus (hetzii), pfitzer, savin juniper), Taxus cuspidata 'Capitata' (pyramidal Japanese yew)

Note: Defined as plants maturing at five feet and up.

Small shrubs:

Deciduous/broadleaf evergreen: Berberis (barberry), Buxus (boxwood), Chaenomeles (quince), Cotoneaster (cotoneaster) Euonymus (euonymus), Forsythia (forsythia), Hydrangea (hydrangea), Ilex (holly), Ligustrum (privet), Lonicera (honeysuckle), Potentilla (potentilla), Ribes (currant), Salix (willow), Spiraea (spirea), Syringa (lilac), Viburnum (viburnum), Weigela (weigela)

Note: Defined as plants maturing less than five feet.

Evergreen: Abies (fir), Chamaecyparis (false cypress), Juniperus (low spreading juniper), Picea (spruce), Pinus (pine), Taxus (globe, spreading, upright yew), Thuja (globe/dwarf arborvitae)

Trees not suggested:

Ailanthus (tree of heaven), Fraxinus SPP (Ash), Robinia (black locust), Ulmus americana (American elm), and Acer negundo (Box elder)

Plant Sizes

(Ord. No. 802, § 1, 12-14-2020)

In addition to any landscaped earth berm or landscape planting screen that may be used on the property in place of an architectural masonry screen wall structure to satisfy any screening requirements of this article, further on-site landscaping shall be required, as follows.

(1)

Landscaping for aesthetic purposes shall be placed throughout the property and shall be placed in compliance with the following guidelines:

a.

Care shall be taken to make certain that the location and size at maturity of any landscaping materials will comply with the applicable restricted clear corner vision requirements of Article XXIX, in this chapter. Furthermore, care will be taken with regard to the location and the height of all planting materials placed throughout the site so as not to unduly impair the vision of pedestrian or motor vehicle traffic within the site.

b.

Planting materials placed for aesthetic purposes shall consist of the suggested planting materials outlined in this article or similar and equally acceptable nursery grown stock, but shall not include stock that is not suggested in the same section.

c.

All landscaping including lawn areas placed for aesthetic purposes shall be maintained by an automated in-ground irrigation system approved by the building department.

d.

Pedestrian walkways, plazas, planters and other decorative landscape features may be included in such landscape areas when they are made an integral part of a site's overall landscaping.

e.

Stormwater detention or retention basins when required on site, shall be made an integral feature of the site's landscaping. When the side slopes of a stormwater basin will be steeper than a ratio of three to one, three feet of horizontal plane for each foot of vertical rise, the basin will be fenced with a six-foot-high black or green close link woven wire (chain link) fence to discourage climbing. Any part of a stormwater basin that must be placed in a front or exterior side yard next to a street, and which must be fenced, shall be fenced along the frontage by a decorative wrought iron fence of equal height. When a stormwater basin shall retain water, the water shall be circulated so as to prevent stagnation and pest infestation. A fenced stormwater basin shall be aesthetically landscaped along its fence line with a diversified mix of deciduous and evergreen trees and shrubs.

f.

The area of a site that lies in a public road right-of-way between the property line and the back edge of the curb line of the pavement or the edge of the pavement when there is no curb, shall be landscaped with grass and/or other live planting materials. Wherever such landscaping shall be installed it shall comply with all applicable landscaping, clear vision or line of sight restrictions that are set forth and regulated by the superintending authority in control of the right-of-way.

(Ord. No. 802, § 1, 12-14-2020)

(a)

Screening between parking areas and public rights-of-way. Screening of off-street parking areas next to public road or street rights-of-way shall be provided in accordance with the following requirements:

(1)

Except as otherwise permitted herein, a minimum ten-foot-wide landscaped lawn panel shall be provided between any off-street parking area and any public road or street right-of-way line; except upon review and recommendation from city staff, the planning commission may narrow the width of the lawn, but in no case shall the lawn be less than five feet wide. In making its determination city staff and the planning commission shall find that narrowing a frontage lawn is necessary due to one of the following conditions:

a.

The small size of the property makes providing a full width frontage lawn impractical.

b.

The particular configuration of the property does not warrant providing a full width lawn.

c.

A particular topographic condition that exists in the area of the lawn precludes meeting the full width requirement.

d.

It is necessary to reduce the width in order to provide sufficient land area to meet the minimum applicable numerical off-street parking requirements of the chapter.

