A. 
The Mayor and Council find that it has been recognized that well designed landscape plantings and existing natural landscaping can reduce air pollution; regulate solar radiation and wind control; influence the type and speed of pedestrian and automobile traffic flow; cut visual discomfort by screening out glare and reflection; prevent soil erosion and produce an aesthetic appearance. It is the intent of this chapter to provide proper guidelines and specifications for preserving the natural character of the land and vegetation consistent with the legal and purposeful use and development of all residential, commercial and other land within the Borough.
B. 
It is the intent and purpose of this chapter that landscaping shall be provided as part of the overall site design and shall be integrated into building arrangements, topography, parking and buffering requirement. Landscaping shall include trees, bushes, ground cover, perennials, annuals and plants. Landscaping shall be provided in public areas, on recreation sites, and adjacent to buildings to screen parking areas, to mitigate adverse impacts, and provide windbreaks for winter winds and summer cooling for buildings, streets and parking. Plants or other landscaping material selected shall best serve the intended function, and shall represent materials appropriate for local soil conditions, water availability, and environment. Plant material used should not be of an exotic variety requiring substantial maintenance or material highly subject to pollution, salt, damage along highways and current insect disease manifestations. The type and amount of landscaping shall vary with the type of development and shall be used to accent site entrances with special landscaping treatment. The impact of any proposed landscaping plan at various seasonal time intervals shall be considered.
Landscaping application for site plan and subdivision approval shall include a separate, detailed plan, drawn to a scale of no less than one inch equals 50 feet of all proposed landscaping, buffering, screening and existing trees to remain and be removed in accordance with Chapter 234, Trees, Article II, Tree Preservation and Removal, provided that with respect to applications for subdivision approval, such information shall be limited to the rear and side yards of the proposed lots to be created, and all of the following items:
A. 
Plant listing, including:
(1) 
All plant material to be used shall be keyed to plans and defined by botanical and common name.
(2) 
Quantity to be used.
(3) 
Size of material to be planted.
(4) 
Ultimate sizes of each plan and times to reach maturity.
(5) 
Characteristics, i.e. fall color, flowering, ornamental factors.
(6) 
Plant delivery method, i.e. container, bailed and burlapped.
B. 
Information required for design shall include:
(1) 
Location, species and height of all existing plant material to remain on site, excluding ground cover, but including all trees. In addition, with respect to such trees, there shall be provided the diameter width of each tree measured at a point on the tree four feet above the ground level.
(2) 
The designation and location of all plant material to be installed in any buffer zone, buffer area or buffer strip.
(3) 
Location and spacing of each plant to be planted, shown to scale.
(4) 
Methods to be used in welling, staking and guying, mulching and wrapping according to any Borough standards as may be established by the Borough Code Chapter 234, Trees, Article I, Shade Trees.
(5) 
Ground covers to be used in design, which may be indicated as a mass planting, but spacing must be defined in the plant list.
(6) 
A means of screening utility boxes using evergreen plant material where they appear at ground level.
C. 
Name, signature, seal and address of person, firm or organization preparing landscape plans.
D. 
Placement and size of street trees shall be indicated along all thoroughfares in accordance with Borough shade tree specifications as provided by Borough Code Chapter 234, Trees, Article I, Shade Trees, § 234-4D.
E. 
Existing soil type and condition.
The following procedures shall be implemented with respect to the protection of existing plantings:
A. 
A four-foot high standard wood snow fence as a physical barrier shall be installed at the dripline of each plant or group of plants, being a line connecting the tips of the outermost branches of a plant or tree projected vertically to the ground, that are to remain on the site and last until construction is completed.
B. 
Barriers shall not be supported by the plants they are protecting but shall be self-supporting.
C. 
No soil shall be deposited or removed within the dripline or within eight feet, whichever is greater, of any existing tree trunk.
The following procedures shall be implemented with respect to the grading of land near trees:
A. 
The grade of land located along the dripline shall not be raised or lowered more than six inches unless compensated for by welling or retaining wall methods and in no event be less than eight feet from the trunk.
B. 
Tree wells. For existing trees the well shall be the size of the tree. Wells are to be constructed of suitable materials which shall include boulders, decorative concrete block (but not cinder block or masonry units), railroad ties or other suitably treated lumber, or reinforced, poured concrete. Any well wall four feet or greater in diameter shall be designed by a licensed engineer with calculations provided. Tree well details are to be filed and inspected to determine specifications on a case-by-case application.
C. 
Retaining walls. Retaining walls are to be constructed around each tree or group of trees immediately after grade is lowered. Any retaining wall is to be constructed of a suitable material which shall include the same materials permitted for tree wells. Design calculations, which have been signed and sealed by a professional engineer, shall be submitted to the Borough Engineer for review and approval prior to construction. The retaining walls shall be located after a field inspection to determine the location of the wall to ensure maximum survivability.
D. 
