(A)   Purpose. The landscaping and screening regulations of this section establish minimum requirements for landscaping and screening. The regulations are intended to advance the general purposes of this ordinance and specifically to:

      (1)   Enhance quality of life for residents and visitors;

      (2)   Protect property values;

      (3)   Enhance the quality and appearance of new development;

      (4)   Mitigate possible adverse impacts of higher intensity land uses abutting lower intensity land uses;

      (5)   Promote the preservation, expansion, protection and proper maintenance of landscaping, including the wise use of water resources;

      (6)   Improve air quality;

      (7)   Protect water quality and reduce the negative impacts of stormwater runoff by reducing impervious surface area and providing vegetated areas that filter and retain greater amounts of stormwater on site;

      (8)   Moderate heat by providing shade;

      (9)   Reduce the impacts of noise and glare;

      (10)   Promote sustainable landscape practices including the use of non-invasive native and regionally adaptable plants; and

      (11)   Encourage the use of landscape architects licensed in the State of Illinois.

   (B)   Applicability. The landscaping and screening regulations of this article apply as set forth in the individual sections. In general, the regulations apply to new development that requires permitting or review by the county and significant expansion of existing uses and developments.

   (C)   Exemptions. The following are exempt from the landscaping and screening regulations of this article:

      (1)   Detached houses, townhouses and two-unit residential buildings, provided that new residential subdivisions must provide landscaping in accordance with Article 29 of the subdivision ordinance;

      (2)   Group care homes with no more than six residents;

      (3)   Public parks, forest preserves and other public open spaces, except for parking, loading and outdoor service areas; and

      (4)   Agricultural uses, except for public parking areas associated with such uses.

(Ord. effective 10-1-2012)

   The removal of trees with a single-stem diameter breast height (DBH) of six inches or greater must be mitigated by providing one or more replacement trees with a total combined DBH equal to at least 125% of the total DBH of trees that are removed. The Zoning Administrator is authorized to waive this tree replacement requirement when it is determined that inadequate area exists for healthy growth of replacement trees or when they determine that the removed trees are diseased or of an undesirable species.

(Ord. effective 10-1-2012)

   (A)   Applicability. The general site landscaping standards of this section apply when any of the following occurs:

      (1)   When new development occurs that will result in more than 25,000 square feet of impervious surface coverage; or

      (2)   When 25,000 square feet or more additional impervious surface coverage is added to an existing development site.

   (B)   Standards.

      (1)   General site landscaping must be provided on at least 15% of the total developed area of a lot. If less than 15% of the developed area of the lot is available for landscaping, the applicant must provide general site landscaping on the entire developed area of the lot that is available for landscaping. For the purpose of this provision, "developed area" is that portion of a property that is disturbed for development purposes including areas covered by buildings, impervious surfaces and other areas graded or excavated to support the development.

      (2)    Landscaping must be provided throughout the required general site landscape area. Such landscaping may consist of trees, shrubs, vines, flowers, groundcover and other landscape materials or landforms provided for environmental or aesthetic effect.

      (3)   At least one tree and four shrubs must be provided per 1,000 square feet of required general site landscaping area. Groundcover plants may be substituted for required shrubs at a ratio of three groundcover plants per each required shrub.

      (4)   Landscape areas and plant material provided to meet the road frontage landscaping requirements of § 155-12.40, the perimeter vehicular use area landscaping requirements of § 155-12.50, the interior vehicular use area landscaping requirements of § 155-12.60, the land use buffer requirements of § 155-12.70 and the screening requirements of § 155-12.80 count toward satisfying the general site landscaping requirements of this section.

   (C)   Materials, design and maintenance. General site landscape areas are subject to the regulations of § 155-12.90.

(Ord. effective 10-1-2012; Ord. 18-1, passed 1-18-2018)

   (A)   Applicability. The road frontage landscaping standards of this section apply when any of the following occurs:

      (1)   When new development occurs; or

      (2)   When the gross floor area, number dwelling units or area of impervious surface on an existing development site is expanded by more than 50%.

   (B)   Standards.

      (1)   Road frontage landscape areas must have a minimum average depth of at least ten feet, measured inward from the edge all road rights-of-way. The depth of the road frontage landscape area may be averaged, but it may never be less than five feet.

      (2)   Parking lots and paved vehicular use areas may not encroach into required road frontage landscape areas, nor may parked vehicles encroach into required road frontage landscape areas. Berms or swales may be located within road frontage landscape areas.

