Vicksburg City Zoning Code
ARTICLE VIII
Landscaping and Screening
§ 475-8.01 Intent and scope of requirements.
A.
Intent. Landscaping enhances the visual image of the Village, while preserving natural features, improving property values, and alleviating the impact of noise, traffic, and visual distraction associated with certain uses. Screening is important to protect less-intensive uses from the noise, light, traffic, litter and other impacts of more intensive, nonresidential uses. These provisions are intended to set minimum standards for the design and use of landscaping, greenbelts, and screening, and for the protection and enhancement of the Village's environment. More specifically, the intent of these provisions is to:
(1)
Improve the appearance of off-street parking areas, vehicular use areas, and property abutting public rights-of- way;
(2)
Protect and preserve the appearance, character, and value of the neighborhoods that abut non-residential areas, parking areas, and other intensive use areas, thereby protecting the public health, safety and welfare;
(3)
Reduce soil erosion and depletion; and
(4)
Increase soil water retention, thereby helping to prevent flooding.
B.
Scope of application. The requirements in this article shall apply to all non-residential districts (C-1, C-2, I-1, I-2). Sites must be brought into compliance with the requirements of this section at the time of Site Plan Approval. Improvements not requiring site plan approval shall not trigger the requirements of this section.
C.
Minimum requirements. The requirements in this article are minimum requirements, and under no circumstances shall they preclude the developer and the Village from agreeing to more extensive landscaping.
§ 475-8.02 General landscaping provisions.
A.
Screening of residential or agricultural. For lots in the Commercial and Industrial Districts, along any lot line abutting a Residential District, landscape screening shall be required. Landscape screening shall take the form of an area that promotes the healthy growth of vegetation, extending along the entire lot line, planted with trees and shrubs that effectively block the view of the non-residential use. The screening shall be in the form of one of the following:
(1)
Vegetation:
(a)
Deciduous tree: One deciduous tree per 25 feet of linear lot line, with a minimum bulb caliper measurement of 2.5 inches at time of planting; and
(b)
Shrubs: Continual line of shrubs, such as arborvitae, that extend the entire length of the lot line.
(2)
Wall or fence:
(a)
A six foot wall, constructed of masonry material that is architecturally compatible with the materials used on the facade of the principal structure on the site, such as face brick, decorative block, or poured concrete with simulated brick or stone patterns.
(3)
Waivers due to sufficient existing vegetation. The Planning Commission may waive the above requirement upon determining that the development plan for the site retains sufficient existing trees and other vegetation so as to make any additional landscaping redundant.
B.
Clear corner vision. All landscaping in all zoning districts must allow clear corner vision for all street intersections and driveway entrances. Landscaping must be less than three feet tall within a triangle formed by two points, each 25 feet away from the intersection of the right-of-way line and the driveway, and the line connecting them.
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C.
Potential damage to utilities. In no case shall landscaping material be planted in a way that will interfere with or cause damage to underground utility lines, public roads, or other public facilities. Trees shall be set back from overhead utility lines as required by required by the relevant easements.
D.
Steep slope protections. Limiting the disturbance to steep slopes helps prevent erosion, which degrades water quality. As such, for any slope measuring 15% or greater shall be adequately protected by use of ground cover vegetation, including but not limited to the planting of shrubs, native grasses, and non-invasive deciduous and coniferous trees.
E.
Accessory stormwater control features.
(1)
Rain barrels:
(a)
Rain barrels shall be permitted in all zoning districts.
(b)
Rain barrels with a capacity larger than 55 gallons are subject to the accessory structure setback provisions for which the rain barrel is located.
(2)
Bioswales.
(a)
Intent: Bioswales focus on channeling stormwater runoff from streets and parking lots to a system that is designed to slow, filter, and infiltrate stormwater in to small drainage areas.
(b)
Incentive: For those properties that incorporate a bioswale into their design, a reduction in the required onsite landscaping elements may be reduced by 10%.
F.
Green roofs.
(1)
Intent: Green roofs are able to provide thermal insulation benefits, as well as aid in reducing the urban heat island (higher temperatures experienced in urban areas due to impervious surfaces) and retain stormwater through vegetative plantings.
(2)
Incentive: For those properties that incorporate a green roof of at least 25% of the roof surface, a reduction in the required on-site landscaping elements may be reduced by 10%.
§ 475-8.03 Installation and maintenance.
The following standards shall be observed where installation and maintenance of landscape materials are required:
A.
Installation. Landscaping shall be installed in a sound, workmanlike manner to ensure the continued growth of healthy plant material. Trees, shrubs, hedges, and vines shall be generously mulched at the time of planting.
B.
Required native/low maintenance plantings. Where new landscaping elements are required, such elements shall be in the form of native and/or low maintenance plantings. The use of a single species is prohibited. Except for plantings used for evergreen screening, no one species of tree or shrub may make up more than 50% of the total amount of required landscaping material. The use of invasive species which naturalize are prohibited.
C.
Seeding or sodding. Lots or parcels shall be seeded or sodded within 90 days after occupancy.
D.
Protection from vehicles. Landscaping shall be protected from vehicles through use of wheel stops in parking lots. Except for storm water management features such as bio swales, landscape areas shall be elevated above the pavement to a height that is adequate to protect the plants from snow removal, salt, and other hazards.
E.
Off-season planting requirements. If development is completed during the off-season when plants cannot be installed, the owner shall provide a performance guarantee to ensure installation of required landscaping in the next planting season, in accordance with this chapter.
F.
Maintenance. Landscaping required by this chapter shall be maintained in a healthy, neat, and orderly appearance, free from refuse and debris. All unhealthy and dead plant material shall be replaced immediately upon notice from the Zoning Administrator, unless the season is not appropriate for planting, in which case such plant material shall be replaced at the beginning of the next planting season.
(1)
Trees, shrubs, and other plantings and lawn areas shall be watered regularly throughout the growing seasons.
(2)
All constructed or manufactured landscape elements, such as but not limited to benches, retaining walls, edging, and so forth, shall be maintained in good condition and neat appearance. Rotted, deteriorated, or damaged landscape elements shall be repaired, replaced, or removed.
§ 475-8.04 Landscape requirements table.
The table below summarizes the landscape requirements for the Village of Vicksburg. Properties that are zoned for residential (not including multiple-unit) shall be exempt from these standards. Sites that are developed prior to the adoption of this chapter are considered exempt.
Landscaping Type | Requirements |
|---|---|
Trees along street frontage | 1 tree and 3 shrubs per 50 linear feet of frontage |
Parking lot interior | 1 square foot of landscaping per 50 square feet of pavement. |
Parking lot islands1, 2, 3 | 1 Island with a deciduous tree, per 25 spaces. Parking lots that are less than 50 spaces are exempt |
Parking lot perimeter | 1 square foot of landscaping per 50 square feet of pavement |
NOTES | |
|---|---|
1 | Parking lot islands may be counted towards the parking lot interior landscaping requirement. |
2 | Landscaped islands are to be installed with six-inch curbs that are designed to protect landscaping from damage by vehicles (four inches where vehicles are to overhang the curb). Periodic openings in curbs shall be permitted for the purpose of conveying stormwater run-off. |
3 | Each parking lot landscape island shall have a minimum of 200 square feet in area, with a minimum width of 10 feet. A minimum of three feet between the back of a curb and a tree trunk shall be maintained. |
