A.
Landscaping shall be installed within setbacks, around and within
parking lots, and adjacent to buildings, as specified below.
B.
Native plants, indigenous to the Maryland region, shall be used for
landscaping. The Department of Planning and Zoning maintains a list
of native plants that are acceptable and appropriate for landscaping
of sites.
C.
Sites shall be permanently maintained in good condition with at least
the same quality and quantity of landscaping as initially approved.
If any of the plant materials required on the site plan die or are
seriously damaged, they shall be replaced so that the site remains
in conformance with the approved site plan. Failure to maintain the
site in accordance with the approved site plan shall constitute a
Zoning Violation and shall be enforced in accordance with the provisions
of Section 1-7 of this Ordinance.
D.
Bio-retention areas are encouraged and shall be considered to meet
the landscaping requirements. If a stormwater management pond is proposed,
it shall be integrated into the overall development and serve as a
visual amenity to the site.
E.
Preservation of monument trees is encouraged. A monument tree is
defined as:
1.
a national, state or local champion tree; or
2.
a tree having a diameter of at least 24 inches (measured at 4.5 feet
above the ground); or
3.
a tree having a diameter that is at least 75 percent of the diameter
of the current state champion of that species (measured at 4.5 feet
above the ground).
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See Sections 6-5.03.B.2 and 6-5.04.B.2.c. for incentives for
preservation of monument trees.
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A.
The following trees and shrubs shall be planted within setbacks:
1.
Shade trees at least two inches in caliper with a height of at least
ten feet shall be planted every 40 linear feet along road rights-of-way
and property boundaries that adjoin residential or agricultural properties
or properties that have a non-compatible use.
2.
Flowering trees at least 1.5 inches in caliper with a height of at
least six feet shall be evenly spaced between shade trees every 40
linear feet along road rights-of-way and property boundaries that
adjoin residential or agricultural properties or properties that have
a non-compatible use.
3.
At least two varieties of shrubs with a minimum height of one foot
at time of planting shall be planted in clusters of at least three
plants between trees.
4.
In lieu of evenly spaced plantings as specified above, alternative
landscaping plans utilizing the same number of plantings may be approved
by the Planning Commission Administrator.
5.
If proposed tree plantings conflict with pre-existing underground
utility lines or overhead wires, the applicant shall propose an alternative
landscaping plan utilizing the same number of plantings for approval
by the Planning Commission Administrator.
B.
Exceptions:
Farms shall be exempt from the above landscaping requirements.
In addition, the Planning Commission Administrator may waive all or
part of the above provisions in the following instances:
1.
if the applicant demonstrates that the area within a setback is currently
vegetated with at least as many trees and shrubs as that which would
be required above; or
2.
if a monument tree is located within a setback and is to be preserved,
the landscaping requirements for an area equal to the diameter of
the drip line of the tree plus 20 feet may be waived; or
3.
if the adjoining property is actively maintained in field crops and
the installation of the landscaping would adversely affect the field
crops, a waiver may be granted if the farm owner indicates his or
her approval in writing.
C.
Stormwater management facilities such as ponds and bio-retention
areas are permitted within setbacks provided that they are designed
as attractive, landscaped amenities. Designs that rely on chain link
fencing to ensure safety, rather than slope contouring and vegetation,
are not permitted within setbacks.
A.
Perimeter Landscaping and Screening of Parking Areas
1.
Purpose: The purpose of requiring perimeter landscaping and screening
is to conceal or partially conceal parking areas and outdoor sales
areas such as motor vehicle and boat dealerships from motorists, pedestrians
and adjoining properties. The view into a parking area without landscaping
can be unsightly and disorienting, making it difficult to read directional
signs, to locate a specific building, or to find entrances, exits
or roadways.
2.
Requirements:
a.
Parking areas shall be landscaped and screened from view of motorists,
pedestrians and adjoining residential or agricultural properties or
properties with a non-compatible use.
b.
Planting materials shall be installed at a minimum height of two
feet to three feet utilizing a combination of shrubs with varying
heights, colors, and textures. The planting materials shall have the
potential of reaching a height of at least three feet within three
years.
c.
Brick walls or decorative fencing may be used in conjunction with
landscaping and screening.
d.