      (3)   Required road frontage landscape areas must include at least one deciduous canopy tree per 40 feet of road frontage. For road frontages of less than 40 feet, a minimum of one tree is required. Required trees may be clustered or irregularly spaced, but the maximum spacing of trees may not exceed 60 feet on-center.

      (4)   For industrial land uses, if the immediately surrounding development pattern does not include road frontage landscaping, the Zoning Administrator may authorize trees and landscaping otherwise required as part of road frontage landscaping to be located elsewhere on the site.

      (5)   Depressed bioretention areas used for landscaping and stormwater management are strongly encouraged.

   (C)   Materials, design and maintenance. Road frontage landscape areas are subject to the regulations of § 155-12.90.

(Ord. effective 10-1-2012; Ord. 18-1, passed 1-18-2018)

      (1)   The construction or installation of any new vehicular use area containing 12 or more parking spaces or more than 4,200 square feet of area;

      (2)   The expansion of any existing vehicular use area if the expansion would create 12 or more new parking spaces or more than 4,200 square feet of additional paved area, in which case the requirements of this section apply only to the expanded area; and

      (3)   The excavation and reconstruction of existing vehicular use areas containing 12 or more parking spaces or more than 4,200 square feet of area if such excavation and reconstruction involves more than 50% of the paved surface, in which case the requirements of this section apply only to the portion of the vehicular use area that is excavated and reconstructed.

   (B)   Standards.

      (1)   Perimeter vehicular use area landscaping standards may be satisfied by providing at least one of the following options abutting the vehicular use area:

         (a)   A landscape strip with a minimum depth of ten feet that includes a hedge, dense shrub planting, masonry wall or combination of such features that results in a continuous visual screen to a height of at least 30 inches above the grade of the vehicular use area along the length of the vehicular use area frontage; or

         (b)   A landscape strip with a minimum depth of 20 feet that includes at least two trees and five shrubs per 40 feet of vehicular use area frontage. A berm may be substituted for the trees required in this paragraph. Berms must comply with § 155-12.90(M).

      (2)   The Zoning Administrator is authorized to approve reductions in height for vehicular use area perimeter buffers to improve sight distance at intersections.

      (3)   Landscape areas and plant material provided to meet the road frontage landscaping requirements of § 155-12.40 count toward satisfying the perimeter vehicular use area landscaping requirements of this section.

      (4)   Depressed bioretention areas used for landscaping and stormwater management are strongly encouraged.

   (C)   Materials, design and maintenance. Perimeter vehicular use area landscaping is subject to the regulations of § 155-12.90.

(Ord. effective 10-1-2012; Ord. 18-1, passed 1-18-2018)

      (1)   The construction or installation of any new vehicular use area containing 12 or more parking spaces or more than 4,200 square feet of paved or impervious area;

      (2)   The expansion of any existing vehicular use area if the expansion would create 12 or more new parking spaces or more than 4,200 square feet of additional area, in which case the requirements of this section apply only to the expanded area; and

      (3)   The excavation and reconstruction of existing vehicular use areas containing 12 or more parking spaces or more than 4,200 square feet of area if such excavation and reconstruction involves the removal of more than 50% of the paved surface, in which case the requirements of this section apply only to the portion of the vehicular use area that is excavated and reconstructed.

   (B)   Standards.

      (1)   Vehicular use areas. Vehicular use areas include parking spaces, drive aisles, driveways and drive-through lanes. Vehicular use areas that are covered by canopies or similar structures must be included when calculating minimum interior vehicular use area landscaping requirements, but installation of landscaping is not required beneath canopies or other structures that block sunlight and rainfall. Parking and circulation areas located within a parking structure are not counted as vehicular use areas for purposes of these interior vehicular use area landscaping requirements.

      (2)    Minimum interior landscape area. Landscaping must be provided within the interior of vehicular use areas in accordance with the following minimum ratios:

 

 

      (3)   Landscape islands. Interior vehicular use area landscaping must be provided in the form of landscape islands.

         (a)   Landscape islands must have an area of at least 135 square feet and be at least eight feet in width. Only pervious area within landscape islands may be counted toward meeting minimum area and width requirements. Combining landscape islands to form larger interior landscape areas is encouraged.

         (b)   At least one deciduous canopy tree must be provided per landscape island or per 150 square feet of landscape island, whichever results in more trees.

         (c)   Landscape areas located outside the perimeter of the vehicular use area may not be counted toward satisfying interior vehicular use area landscaping requirements. Landscaped areas within the corners of the vehicular use area may be counted up to a maximum of 200 square feet for each corner, if at least one deciduous canopy tree is located within the area.

