As used in this article, the following words shall have the meanings indicated below:
DECIDUOUS PLANT
A woody perennial which loses its foliage at the end of each growing season.
DENSE SCREEN
A series of vegetative plantings which provides essentially an opaque screen.
EVERGREEN PLANT
A woody perennial which retains its foliage for more than one growing season.
GROUNDCOVER
A low perennial (excluding annuals and turf grasses) with a mature height of between three inches and 18 inches.
LANDSCAPED DIVIDER STRIP
A landscaped island separating and running the length of two rows of contiguous parking spaces within a parking lot and which provides opportunities for landscaping and traffic circulation control.
LANDSCAPING
The addition of trees, plants and other natural and decorative features to the land.
MIDROW LANDSCAPED ISLAND
A landscaped island located within a row of contiguous parking spaces in a parking lot and which provides for landscaping opportunities within parking lots.
PARKING AREA
That area within an off-street parking lot which includes any paved surface within 10 feet of a parking space.
PLANTING UNIT (PU)
A unit of measure used to determine the quantity of plantings required in a residential, commercial, industrial or other development project. For the purposes of this chapter, one planting unit (PU) equals one major deciduous tree; two minor deciduous trees; two evergreen trees; five shrubs; or 500 square feet of ground cover, exclusive of residential yard area.
SHRUB
A low, multistemmed woody plant with a mature height of between 18 inches and 10 feet.
TERMINAL LANDSCAPED ISLAND
A landscaped island located on either end of rows of parking spaces within a parking lot which provides opportunities for landscaping and which defines the ends of parking aisles, thus contributing to traffic circulation control.
TREE, EVERGREEN
An evergreen plant with a mature height exceeding 15 feet and a height at planting of between five and six feet.
TREE, MAJOR DECIDUOUS
A canopy tree with a mature height exceeding 25 feet and a minimum caliper at the time of planting in excess of two inches.
TREE, MINOR DECIDUOUS
A tree with a mature height of between 10 feet and 25 feet and a minimum caliper at the time of planting of between one inch and two inches.
A. 
Purpose. In expansion of § 117-2 of this chapter, it is the purpose of this section to establish minimum standards for the provision, installation and maintenance of landscape plantings in order to achieve a healthy, beautiful and safe community. Furthermore, it is the intent of this section to:
(1) 
Improve the appearance of all areas through the incorporation of open space into development in ways that harmonize and enhance the natural and built environment.
(2) 
Improve environmental quality by recognizing the numerous beneficial effects of landscaping upon the environment, including but not limited to the improvement of air quality, the maintenance of areas essential for stormwater management and aquifer recharge and reducing air, noise, heat and chemical pollution.
(3) 
Maintain and increase the value of land by requiring landscaping to be incorporated into development, thus becoming by itself a valuable capital asset.
(4) 
Provide direct and important physical and psychological benefits to human beings through the use of landscaping to reduce noise and glare and to soften the harsher aspects of development.
(5) 
Preserve existing natural vegetation and incorporate native plants and plant communities into landscape design.
(6) 
Establish procedures and standards for the administration and enforcement of the landscaping requirements of this chapter.
B. 
Contents of landscape plans. All landscape plans required by this chapter shall:
(1) 
Be drawn to scale and include appropriate dimensions and distances;
(2) 
Delineate any existing and/or proposed parking spaces or other vehicular areas, access aisles, driveways, building footprints and similar features;
(3) 
Designate by name and location the plant material to be installed or preserved in accordance with this chapter;
(4) 
Identify and describe the location and characteristics of all other landscape materials to be used;
(5) 
Include a table clearly displaying the relevant information necessary for the Board of Supervisors to evaluate compliance with the provisions of this chapter. Such a table shall include gross acreage, acreage of preservation areas, amount of vegetation to be planted or preserved and other such information as the Board of Supervisors may require.
A. 
Attached residential development. For attached (townhouse) or multifamily residential development projects, or for residential projects including a mixture of dwelling unit types, the following landscaping standards shall be applied:
(1) 
Quantity of landscaping. A minimum of two planting units shall be required for every proposed dwelling unit.