(2)

Screening device height. Except as otherwise specified within a restricted clear corner vision triangle, the height of any screening device or combinations of screening devices placed in a lawn lying between an off-street parking lot and a street right-of-way line shall be in accordance with the following guidelines:

* Would require berm to be part of a terraced or retaining wall screen structure in a ten-foot-wide or less lawn panel. See Transition Berm Details illustration in of this article.

(3)

Permitted screening devices. The screening device may be in the form of an evergreen or planting materials hedge, an architectural masonry wall, or earth berm. Planting materials shall consist of species that will mature within a limited height. Where the width of the lawn panel permits, plant materials may be taller, except all screening devices shall observe the height restrictions pertaining to clear corner vision requirements.

(4)

Screening accents. When an architectural masonry screen wall is erected, planting materials shall be placed between the screen wall and the road or street right-of-way line. The planting materials are to be placed in a manner that will create an aesthetic visual setting for the wall. When an earth berm is used, evergreen planting materials shall be placed at the ends of the berms to augment the screening effect of the berm.

(5)

Additional landscaping required. Development that occurs in the I Industrial Districts shall provide in addition to the landscaped lawn panels required in this section, additional on-site landscaped areas. These additional landscaped areas shall be equal to not less than ten percent of the area of the site less any land in public rights-of-way and exclusive of land covered by buildings. Pedestrian walkways, plazas, planters and other decorative features may be included in such landscape areas when they are made an integral part of the site's overall landscaping.

(b)

Landscaping parking lot areas. Parking lots shall provide landscaping in accordance with the following requirements and in accordance with the applicable requirements of subsection (a) of this section:

(1)

One square foot of interior landscaping shall be provided for every 15 square feet of parking area.

(2)

The minimum permitted size of any landscaped area within an interior landscaping area shall be 170 square feet.

(3)

All parking lots shall provide one tree for every 2,800 square feet of paved parking lot area, or one tree for every 100 square feet of interior landscaping area, whichever generates the greater number of trees.

(4)

All parking lot trees required by the standards set forth in subsection (b)(3) of this section, shall be large deciduous trees; except where special conditions or considerations may prevail, the planning commission may permit the use of evergreen trees.

(5)

Parking lot trees generated by the standards set forth in Subsection (b)(3) of this section, shall be distributed as evenly as possible throughout the parking lot. At a minimum the islands shall be located at the ends of parking rows so as to offer not only a visually attractive and shading effect, but to help provide for improved traffic circulation. The islands shall also be placed in as uniform a manner as possible so as to facilitate snow removal.

(6)

Upon recommendation from city staff, or the planning commission may give credit for existing trees if the trees meet the minimum requirements for parking lot trees.

(7)

Trees at the time of planting shall not be located closer than four feet from any raised curb line in a parking lot.

(8)

All interior parking lot landscaping shall consist of live plant material and mulch. Mulch shall not include lava, pebbles, stones or rocks.

(9)

Pedestrian walkways, plazas, planters and stormwater basins, and other decorative features, may be included, in such landscape areas when they are made an integral part of a site's overall landscaping.

(10)

All interior or exterior landscape planting areas that abut off-street parking spaces, service drives, loading and unloading areas, or any other area where motor vehicles will be parked or moving, shall be protected by raised curbs. Every off-street parking space which fronts into a landscaped planting area, shall be:

a.

Provided with a concrete wheel stop which shall be placed within each off-street parking space not less than two feet from the front of the parking space, or;

b.

In place of a concrete wheel stop the minimum required length of an off-street parking space, with city staff approval, may be reduced by two feet in length, provided two feet of concrete shall abut the rear of the raised curb line at the front of the parking space for the full width of the parking space; Except the two feet of concrete shall be in addition to, and shall not be any part or portion of any minimum landscape planting area requirements of this section.

Parking Spaces

(c)

Required conditions for aesthetic landscape planting. Wherever in this article aesthetic landscape planting materials are proposed or required, they shall be subject to the following conditions:

(1)

All landscape planting materials shall be planted in accordance with an approved planting plan and planted to completion prior to issuance of a certificate of occupancy by the building department. If a use is ready for occupancy between April 1 and September 30, a certificate of occupancy may be issued. If a use is ready for occupancy between October 1 and March 31, a temporary certificate of occupancy may be issued; however, all proposed and required planting materials should be placed to completion within 60 days after March 31. Failure to have such required planting material placed to completion within 60 days after March 31 shall be grounds for termination or revocation of a temporary certificate of occupancy. No additional certificate of occupancy, either temporary or final, shall be issued thereafter until all required landscape planting materials are placed to completion. A period of establishment shall start at the completion of all planting and shall continue through the succeeding summer growing season of June, July and August as set forth in this section.

