The intent of this article is to provide landscaping requirements
which:
A. Enhance and promote the image of the community.
B. Protect the public health, safety and welfare by:
(1)
Screening and buffering incompatible land uses.
(2)
Minimizing noise, air, water, dust and visual pollution.
(3)
Preserving property values and the character of neighborhoods.
(4)
Reducing the heat and glare absorbed and radiated by development.
(5)
Helping control soil erosion.
(6)
Increasing traffic safety.
C. Increase the variety of plant materials used in landscape plans.
D. Improve the aesthetics of the site through seasonal diversity of
plantings.
In the event that one or more of the sections of this article
is applicable and there is a conflict among them, the more restrictive
section requirement shall apply.
When a site or land development plan requires the installation
of landscaping subject to the requirements of this article, a landscaping
plan shall be submitted along with the site or land development plan.
The landscaping plan shall show the following:
A. The location of all buffer yards and planting areas shall be graphically
depicted.
B. The plan must graphically depict the distribution, mature height
and spread of all required plant materials.
C. The plan must show a table which identifies the required and proposed
number of each plant species being provided for each type of buffer,
screen or other use (i.e., the number of plants within each flexible
buffer yard, corridor overlay buffer, parking lot, general site).
The table shall also identify the botanical and common name of each
plant, the mature height and spread, and the symbol used for the plant.
D. The plan must identify the specific size and species of materials,
both vegetative and fencing, which will be used for screening of trash
collection and storage areas.
All landscape material planted shall meet or exceed the following
standards at the time of planting:
A. All canopy trees shall reach a minimum height of 20 feet at maturity
and shall have a caliper of at least two inches at planting. Canopy
trees are to be planted such that the majority of the canopy is located
on the site of the applicant's land development.
B. All evergreen trees shall reach a minimum height of 20 feet at maturity
and shall be a minimum of six feet tall at planting.
C. All understory trees shall reach a minimum height of 10 feet at maturity
and shall have a caliper of 1 1/2 inches at planting.
D. All deciduous or evergreen shrubs used for general or parking lot
landscaping must be a minimum of two gallons at planting.
E. Where the plantings identified in Subsections
A through
D, immediately above, would result in an inappropriate or impractical design due to underground utilities, overhead wires or other factors, the following substitutions may be made:
(1)
Two understory trees (one-and-one-half-inch caliper) may be
substituted for one canopy tree.
(2)
Two evergreen trees may be substituted for one canopy tree.
(3)
One evergreen tree may be substituted for five shrubs.
Existing site vegetative tree growth of four-inch trunk diameter
or larger is encouraged.
Lots separated by a bona fide drainageway, creekway or stream
channel may not substitute such condition for a portion of any corresponding
buffer yard width.
All trash collection and storage areas shall be screened from
all adjoining properties and streets with vegetative materials and/or
fences of at least eight feet in height at the time of installation.
No tree, shrub, fence, wall or similar item shall be installed
in the sight triangle of any corner, street intersection or accessway
intersecting a public right-of-way that would cause an obstruction
to visibility.
Invasive species, as detailed below, shall not be permitted
as a component in a landscape plan, except for those species that
are existing on the site and are proposed for incorporation into the
site landscaping.
A. Characteristics of invasive species. Invasive plants displace naturally
occurring vegetation and, in the process, upset nature's balance and
diversity. Invasive plants share the following characteristics:
(1)
Rapid growth and prolific reproductive capabilities.
(2)
Highly successful seed dispersal, germination and colonization
processes.
(3)
Rampant spreading that takes over native species.
B. Prohibited species. In general, aggressive, nonnative plants have
no enemies or controls to limit their spread. Those listed below shall
not be permitted as a component of a land development plan, except
for those species that are existing on the site and are proposed for
incorporation into the site landscaping.
(1)
Trees (botanic name; common name).
(a)
Acer platanoides; Norway maple.
(b)
Acer pseudoplatanus; Sycamore maple.
(c)
Ailanthus altissima; Tree-of-heaven.
(d)
Elaeagnus angustifolia; Russian olive.
(e)
Populus alba; White poplar.
(f)
Ulmus pumila; Siberian elm.