(2) 
Credit for existing vegetation. For attached (townhouse) or multifamily residential development projects, or those projects which include a mixture of dwelling unit types, credit for up to 50% of the minimum landscaping quantity requirements may be given for retaining existing major deciduous trees on the site, provided that the following conditions apply:
(a) 
The major deciduous trees are in good health.
(b) 
The major deciduous trees are located within 25 feet of at least one dwelling unit.
(c) 
The applicant agrees to replace any major deciduous tree which contributes to the minimum quantity of landscaping with another major deciduous tree if it should die within two years of the completion of the development.
(3) 
Common residential parking lots. Common residential parking lots shall be designed and landscaped in accordance with Subsection D of this chapter. Interior and perimeter landscaping elements required by Subsection D may contribute to no greater than 50% of the minimum landscaping quantity requirements for a residential development project established by Subsection A(1).
B. 
Detached residential development. For single-family detached or single-family semidetached residential development projects, the following landscaping standards shall be applied:
(1) 
Quantity of landscaping. A minimum of one planting unit shall be required for every proposed dwelling unit, in addition to the shade trees required in Subsection B(2).
(2) 
Shade trees. At least one major deciduous tree shall be planted at intervals of between 50 feet and 70 feet along both sides of all streets of the residential development. Such major deciduous trees shall be located between the sidewalk and the building setback line.
(3) 
The required shade trees shall be planted at least five feet from the sidewalk. No shade trees shall be planted between the sidewalk and the curb.
C. 
Nonresidential development. For all nonresidential development, the following landscaping standards shall be applied:
(1) 
Quantity of landscaping. The following quantities of landscaping shall be provided:
(a) 
A minimum of one planting unit shall be provided for each 20 linear feet of center line along adjacent and interior roads; and
(b) 
A minimum of two planting units shall be provided for every 1,000 square feet, or fraction thereof, of building coverage.
(2) 
Credit for existing vegetation. Credit for up to 50% of the minimum landscaping quantity requirements may be given for retaining major deciduous trees on the site, provided that the following conditions apply:
(a) 
The major deciduous trees are in good health.
(b) 
The major deciduous trees are located within 50 feet of property improvements (i.e., parking lot, buildings, stormwater infrastructure, roads, sidewalks, etc.)
(c) 
The applicant agrees to replace any major deciduous tree which contributes to the minimum quantity of landscaping with another major deciduous tree if it should die within two years of the completion of the development.
(3) 
Additional requirements. The following additional landscaping requirements shall be applied to residential and/or nonresidential development projects:
(a) 
A minimum ten-foot-wide planting area shall be provided by nonresidential developments along all property lines which abut residential zoning districts or properties. A dense screen of deciduous trees, evergreen trees and/or shrubs, planted in such a pattern to form a six-foot-high screen within three years, is required.
(b) 
Where a residential project is proposed which requires 25 or more planting units of landscaping, the landscaping plan required by this chapter shall be prepared by a licensed landscape architect.
(c) 
Where a nonresidential project is proposed which requires five or more planting units of landscaping, the landscape plan required by this chapter shall be prepared by a licensed landscape architect.
(d) 
To the maximum extent feasible, all landscaping plans should include native plant species.
D. 
Parking lots. Parking lots shall be designed to conform with the following requirements:
(1) 
Landscaping within the parking area of all off-street parking lots containing 25 or greater parking spaces shall be required and shall be provided with the following:
(a) 
Terminal landscaped islands shall be provided at both ends of all rows of parking spaces. Terminal landscaped islands shall be designed to protect parked vehicles, to help define the traffic circulation pattern of the parking lot and to provide landscaping area.
(b) 
Each terminal landscaped island shall measure not less than five feet in width and 15 feet in length.
(c) 
Each terminal landscaped island shall include at least one minor deciduous tree, with the remaining area landscaped with appropriate ground cover or grass.
(d) 
Where parking space rows are proposed with 20 or more parking spaces, one midrow landscaped island shall be provided for every 20 contiguous parking spaces. Midrow landscaped islands shall have the same dimensions as terminal landscaped islands.
(e) 
A landscaped divider strip between abutting rows of parking shall be installed. Landscaped divider strips shall be designed to help define the traffic circulation pattern, to provide visual breaks within the parking area and to help separate pedestrian and vehicular traffic. Landscaped divider strips shall be a minimum of five feet in width.