(2)

Whenever any aesthetic planting areas approach a street or driveway intersection, the restricted clear corner vision requirements of Article XXIX, in this chapter shall be observed. In all cases care shall be taken relative to plant material, height and location so as not to impede the view of pedestrians or motor vehicle traffic.

(3)

Trees of a species whose roots are known to cause damage to public roadways or other public utilities shall not be planted closer than 12 feet to such roadway or public utility unless the tree root system is completely contained within a barrier, for which the minimum interior containing dimensions shall be five feet square and five feet deep, and for which the construction requirements shall be four-inch-thick concrete reinforced with No. 6 road mesh (six inches by six inches by six inches) or equivalent.

(4)

Ground cover used in lieu of grass shall be planted in such a manner that it will not exceed spacing of eight to ten inches on centers depending on the material used and its growth rate, so as to provide reasonably complete coverage.

(5)

Grass (lawn) areas shall be planted and grown as permanent lawns. Lawns may be seeded and mulched or covered with sod and shall be protected from erosion until the coverage is permanently established.

(6)

To prevent vehicular encroachment, including vehicle overhang onto or into landscaped areas including lawns, planting materials in areas involving motor vehicles shall be protected by the use of wheel stops, raised concrete curbs, or other satisfactory and acceptable methods of barrier.

(7)

All open ground areas on any site, including pervious surfaces used in the calculation of lot coverage requirements, yard areas, open ground areas disturbed by construction, and other similar areas where such landscaping is appropriate and feasible, shall be provided with coverage of grass, ground cover, shrubs, or other approved landscaping material. Materials that prevent or inhibit to an unreasonable extent the percolation of water into the soil shall be considered unacceptable materials for the treatment of these areas.

(8)

Trees and shrubs shall be provided with a minimum thickness of at least two inches of mulch no less than at least 24 inches beyond the trunks or stems of all newly planted trees and shrubs. Such mulch shall be provided at the time of planting and shall be maintained and resupplied as needed thereafter.

(9)

All landscaped areas shall be maintained by an automated in-ground irrigation system approved by the building department. Individual planters and isolated planting areas shall have appropriate irrigation sources provided within each separate planting area.

(10)

All irrigation systems shall be maintained in an operable condition capable of providing adequate irrigation to landscaped areas as required. Any inoperable irrigation system or components thereof shall be promptly repaired or replaced so that adequate coverage of landscaped areas is restored and maintained.

(11)

All planting materials shall be properly planted so as to be in a healthy, growing condition at the time of establishment. All planting material shall consist of permanent, living plant materials and, when planted to completion, shall thereafter be maintained in an attractive and presentable condition, free of weeds, refuse and debris, and shall be continuously maintained in a sound, healthy and vigorous growing condition, free of plant diseases and insect pests. Top pruning or other severe pruning or maintenance practices of landscaping materials that results in stunted, abnormal, or other unreasonable deviation from the normal healthy growth of trees, shrubs, and other required landscaping components shall be considered as the destruction of these materials, and replacement shall be required as described in this article. Failure of the property owner to maintain the premises in good condition, as set forth in this article, shall make the owner liable for the applicable penalties set forth in this chapter.

(12)

All plant materials shall meet current American Association of Nurserymen standards.

(13)

No approved landscaped area shall be abandoned, paved over, encroached upon by vehicular traffic, or otherwise used without submission of a site plan and approval by the building department or the planning commission pursuant to the procedures set forth in this article.

(Ord. No. 802, § 1, 12-14-2020)

(a)

Planting plan. The planting plan shall be reviewed by the building department or by the planning commission for conformance with the following guidelines:

(1)

The proper types, spacing, height, placement and location of plant materials relative to the length and width of the screen so as to insure that the required horizontal and vertical obscuring of the land use it is intended to screen will be at least 60 percent obscured at the time of planting.

(2)

The choice and selection of plant materials so as to ensure that root systems will not interfere with public utilities and so that fruit and other debris, except leaves, will not constitute a nuisance within public rights-of-way or to abutting property owners.

(3)

The choice and selection of plant materials so as to ensure that the type of planting materials selected will be of a type that will thrive in the area in which they are to be located.

(4)

The proper relationship between deciduous and evergreen plant materials exists so as to assure that the desired obscuring effect will be accomplished.

