The intent and purpose of these landscape requirements is to promote, protect and preserve the general health and safety of the people of Lincolnwood and as part of the general welfare, ensure pedestrian safety and aesthetic compatibility among land uses. These regulations are intended to minimize the harmful or nuisance effects resulting from noise, dust, debris, motor headlight glare, the use of impervious ground material, artificial light intrusion, objectionable sights or activities, or similar incompatible impacts conducted or created by adjoining or nearby land uses.
Except for residential dwellings, the regulations set forth in this Part D of Article VI shall apply as follows:
(1) 
New development: when any development involves the construction of a new building.
(2) 
Planned unit developments: when property is developed as a planned unit development.
[Ord. No. Z2009-368]
(3) 
Property damage: when a structure, building, or use is redeveloped, restored or reconstructed after the destruction or damage, by fire, collapse, explosion or other casualty or act of God, of the structure, building or use exceeding at least 50% or more of the cost of replacement of the structure, building, or use, as determined by the Zoning Officer.
[Ord. No. Z2009-368]
(4) 
Intensity of use increases: when the intensity of use of any existing building, structure or premises is increased through the addition of: one or more dwelling units; the gross floor area of a building is increased, such as to require the construction of one or more additional off-street parking spaces to meet the off-street parking requirement; or when there is an exterior addition or enlargement of the building, structure or premises.
[Ord. No. Z2009-368; 7-20-2021 by Ord. No. 2021-3543]
(5) 
Expansion or reconstruction of parking areas: when any existing off-street parking area is expanded or undergoes pavement reconstruction.
[Ord. No. Z2009-368]
For each property subject to these regulations the property owner shall submit a landscape plan to the Zoning Officer for his review with the building or other permit application, or at the time zoning relief is applied for, whichever is earlier. All landscape plans so submitted shall be at an appropriate scale, not smaller than one inch equals 50 feet. Completed landscape plans shall contain all information required on the application form, including but not limited to: ownership of the property in question; detailed landscape site plan information; detailed schedule of landscape materials; and, irrigation plans.
(1) 
Title block.
a. 
Name and address of the property owner/petitioner.
b. 
Name of registered landscape architect/contractor.
c. 
Landscape architect's/contractor's firm name and address.
d. 
Scale data, North arrow and date and date of any revisions.
(2) 
Landscape site plan information; location of existing conditions and proposed improvements.
a. 
Property lines.
b. 
Building outlines, with entry and exit points.
c. 
Existing tree survey (six-inch caliper and above, with dripline), noting trees proposed for removal and planned for preservation.
d. 
Identification of all proposed plant materials with planting bed locations and dimensions.
e. 
Treatment of all ground surfaces (ground covers, sod, seed, seasonal beds, paving, impervious and pervious materials).
f. 
Location of water detention sites.
g. 
All utilities and lighting.
h. 
Walls and fences (indicating height and material).
i. 
Parking spaces and driveway aisles (spaces delineated including dimensions, curbing and handicapped spaces).
j. 
Shopping cart collection points.
k. 
Spot elevations and/or contours, existing and proposed.
l. 
Berms, with one-foot-interval contours indicated.
m. 
Sidewalks.
n. 
Sign locations.
o. 
Refuse/recycling disposal areas.
p. 
Public rights-of-way/easements, including street widths/drives/approaches.
q. 
Planters or planting boxes.
r. 
Trash cans.
s. 
Other exterior landscape amenities including exterior tables and benches and trash receptacles.
(3) 
Schedule of proposed and existing landscape material.
a. 
List of all proposed plantings, indicating common and botanical names, caliper, height or size and quantity.
b. 
List of all existing trees proposed for removal, six-inch caliper or greater, indicating caliper, common and botanical names.
c. 
List of all existing trees, six-inch caliper or greater, planned for preservation, indicating caliper size, common and botanical names.
(4) 
Miscellaneous.
a. 
Irrigation plan, including system details and sprinkler head locations, providing for underground irrigation of planting beds or a water supply outlet no greater than 150 feet from planting beds, if required.
b. 
Product or technical information, samples and/or photographs indicating color, texture or style of: lighting standards; benches, tables, trash receptacles; walls, and planter boxes.
c. 
Methods proposed to protect plants and plant beds.
d. 
Plan for erosion control during construction.
e. 
The estimated cost of the proposed landscaping.
The landscape design, scale and nature of landscape material for any given site, shall be appropriate to the specific site and structures, and shall take into account the location of underground and above ground utilities. Earthen berms and existing topography shall, whenever practical, be incorporated into the landscape treatment of the site.
(1) 
Landscape design and selection of plant material. New planting materials used in conformance with the provisions of this section, shall be:
a. 
Of good quality of species normally grown in Northeastern Illinois.
b. 
Capable of withstanding the extremes of individual site microclimates.
c. 
Selected for interest in its structure, texture, color and for its ultimate growth.
d. 
Harmonious to the overall design and of good appearance.
e. 
In conformance with the American National Standards for nursery stock as approved by American National Standards Institute and issued as ANSI 2601, 1986.
f. 
In conformance with the Schedule of Prohibited Trees maintained by the Village Arborist.
g. 
In conformance with the Schedule of Recommended Plants maintained by the Community Development Department.
[Amended 3-2-2013 by Ord. No. 2013-3044]
(2) 
Existing trees with a six-inch caliper or greater shall be preserved on the property as determined by the Zoning Officer. Trees that are preserved shall be counted toward compliance of the requirements of this section.
(3) 
Evergreens shall be incorporated into the landscape plan and treatment of a site, where appropriate to the site as determined by the Zoning Officer, particularly in required buffers for property zoned residential, the screening of refuse holding areas, and critical points of required parking lot screening.