Clearing near tree trunks. Any clearing within the dripline of a tree shall be done by hand. No equipment shall be driven over any such area, and no building materials shall be stacked against any trees or within the area of the barrier to any trees.
E. 
Trees shall not be used as supporters or for stockpiling. No tree shall be used to support any scaffolding, signs, temporary utilities or any other device. Topsoil shall be stockpiled in an area outside of the dripline from any tree designated to remain.
The following specifications shall be followed for the planting of new trees and shrubs.
A. 
Only first quality, nursery-grown plant materials which conform to the standards of the American Association of Nurserymen shall be acceptable for planting.
B. 
Prior to the installation of all plant material, the results of physical and chemical tests of the subsoil and topsoil shall be submitted to the Borough Engineer to assess soil composition and for determination whether the pH of the soil is acceptable for proposed planting.
C. 
Trees and shrubs shall be planted only when the soil is frost-free and friable.
D. 
All plant material shall be guaranteed for one year from date of planting.
E. 
The use of and planting of bare root material shall be prohibited.
F. 
All plant material shall be planted so that the top of the root ball is no higher or lower than the existing, finished grade dependent upon soil conditions.
G. 
Minimum size of material at time of planting shall be 2 1/2 inches in diameter for shade trees, measured at a point of the tree four feet above the ground level; five feet to six feet in height for evergreens and ornamentals; and 18 inches to 24 inches in height or spread for shrubs.
H. 
Upon the establishment of plant material at a site (which shall require a minimum of one growing season), all stakes, guying, tree wrapping, and saucers shall be removed.
I. 
The use of nylon twine on the root balls of proposed plant material is prohibited. All burlap shall be pulled back 1/3 at time of planting.
The following specifications shall be met for the planting of ground covers and the use of mulch:
A. 
All planting beds shall be mulched. The type of mulch to be used shall be noted on the site plan or landscaping plan. The minimum required depth of placement is three inches but shall not exceed four inches. A NJDEP approved chemical pre-emergence selective herbicide and/or a permeable landscape fabric shall be used to reduce weed growth. Any chemical or chemicals to be used shall be specified on the site plan or landscaping plan and used according to directions.
B. 
Suitable ground covers shall be installed in place of grass in small and restricted areas, such as tree and shrub beds and planters. The following ground covers are suitable for use: ivy, pachysandra, myrtle, yellowroot, wintercreeper, Bar Harbor juniper, memorial rose, perennials, wildflowers and hardwood mulch.
The following design specifications shall apply to the landscaping of parking lot islands:
A. 
Where parking islands are to be planted, they shall be a minimum width of six feet from the interior edge of curb to curb.
B. 
Parking islands are permitted in any parking lot but shall be required in all parking lots providing for more than 30 parking spaces. Planted islands shall be provided within parking areas at a ratio of one island per 30 parking stalls.
C. 
All single-parking curbed island planters shall be a minimum size of six feet by 20 feet and double-parking curbed island planters shall be a minimum of six feet by 40 feet. The minimum depth of acceptable backfill in such planters shall be two feet for shrubs and four feet for trees, unless poor drainage conditions exist, upon which modifications are permitted.
The following procedures shall be implemented with respect to the planting of all landscaping:
A. 
All plant materials shall be installed on the site or subject property in accordance with an approved landscaping plan or site plan.
B. 
Staking. All trees shall be staked in the following manner, in accordance with Borough Code Chapter 234, Trees, Article I, § 234-4D(7): Stakes shall be driven into the ground to a depth of two feet before backfilling. Trees shall be guyed to the stakes by means of wire and rubber hose or its equivalent and shall be fastened in such a manner that the tree trunk shall not come in direct contact with the wire.
C. 
Wrapping. Each tree shall be wrapped with an expandable paper or cloth treated to last at least one year, which wrap shall extend from the ground level up to the trunk to the first branches. Said wrap is to prevent sunscald and shall be attached or fastened at each end with a material that will permit tree growth without girding.
D. 
Saucers.
(1) 
A ring of packed soil shall be placed around the finished planting hole of each tree, which shall be a minimum of six inches higher than the finished grade.
(2) 
Saucers placed on slopes shall be level at the top end and perpendicular to the tree trunk.
(3) 
Saucers are to be designated to catch and hold the maximum amount of water, either from natural precipitation or irrigation.
E. 
Mulching.
(1) 
A three-inch minimum to four-inch maximum layer of mulch shall be applied around each individual or group of trees and shrubs.
(2) 
Mulch shall be a shredded organic material which is not readily subject to movement by wind or water.
(3) 
The use of untreated new wood chips and marble and stone chips is prohibited.
F. 
Edging. In order to delineate planting beds and reduce bed maintenance, a physical edging of steel or other durable material with the minimum dimensions of four inches by 1/8 shall be installed flush with grade where planting areas abut turf areas.
In connection with a landscaping plan submitted as part of a site plan application, bonds shall be required in accordance with the provisions of N.J.S.A. 40:55D-53a(1).