Township of Lower Merion, PA Landscaping, Buffering and Screening

All nonresidential buildings, excluding agricultural buildings and buildings accessory to single-family residential uses.

All residential dwellings, with the exception of single-family detached dwellings, single-family semidetached dwellings and two-family detached dwellings not otherwise requiring subdivision and land development approval.

Construction of the following streets, parking areas, loading and storage areas:

All streets to be dedicated to the Township.

All private streets and driveways with cartways 18 feet or more.

Any parking area which exceeds 8,000 square feet.

(4)

Any loading or storage area for equipment and materials which exceeds 8,000 square feet.

Construction of any of the following structures or facilities which exceeds 4,000 square feet in ground coverage:

Public utility facilities and structures.

Liquid and solid waste collection, storage, conveyance and treatment facilities.

Any other structure of similar character or impact.

Earthmoving and grading areas exceeding one acre.

Any activities which would require a buffer pursuant to Chapter 155, Zoning, and any buffer imposed by the Township Zoning Hearing Board.

§ 101-8 Mitigation of visual impact.

[Amended 5-18-2022 by Ord. No. 4245]

The required buffer(s) shall comply with the standards established in § 135-5.2C through H.

In determining compliance with § 101-8A, the applicant shall abide by the requirements of §§ 135-5.2C through H, 135-5.4, and 135-5.7 and 135-5.8, respectively.

§ 101-9 Minimum planting standards.

[Amended 12-16-1998 by Ord. No. 3506; 11-19-2003 by Ord. No. 3694; 3-11-2015 by Ord. No. 4052; 5-18-2022 by Ord. No. 4245]

Minimum sizes of plantings should be for trees and shrubs, as provided in the table below. Plantings shall conform to the standards of the publication American Standard for Nursery Stock, ANSI Z60.1 - 1980 of the American Association of Nurserymen, as amended. All plant material used on the site shall have been grown within the same USDA hardiness zone as the site and shall be nursery grown, unless it is determined by the Township Arborist that the transplanting of trees per § 101-6A(7) partially fulfills the requirements of this section.

Plant Type	Minimum Caliper at Time of Planting (inches)	Minimum Height at Time of Planting	Minimum Spacing at Time of Planting (feet)
Understory/small tree	2 to 2.5	12 to 14 feet (multistem)	15 to 20
Medium canopy tree	2 to 2.5	12 to 14 feet (multistem)	20 to 25
Large canopy tree	2 to 2.5	—	30 to 40
Large shrub	—	36 inches	²
Small shrub	—	18 to 24 inches¹	²
Evergreen tree	—	8 feet	²

NOTES:
¹	Excludes groundcover shrubs which can be shorter.
²	Dependent on estimated mature width.

Because of the many benefits of native plants (ease of maintenance, longevity, wildlife habitat, etc.), the applicant is urged to conform to through the use of native trees and shrubs, as identified in Appendix Chapter A177, Planting Materials and Specifications. Compliance with § 135-5.8A, Plant species selection, is required.

Species selected by the applicant shall reflect the following considerations:

Existing site conditions and their suitability for the plant materials, based upon the site's geology, hydrology, soils and microclimate.

Specific functional objectives of the plantings, which may include but not necessarily be limited to visual screening, noise abatement, energy conservation, wildlife habitats and aesthetic values.

Maintenance and replacement considerations, such as hardiness, resistance to insects and disease, longevity and availability and cost of plant materials.

It is the desire of the Township to protect and develop where feasible, wildlife habitats and food sources. With this in mind, the following shall be taken into consideration in the selection of vegetation:

The ability of plant material to bear edible fruit during the various seasons of the year. Variety is highly key and each tree, shrub, vine, grass and flower should be considered for its capacity to supply food and/or cover for one or more species.

The existence of and potential for the establishment of wildlife habitat. Dead trees in the most remote areas should not be removed, but rather become a home for cavity nesting birds and other wildlife. Brush pile habitats are excellent areas for smaller wildlife to use as protection from enemies and survival from the rigors of winter.

For the purposes of promoting disease protection, minimum maintenance, diverse natural plant associations and long-term stability of plantings, the applicant is encouraged to choose those combinations of species which may be expected to be found together under more-or-less natural conditions on sites comparable to those where the trees and shrubs are to be planted. Tree and shrub associations found in different landscapes (including native trees and shrubs) are presented in Appendix Chapter A177.