If a landscaped berm is used, the height of the berm shall be a minimum
of two feet. The width of the berm shall be at least twice the height.
The width of the landscaped area on the berm shall be four feet or
wider.
e.
A minimum of one tree shall be planted for every 40 linear feet of
landscaped perimeter strip or fraction thereof.
f.
Perimeter screening shall not restrict sight distance needed for
vehicular safety.
g.
Sites shall be permanently maintained in good condition with at least
the same quality and quantity of screening materials as initially
approved. If any of the plant materials required on the final approved
detailed site development plan die or are seriously damaged, they
shall be replaced so that the site remains in conformance with the
approved site plan. Failure to maintain the site in accordance with
the final approved detailed site development plan shall constitute
a Zoning Violation and shall be enforced in accordance with the provisions
of Section 1-7 of this Ordinance.
[Amended 6-9-2020 by Ord. No. 14-20]
3.
Exceptions: The Planning Commission Administrator may waive all or
part of the above provisions in the following instances:
a.
Natural slopes and existing vegetation on the subject property may
be substituted for some or all of the requirements above, provided
that these features serve to screen the parking area from motorists,
pedestrians and adjoining property owners.
b.
If all or part of the parking lot is not visible from public roads
or existing buildings on adjacent properties.
B.
Landscaping Within Parking Lots
1.
The purpose of requiring landscaping and screening within large parking
areas is:
2.
Requirements: The following landscaping is required within all parking
lots having more than 25 spaces:
a.
The equivalent of one full sized parking space for every 20 spaces
(or portion thereof) in excess of 25 spaces shall be landscaped with
trees. (A recommended tree list is available at the Department of
Planning & Zoning.)
b.
Parking islands and ends of parking rows shall be landscaped with
at least one shade tree per island. These areas are encouraged to
be designed as bio-retention areas.
c.
If monument trees, as defined in Section 6-5.02.E, are to be preserved
and incorporated into the parking lot design, the number of required
parking spaces may be reduced by an area equal to the diameter of
the drip line of the tree plus 20 feet.
d.
Planting which is required for screening along the perimeter of a
parking lot (Section 6-5.04.A) shall not be considered as part of
the interior landscaping requirement. Interiors of parking lots in
the I-1, FFD, and RCD Districts are exempt from these requirements.
A.
Purpose: Buffering along property boundaries is sometimes necessary
in order to reduce the impact of development on non-commercial properties.
B.
Requirement: All non-residential developments shall provide a minimum
of a 20-foot landscaped buffer along the length of the property line
when adjacent to an existing residentially used property, a property
with an active residential building permit, or a property with a non-compatible
use.
C.
Exceptions:
The Planning Commission Administrator may waive all or part
of the above provisions in the following instances:
1.
The 20-foot landscaped buffer may be reduced to a minimum of 12 feet
through the use of a landscaped berm at least three feet in height
at finished grade elevation, prior to the application of mulch to
the berm.
2.
Natural slopes and existing vegetation may be substituted for some
or all of the requirements above, provided that these features serve
to buffer the area from adjoining properties.
A.
Purpose: Screening of accessory uses is sometimes required in order
to hide unattractive or incompatible uses from view.
B.
Requirements:
1.
Screening is required on any portion of a non-residential development
which involves loading and unloading areas, trash or disposal areas,
or accessory buildings and structures.
2.
Screening is required when exterior storage areas are visible from
roadways, sidewalks or nearby residential or agricultural properties
or properties with noncompatible uses.
3.
Screening is required when business lighting will project into the
interiors of nearby residential properties or adjacent roadways.
4.
Screening material may be trees, or brick or wooden fencing used
with or without berms. The screen shall be capable of providing year
round screening. In cases where security fencing (such as chain link)
is needed and can not be substituted by any other fencing, it shall
be black and screened by vegetation or a wood or brick fence.
5.
Where brick or wooden fencing is utilized, a minimum five-foot strip
outside the fencing shall be landscaped with clusters of trees and
shrubs with a maximum spacing between clusters of 25 feet.
6.
The height of any brick or wooden fence shall be no less than six
feet. Vegetative screening shall be a minimum of four feet at installation.