(g)
Viburnum lantana; Wayfaring tree.
(2)
Shrubs and vines (botanic name; common name).
(a)
Berberis thunbergii; Japanese barberry.
(b)
Elaeagnus umbellate; Autumn olive.
(c)
Euonymus alatus; Winged euonymus.
(d)
Ligustrum vulgare; European privet.
(e)
Lonicera japonica; Japanese honeysuckle.
(f)
Lonicera maackii; Amur honeysuckle.
(g)
Lonicera morrowii; Morrow's honeysuckle.
(h)
Lonicera tatarica; Tartarian honeysuckle.
(i)
Lonicera x-bella; Hybrid honeysuckle.
(j)
Lythrum salicaria; Purple loosestrife (herbaceous).
(k)
Morus alba; White mulberry.
(l)
Morus rubra; Red mulberry.
(m)
Phylostachys aubea; Bamboo.
(n)
Rhamnus cathartica; Common buckthorn.
(o)
Rhamnus frangula; Glossy buckthorn.
(p)
Rosa multiflora; Multiflora rose.
(q)
Viburnum opulus; European highbush cranberry.
Native plants appropriately selected for the site conditions
provide a beautiful, hardy, low-maintenance landscape while benefiting
the environment. Once established, native plants save time and money
by eliminating or significantly reducing the need for fertilizers,
pesticides, water and maintenance equipment.
A. In addition to a wide variety of plant species native to Central
Pennsylvania, the following native plant list is well suited to the
climate of the Nittany Valley Region and should be considered for
use in an approved landscaping plan.
(1)
Trees (botanic name; common name).
(a)
Acer spp.; Maple species.
(b)
Amelanchier spp.; Serviceberry species.
(c)
Alnus rugosa; Hazel alder.
(d)
Carpinus caroliniana; American hornbeam.
(e)
Carya spp.; Hickory species.
(f)
Celtis occidentalis; Common hackberry.
(g)
Cercis canadensis; Eastern redbud.
(h)
Cornus alternifolia; Pagoda dogwood.
(i)
Cornus florida; Flowering dogwood.
(j)
Fagus grandifolia; American beech.
(k)
Fraxinus spp.; White, black and green ash.
(l)
Juniperus virginiana; Eastern red cedar.
(m)
Liriodendron tulipifera; Tuliptree.
(n)
Nyssa sylvatica; Black tupelo.
(o)
Ostrya virginiana; American hophornbeam.
(p)
Pinus strobus; Eastern white pine.
(q)
Pinus resinosa; Red pine.
(r)
Platanus occidentalis; American planetree.
(s)
Populus spp.; Aspen species.
(t)
Prunus spp.; Pin and black cherry; chokeberry.
(u)
Quercus spp; Black, white, northern red, scarlet, pin and chestnut
oak.
(v)
Rhus spp.; Sumac species.
(w)
Salix discolor nigra; Pussy and black willow.
(x)
Sassafras albidum; Common sassafras.
(y)
Tilia americana; American basswood (linden).
(z)
Tsuga canadensis; Canada hemlock.
(2)
Shrubs (botanic name; common name).
(a)
Alnus serrulata; Common alder.
(b)
Aronia spp.; Red, black and purplefruit chokeberry.
(c)
Comptonia peregrine; Sweetfern.
(d)
Cornus spp.; Dogwood species.
(e)
Corylus spp.; Filbert species.
(f)
Hydrangea arborescens; Smooth hydrangea.
(g)
Hypericum prolificum; Shrubby St. Johnswort.
(h)
Ilex verticillata; Common winterberry holly.
(i)
Kalmia latifolia; Mountain laurel.
(j)
Lindera benzoin; Common spicebush.
(k)
Rhododendron arborescens; Sweet azalea.
(l)
Rhododendron nudiflorum; Pinxterbloom azalea.
(m)
Rhododendron roseum; Roseshell azalea.
(n)
Rubus spp.; Blackberry, raspberry and thimbleberry.
(o)
Sambucus spp.; Elder species.
(p)
Vaccinium spp.; Lowbush and Highbush blueberry; Deerberry.
(q)
Viburnum spp.; Mapleleaf, Hobblebush and Cranberrybush viburnum.