§ 101-10 Landscape design standards.

[Amended 5-18-2022 by Ord. No. 4245]

Plantings shall be provided in arrangements and locations which best mitigate the adverse impacts of the applicant's proposed site disturbance actions. Where feasible, buffers shall contain a mix of deciduous and evergreen plantings, and demonstrate compliance with § 135-5.2, where applicable.

Planting plans shall be required; such plans shall be prepared by a landscape architect registered by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to engage in the practice of landscape architecture. In addition, planting plans shall include a planting schedule which summarizes the quantity, type, size and root condition of all plantings. Compliance with § 135-5.8A, Plant species selection, and § 135-5.8B, Plant specifications, is required.

Planting areas shall be selected and designed to reflect natural landscape characteristics existing prior to site disturbance, as well as those environmental conditions to be created following site disturbance by the applicant.

The locations, dimensions and spacing of required plantings shall be adequate for their proper growth and maintenance, taking into account the sizes of such plantings at maturity and their present and future environmental requirements, such as moisture and sunlight. (See Appendix Chapter A177, § A177-2.) In selecting locations for shade trees, consideration also shall be given to aesthetic qualities of the site and to the protection of solar access. In selecting the layout for buffers or the location and mix of required plantings, consideration shall be given to the natural topography of the setting and the texture, coloration and comparability of different plant species; it is strongly encouraged that improved landscapes be designed in such a manner as to be creative and attractive while maintaining the integrity of the natural landscape within which such work is proposed.

Plantings shall be limited or carefully selected for locations where they may be disbursed or contribute to conditions hazardous to the public's safety. Such locations include but shall not be limited to the edges of parking areas, public street rights-of-way, underground and aboveground utilities and sight triangle areas required for unobstructed views at street intersections. Tree size shall be in conformance with the requirements of § 101-9. Planting locations shall consider underground utilities and the need for repairing these utilities, together with the presence of overhead wires. No trees shall be planted closer than 15 feet from fire hydrants, streetlights or stop signs. All trees planted near sidewalks shall be planted with deep root barriers to prevent cracked pavements and/or sidewalks; planting trees with tap roots rather than fibrous roots will help eliminate such cracking. The type of deep root barriers shall be approved by the Township Arborist. Replacement of existing trees shall be in accordance with the above provisions and shall be replaced as close to their original position as practicable. The number of new trees planted per year shall at least equal the number of trees removed during the same year. The applicant shall adhere to the specifications for tree planting contained in Appendix Chapter A177.

Species for trees shall be selected with particular emphasis on hardiness, minimal need for maintenance and compatibility with other features of the site and surrounding environs and shall be acceptable to the Township Shade Tree Commission. Species for on-lot shade trees shall be selected with the same emphasis and shall be acceptable to the Township Arborist. Use of native species is encouraged. Tree and shrub associations found in different landscapes (including native trees and shrubs) are presented in Appendix Chapter A177.

§ 101-11 Site maintenance and guaranty.

All landscape improvements to be provided in accordance with §§ 101-5B, 101-8, and 101-10 above shall be installed and maintained by accepted practices as recognized by the American Association of Nurserymen. Planting and maintenance of vegetation shall include, as appropriate, but not necessarily be limited to provisions for surface mulch, guy wires and stakes, irrigation, fertilization, insect and disease control, pruning, mulching, weeding and watering.

[Amended 5-18-2022 by Ord. No. 4245]

The applicant shall make arrangements acceptable to the Township that all landscape improvements installed in accordance with this chapter shall be guaranteed and maintained in a healthy and/or sound condition, or replaced by improvements deemed equivalent by staff.

[Amended 7-19-2017 by Ord. No. 4111; 5-18-2022 by Ord. No. 4245]

Landscape improvements approved for commercial, institutional, townhouse and/or multifamily residential subdivisions and land developments shall be perpetually maintained in a healthy and/or sound condition. Applicants shall record a covenant on the property in a form acceptable to the Township Solicitor to guarantee this requirement.

Landscape improvements approved for all other projects, including one- and two-family dwellings, shall be maintained in a healthy and/or sound condition for a period of 18 months, or shall be replaced once by equivalent improvements, except as otherwise provided by Chapter 135, Subdivision and Land Development.