(5)

The size of plant material (both starting and ultimate) is sufficient to ensure adequate maturity and optimum screening effect by the proposed plant materials.

(6)

Compliance with the applicable landscape design principles set forth in this article.

(Ord. No. 802, § 1, 12-14-2020)

Whenever in this article landscape planting materials are called for, or are to be installed either as part of a planting screen or as an aesthetic landscaping feature, once installed, all landscaping shall be maintained in an attractive and presentable condition, free of weeds, refuse and debris, and shall be continuously maintained in a sound, healthy and vigorous living condition, neat and orderly in appearance, and free of plant diseases and insect pests. Should any live planting or group of live planting materials, including sod and other live lawn cover become distressed, diseased or die, the single planting or group of planting materials, including sod and other live lawn cover shall be replaced. Replacement shall take place within 30 days from the date of notification from the city that replacement is required. If deemed justified, the city may extend the replacement time period, which shall be specified on the notice. Any dead or dying planting material shall be removed from the property and replaced by the same type of planting material, unless an acceptable alternative planting material has been approved by the city. Any breakdown or malfunction of any part of an irrigation system shall cause the entity responsible for the maintenance and proper operation of the irrigation system to immediately correct the problem so that adequate maintenance of all live plant materials will be continued.

(Ord. No. 802, § 1, 12-14-2020)

Whenever a landscape planting plan is called for in this article, cost estimates prepared by a licensed landscape architect or certified nurseryman shall be submitted by the applicant as part of the site plan review package. The cost estimate shall cover the cost of all new planting materials proposed on the approved landscape planting plan, the cost of their installation, including the cost of installing the automated in-ground irrigation system required in this article. Verification by the building department or its representative of the correctness of the cost estimate or estimates submitted shall cause surety in a form acceptable to the city to be submitted by the applicant in an amount sufficient to insure completion within the time specified in this article and in accordance with the approved planting plan.

(Ord. No. 802, § 1, 12-14-2020)

All exterior climate control equipment and any other exterior mechanical equipment including utility outlets, transformers, other electrical equipment, gas regulators, etc., serving any single-family cluster housing development, multiple-family residential development, or any nonresidential use are regarded as accessory uses and shall be restricted to locations on the property for accessory uses as set forth in Article XXIX, in this chapter and shall be effectively screened from view from any abutting residential district or from any street in the following manner:

(1)

Ground level equipment shall be screened from view by any screening device permitted in this article. The screening device need be no higher than necessary to effectively screen the equipment from view. When the exterior walls of the principal use of the property for which the equipment is intended to serve contains any brick material and the screening device is to consist of an architectural masonry screen wall structure, its exterior sides shall consist of the same exterior masonry materials that appear on the principal building. When a landscaped earth berm or planting screen is to be used, except for minimum height limitations, they shall comply with the applicable requirements of this article.

(2)

Rooftop equipment that will be visible from the ground on the property or from any abutting residential district or street shall be screened from view by material that shall extend upwards at least one-eighth times higher than the equipment it is intended to screen. Rooftop screening materials may consist of lightweight weather resistant metal or structurally ridged vinyl or glass fiber materials approved by the building department.

(Ord. No. 802, § 1, 12-14-2020)

Whenever a trash receptacle or receptacles will be used in conjunction with any use in any district, the receptacle shall be screened from view in the following manner:

(1)

They shall be placed in architectural masonry screening structures as such structures are permitted and regulated in this article, except the following requirements shall apply:

a.

The exterior walls of the structure shall consist of the same masonry materials used in the front facade of the principal building when such materials are structurally applicable as a screen wall material and accepted by the building department as such; except concrete masonry units (CMU) shall be prohibited and except when the receptacle screen wall structure is to be made an integral part of an approved architectural masonry screening wall structure, it may consist of the same materials that are to be used in the screen wall structure.

b.

The minimum height of the screen wall structure shall be six feet.

c.

The screen wall enclosure shall include a gate consisting of opaque material.

d.

Posts of adequate size and strength shall be placed at the outside edge of the gates next to the enclosure structure to protect the structure.

e.

The floor of the enclosure shall be constructed of reinforced concrete in a manner acceptable to the building department and shall extend outward from the gate a distance of ten feet and shall be one foot wider than the width of the gate on both sides.

f.

Wherever a trash receptacle screen wall structure is erected the area inside the structure and around the outside of the structure shall be maintained in an orderly and structurally sound condition, clean and free from refuse clutter.

(Ord. No. 802, § 1, 12-14-2020)