(f) 
At least one minor deciduous tree shall be planted for every twenty-foot interval within the landscaped divider strip. The remaining area of the divider strip shall be landscaped with ground cover or grass. Unpaved pedestrian walkways may be substituted for a portion of the required ground cover or grass to facilitate pedestrian movements through the parking lot.
(g) 
Curbing or wheel stops shall be provided around all terminal landscaped islands and landscaped divider strips to prevent vehicular encroachment.
(2) 
All parking lots shall be surrounded by a perimeter landscaping strip which meets the following requirements:
(a) 
Perimeter landscaped areas shall be provided around the perimeter of all parking areas, except where the one side of the parking area is bounded by a principal structure.
(b) 
The minimum width of the perimeter landscaping area around a parking area shall be 10 feet, measured outward from the edge of the parking lot.
(c) 
At least one minor deciduous tree shall be planted for every twenty-foot interval within the perimeter landscaping area. The remaining area of the perimeter landscaping strip shall be landscaped with appropriate ground cover or grass.
A. 
The landscape contractor shall furnish and install and/or dig, ball, burlap or transplant all plant materials listed on the landscape plan. Bare root is not permitted for any tree.
B. 
All plants shall be nursery grown. Plants taken from cold storage shall not be acceptable.
C. 
A professional horticulturist/nurseryman shall be consulted to determine proper time to move and install plant material so that stress to the plant is minimized. Planting of deciduous material may occur during winter months, provided that there is no frost in the ground and frost-free topsoil planting mixtures are used.
D. 
The landscape contractor shall excavate all plant pits, hedge trenches and/or shrub beds as follows:
(1) 
All pits shall be generally circular in outline, with vertical sides. Tree pits shall be deep enough to allow 1/8 of the ball to be above the existing grade. Tree pits must be a minimum of 10 inches larger on every side than the ball of the tree.
(2) 
If areas are designated as shrub beds or hedge trenches, they shall be cultivated to at least 18 inches in depth. Areas designated for ground cover shall be cultivated to at least 12 inches in depth.
E. 
After cultivation, all plantings shall be mulched with a minimum three-inch layer of organic mulch, or another similar material approved by the Township Supervisors, over the area of the planting.
A. 
General. The owner or assigns of land subject to this chapter shall be responsible for the maintenance of landscaping in good condition so as to present a healthy, neat and orderly landscape area.
B. 
Pruning. All pruning should be accomplished according to good horticultural standards. Plants shall be pruned only as necessary to promote healthy plant growth. Unless approval is provided by the Board of Supervisors, plants shall be allowed to attain their normal size and shall not be severely pruned in order to permanently maintain growth at a reduced height.
C. 
Mowing. Grass shall be mown as required to encourage deep root growth.
D. 
Edging. All roadway, curb and sidewalk components included in such landscape plans shall be edged in order to prevent encroachment from adjacent landscaped areas.
E. 
Watering.
(1) 
General. All watering of planted areas shall be managed so as to:
(a) 
Maintain healthy flora;
(b) 
Make plant material more drought tolerant;
(c) 
Avoid excessive turf growth;
(d) 
Minimize fungus growth;
(e) 
Stimulate deep root growth;
(f) 
Minimize leaching of fertilizer; and
(g) 
Minimize cold damage.
(2) 
Promote vegetation growth. Watering of vegetation should always be in a sufficient amount to thoroughly soak the root ball of the plant and surrounding area, thereby promoting deep root growth and drought tolerance.
F. 
Safety. All sight triangles shall remain clear, and any plant which could endanger safety such as unstable limbs shall be removed and the plant material replaced. It shall be the responsibility of the property owner to ensure all plantings and architectural elements are maintained to provide a safe environment.
G. 
Landscape guarantees. All landscaping required by this chapter shall conform to the following guarantees:
(1) 
The installation of required landscaping, in accordance with the approved landscape plan, shall be guaranteed in accordance with the requirements of § 117-26D of this chapter.
(2) 
In addition, any required vegetative element which dies within 18 months of planting shall be replaced by the developer. Any vegetative element which, within 18 months of planting or replanting, is deemed, in the opinion of the Building Permit Officer, not to have survived or to have grown in a manner uncharacteristic of its type shall be replaced. Substitutions for certain species of plants may be made only when approved by the Board of Supervisors.