         (d)   Landscape islands must be dispersed so that the distance between landscape islands is no greater than 12 parking spaces.

         (e)   If landscape islands are combined to form larger bioretention areas the maximum allowable distance between such bioretention landscape islands is increased to 20 parking spaces.

         (f)   Deciduous canopy trees must be provided in interior landscape islands at a minimum rate of one tree per 250 square feet of required interior landscape area.

         (g)   Depressed bioretention areas used for landscaping and stormwater management are strongly encouraged.

   (C)   Materials, design and maintenance. Interior vehicular use area landscaping is subject to the regulations of § 155-12.90.

(Ord. effective 10-1-2012; Ord. 18-1, passed 1-18-2018)

   Land use buffers are intended to mitigate the possible adverse effects (e.g., noise, visual, lighting, and other site-related and operational impacts) that can occur when high-intensity development occurs abutting residential areas.

      (1)   Land use buffers are required when new development occurs or new uses are established on lots that abut a residential zoning district or lot used for residential purposes; or

      (2)   When the gross floor area, number dwelling units or area of impervious surface on an existing development site is expanded by more than 50% and such site abuts a residential zoning district or lot used for residential purposes.

   (B)   Standards.

      (1)   Land use buffers must be provided along the entire property line of the subject lot that abuts a lot that is zoned or used for residential purposes.

      (2)   Any of the following three options may be used to satisfy the land use buffer requirements of this section:

         (a)   Provide a landscaped area at least ten feet in width with at least one shrub per five linear feet of land use buffer area, plus at least one evergreen tree and one deciduous (shade or understory) tree per 30 linear feet of land use buffer area. Shrubs must be at least three feet in height at time of planting.

         (b)   Provide a landscaped area at least ten feet in width with a solid wall or fence with a minimum height of six feet along the interior of the land use buffer area. At least one evergreen tree and one deciduous (shade or understory) tree is required per 30 linear feet of fence or wall.

         (c)   Provide a landscape berm at with at least one evergreen or deciduous (shade or understory) tree per 30 linear feet of berm. Berms must comply with § 155-12.90(M).

      (3)   Land use buffers may be located in required building setback areas.

   (C)   Materials, design and maintenance. Land use buffer landscaping is subject to the regulations of § 155-12.90.

(Ord. effective 10-1-2012; Ord. 18-1, passed 1-18-2018)

   (A)   Features to be screened. The following features must be screened from view of public rights-of-way, public open spaces and from lots used or zoned for residential purposes.

      (1)   Ground-mounted mechanical equipment. Ground-mounted mechanical equipment over 30 inches in height may not be located within 15 feet of the property line of a lot used or zoned for residential purposes. Ground-mounted mechanical equipment, including non-exempt utility installations, more than 30 inches in height and located within 25 feet of a street or a lot used or zoned for residential purposes must be screened from view by a solid fence, solid wall, dense hedge, or combination of such features. The hedge, fence or wall must be tall enough to screen the equipment.

      (2)   Roof-mounted mechanical equipment. Roof-mounted mechanical equipment (e.g., air conditioning, heating, cooling, ventilation, exhaust and similar equipment, but not solar panels, wind energy or similar renewable energy devices) over 30 inches in height and located within 50 feet of a lot used or zoned for residential purposes must be screened from the lot used or zoned for residential purposes in one of the following ways:

         (a)   A parapet along façades facing the lot used or zoned for residential purposes that is as tall as the tallest part of the equipment;

         (b)   A solid screen around the equipment that is as tall as the tallest part of the equipment, with the screen an integral part of the building's architectural design; or

         (c)   An equipment setback from roof edges facing lots used or zoned for residential purposes that is at least three feet in depth for each one foot of equipment height.

      (3)   Refuse/recycling containers. Refuse/ recycling containers must be screened from view of streets and all abutting lots with a solid wall or fence at least six feet in height. Refuse/recycling containers may not be located in street setbacks. These location and screening requirements do not apply to containers used on a temporary basis.

   (B)   Outdoor storage shall be screened from view of public rights-of-way, public open spaces and all adjoining lots regardless of use or zoning as per § 155-14.100(B)(3).

      (1)   All plant material used for screening must be at least three feet in height at time of planting.

      (2)   Screens may be broken only as necessary to accommodate gates, approved access drives and walkways.

(Ord. effective 10-1-2012; Ord. 18-1, passed 1-18-2018)

   (A)   Landscaping within required landscape areas. Required landscaped areas must be covered with biodegradable mulch, ornamental grasses, forbs, native prairie plants, native wetland plants, grass or other perennial herbaceous or shrub planting combinations. Landscape-grade stone or aggregate material may also be used within landscape areas. In areas subject to erosion, erosion-reducing blankets or reinforced mulch must be used.

   (B)   Existing trees and vegetation. Existing non-invasive, non-noxious trees and shrubs count toward satisfying the landscaping and screening regulations of this article if they are located within the subject area (e.g., existing trees within the road frontage landscape area may be used to meet those requirements) and they comply with the plant height and size requirements of § 155-12.90.

   (C)   Installation.

      (1)   Landscaping must be installed and maintained in accordance with the requirements of this section and the approved landscape plan.

      (2)   Required landscaping must be installed in complete and healthy condition before a certificate of occupancy may be issued.

   (D)   Plant selection; invasive and noxious plants prohibited in Will County.

      (1)   Trees and plants selected for required landscape areas must be well-suited to the microclimate and on-site soil conditions.

      (2)   Trees and plant material must comply with the specifications found in American Standards for Nursery Stock (ANSI).

      (3)   Woody plants must be rated to survive in USDA Hardiness Zones 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5.

      (4)   The county finds that invasive and noxious plant species are a public nuisance that degrade landscaped and natural areas. Invasive or noxious plant species may not be used to meet the landscape requirements of this article. Moreover, the planting or maintenance of invasive and noxious plant species is prohibited. The county may require the owner of the property to remove any invasive and noxious plant species regardless of the property owner's roles in introducing it to the property.

      (5)   If more than 30 trees will be used, a mixture of three or more tree species must be used.

      (6)   If more than 50 shrubs will be used, a mixture of three or more shrub species must be used.

   (E)   Maximum plant height generally.

      (1)   Plant height is limited to a maximum of ten inches within all of the following areas:

         (a)   Within ten feet of the public right- of-way;

         (b)   Within five feet of a lot line; and

         (c)   Within five feet of any fixed utility equipment or similar structure or property.

      (2)   The ten-inch maximum plant height requirements of this division (E) do not apply to any of the following:

         (a)   Woody plants, such as trees and shrubs;

         (b)   Plants located directly along opaque fences or walls or provided to satisfy the requirements of this landscaping and screening article;

         (c)   Vines attached to woody plants, fences or walls;

         (d)   Areas used for scientific and educational purposes through accredited programs;

         (e)   Areas of public open space or open space governed by a homeowners association, land trust or within a conservation easement that is covered under the provisions and regulations of the Subdivision Ordinance;

         (f)   Areas that contain documented state or federally listed threatened and/or endangered species;

         (g)   Buffers associated with lakes and wetlands;

         (h)   Buffers and filter strips associated with channels, creeks, streams, and rivers;

         (i)   Cemeteries;

         (j)   Golf courses;

         (k)   Heavily wooded property;

         (l)   Public-owned property;

         (m)   Regulatory mitigation areas; or

         (n)   Properties two and one-half acres or more in area.

   (F)   Trees.

 

 

   (G)   Shrubs.

      (1)   Deciduous/broadleaf. Deciduous/broadleaf shrubs used to satisfy the requirements of this article must have a minimum height of three feet or be a minimum five-gallon size.

      (2)   Evergreen. Evergreen shrubs used to satisfy the requirements of this article must have a minimum width of two feet or be a minimum five-gallon size.

 

   (H)   Groundcover plants. Groundcover plants are deciduous or evergreen plants that grow low and spread horizontally, not including turf. Groundcover plants used to satisfy the requirements of this article must be at least one-gallon size.

   (K)   Curbs and vehicle barriers. Landscaped areas in or abutting vehicular use areas must be protected by concrete curbing, anchored wheel stops, or other durable barriers approved by the Zoning Administrator. Wood timbers that are not part of a structural retaining wall may not be used to meet this requirement. Alternative barrier designs that provide improved infiltration or storage of stormwater are encouraged. Curbs protecting landscape islands within vehicular use areas may be designed to allow stormwater runoff to pass through them. Curbs may be perforated or have gaps or breaks.

   (L)   Bioretention. When landscape islands are used for bioretention the ponding area should be six inches to 18 inches in depth and planted with salt-tolerant native wildflowers/forbs and grasses suited to the micro-hydrology of the bioretention area.

   (M)   Berms. Berms used to satisfy the requirements of this article must consist of a mound or bank of formed earth at least 30 inches in height, a slope not exceeding one foot of vertical rise for each three feet of horizontal run, with a five-foot wide (minimum) plantable area on top and adequate ground cover on side slopes to prevent erosion.

   (N)   Intersection vision clearance. Plantings and landscape material, other than trees, located within the vision clearance area established by § 155-14.80 within a sight triangle may not exceed a height of 30 inches. Trees within the required vision clearance area must have all branches trimmed to provide clear vision for a vertical height of at least eight feet above the highest adjacent roadway or driveway surface. Evergreen trees are not permitted within required vision clearance areas.

   (O)   Fire hydrants and utilities. Landscaping must be placed to allow full access to fire hydrants and utility systems. A minimum five-foot clear space must be maintained around the circumference of fire hydrants and from any access point to a utility system (e.g., water shutoff valve box, sanitary/storm sewer manhole).

   (P)   Water conservation. To promote resource- efficient landscaping for the conservation of water and other natural resources, the following principles and practices are encouraged:

      (1)   Practical turf areas;

      (2)   Use of water-conserving plant material;

      (3)   Grouping of plants with similar water requirements;

      (4)   Installation of pervious paving to encourage groundwater recharge and reuse, and to discourage run-off;

      (5)    Rainwater harvesting techniques;

      (6)   Use of mulches;

      (7)   Use of soil amendments based on soil analysis; and

      (8)   Use of reclaimed water.

   (Q)   Maintenance. It is the responsibility of the property owner to maintain required landscaping in accordance with an approved maintenance plan. The maintenance plan must include, at a minimum, methods for providing the following:

      (1)   Necessary irrigation,

      (2)   Integrated pest management,

      (3)   Fertilization,

      (4)   Tree care and pruning,

      (5)   Replacement of lost vegetation, and

      (6)   Weed management.

(Ord. effective 10-1-2012; Ord. 18-1, passed 1-18-2018)

   A landscape plan must be submitted at the time of site development permit review. If a site development permit is not required, the landscape plan must be submitted with the building permit application. The landscape plan must have a minimum scale of 1" = 50' and include at least the following information:

   (A)   Location, species, and size of existing trees with a DBH of six inches or greater that are proposed to be removed and the location, species and size of replacement trees.

   (B)   Location of trees and vegetation proposed for use within required landscape areas in sufficient detail for a determination that the plan conforms with this article.

   (C)   The vehicular use areas clearly identified and dimensioned for the purpose of determining compliance with the landscape requirements for each vehicular use area and a tabulation in chart form of each vehicular use area including the square footage of each vehicular use area, the square footage of each interior landscape area, and the number of trees proposed to meet interior and perimeter requirements.

   (D)   A plant list of proposed landscape materials showing caliper sizes, root type (bare root, balled and burlapped, container size), height of material, botanical and common names, type and amount of mulch, ground cover and grasses.

   (E)   Specifications for treatment of compacted soil within required landscape areas.

   (F)   Specifications for planting media in required landscape areas.

   (G)   The location of walls, fences, walks and other hard landscaping materials.

   (H)   Irrigation plan or location of water outlets.

   (I)   Planting and staking details to ensure proper installation and establishment of proposed plant materials.

   (J)   Identification of a landscape maintenance program including a statement that all diseased, damaged, or dead material will be replaced by the end of the following planting season, in perpetuity.

   (K)   Identification of snow storage areas including a statement that snow will not be pushed onto interior landscape islands unless designed for and identified on the landscape plan for snow storage.

   (L)   Other information or data determined necessary by the Zoning Administrator, such as construction details and/or cross-sections sufficient to resolve specific site conditions. These conditions include, but are not limited to berms, retaining walls, screen walls, fences, or culverts to maintain natural drainage patterns.

(Ord. effective 10-1-2012)

   The landscaping and screening regulations of this article are not intended to be arbitrary, physically impossible or economically impractical. The Zoning Administrator is authorized to approve alternative compliance landscape plans when the Zoning Administrator determines that one or more of the following conditions is determined to be present:

   (A)   The site or sites involve space limitations or unusually shaped lots;

   (B)   Conditions on or adjacent to the site such as topography, soils, vegetation or existing structures or utilities are such that full compliance is impossible or impractical;

   (C)   Safety considerations such as intersection visibility, utility locations, etc., make alternative compliance necessary; or

   (D)   Alternative creative landscaping applications will provide an equal or better means of meeting the intent of the landscaping and screening regulations.

(Ord. effective 10-1-2012)