(4) 
Shrubs shall be used whenever possible. Shrubs used in sight triangles shall be low growth shrubs that do not exceed 30 inches in height at maturity.
(5) 
Plant materials shall be placed against long expanses of building walls, fences and other barriers to soften their effect.
(6) 
Where site characteristics or property dimensions limit the use or survivability of live landscaping as an effective screen, masonry walls shall be used for required screening subject to the regulations set forth in this Zoning Ordinance, Article III, Section 3.13, Fences and natural screening.
(7) 
All masonry walls or decorative fencing which may be approved shall be constructed and installed in a durable fashion and shall have the finished side facing the street or property line subject to the regulations set forth in this Zoning Ordinance, Article III, Section 3.13, Fences and natural screening.
(8) 
Installation of plant materials.
a. 
Plant materials of all types and species shall be installed in accordance with the minimum technical specifications of the Illinois Chapter of Landscape Contractors, including the guarantee and replacements sections.
b. 
Minimum plant sizes at time of installation shall be:
i. 
Shade trees: two-and-one-half-inch caliper.
ii. 
Ornamental trees: two-inch caliper or if in clump form, six feet in height.
iii. 
Evergreen trees: five feet in height.
iv. 
Shrubs required for screening: three feet in height; shrubs used for other purposes: 18 inches in height.
v. 
Ground cover: spaced no less than 12 inches on center.
vi. 
Perennials: spaced no less than is recommended for the particular species.
(9) 
Tree preservation during construction.
a. 
Trees required or scheduled to be preserved shall be protected during construction as follows:
i. 
A protective barrier such as a snow fence, brightly colored plastic construction fencing, or chain link fencing, shall encircle and be erected one foot beyond the periphery of the dripline, or farther as site conditions may dictate necessary for tree protection during construction.
ii. 
Protective barriers shall be in place prior to the issuance of any building or development permit and shall remain in place until construction and site work is completed.
iii. 
No materials, construction equipment or vehicles shall be stored, driven upon or parked within any dripline.
iv. 
Crushed limestone or other material detrimental to trees shall not be dumped, placed, or stored within any dripline or at a higher elevation where drainage could affect the health of the tree(s).
v. 
The existing grade within the dripline shall not be modified and shall be maintained to the fullest extent possible. Where grade changes of four inches or more are required surrounding the dripline, a low retaining wall or other permanent tree protection technique, as may be approved by the Zoning Officer, shall be used to ensure the long-term health of the tree designated for preservation.
vi. 
In the event an underground utility line is to be located within five feet of a tree designated for preservation, said utility line shall be augured to prevent damage to the tree's root system.
b. 
Methods for tree protection shall be clearly specified prior to the issuance of a building permit. If, in the opinion of the Village Arborist, such methods are not adequate to protect trees designated for preservation, a building permit shall not be issued. If during construction, adequate methods are not employed so as to protect designated trees, the Zoning Officer may issue a stop order until such time as adequate preservation methods are employed.
c. 
If a deciduous tree designated for preservation is damaged, razed or removed as a result of construction, such tree shall be replaced with new trees at a rate of three inches in caliper of replacement trees to each one inch in caliper of damaged or removed tree. The Zoning Officer shall approve in writing a replacement tree plan that indicates the installation location and specific size and specie of such replacement trees.
d. 
If an evergreen tree designated for preservation is damaged, razed or removed as a result of construction, such tree shall be replaced with new evergreen trees at a rate of three vertical feet of replacement evergreen tree for each vertical foot of damaged or removed tree. The Village Arborist shall approve in writing a replacement tree plan that indicates the installation location, specific size and specie of such replacement trees.
e. 
Replacement trees shall only be of a species approved by the Village.
f. 
Alternative tree replacement location:
i. 
If the Village Arborist, determines that full tree replacement pursuant to Subparagraphs (9)c or d above will result in the unreasonable crowding of trees on the lot where construction activity is taking place, or would be otherwise inconsistent with current best practices, the Zoning Officer may designate that some or all of the replacement trees required be planted in the public right-of-way immediately adjacent to the lot where the construction activity is taking place.
ii. 
If the Village Arborist determines that the alternative tree replacement required in Subsection (i) above will result in the unreasonable crowding of trees upon the public right-of-way in accordance with current best practices, the Zoning Officer may reduce the number of replacement trees to be planted immediately adjacent to the public right of way, and require that replacement trees be located on other nearby public rights-of-way, or other suitable locations.
iii. 
All replacement trees designated for the public right-of-way or Village property shall only be of those species permitted by the Village, and shall be installed by the Village and not by the permittee.
g. 
In the event that the Village Arborist determines that the full replacement of protected trees as required by Subparagraphs c, d, and f above would result in unreasonable crowding of trees upon the lot where construction activity will occur, or on the immediately adjacent public right-of-way, a permittee may be allowed to pay the Village a fee in lieu of making such replacement in kind. Upon collection of the tree replacement fee the Village shall deposit this fee into a special Village fund established and used to plant trees elsewhere in the Village. The Village has no obligation to grant such a request. If the request is granted, the following regulations shall apply:
i. 
This fee shall equal the tree replacement value based upon the average cost per tree inch of trees planted by the Village during the previous fiscal year;
ii. 
The tree replacement fee must be received by the Village within 30 days after the date of the damage or removal for which the replacement is required;
iii. 
The Zoning Officer may issue a stop-work order if a permittee failures to pay the tree replacement fee within 30 days after the date of the damage or removal for which the replacement is required. No certificate of occupancy for the property in question shall be issued until the tree replacement fee has been received by the Village.
h. 
For any tree designated for preservation that is damaged, razed or removed without the prior written approval of the Zoning Officer, a fine (as scheduled in the Village's Fee Ordinance) shall be assessed upon the owner of the property on which the trees were damaged or removed. All building permits or licenses for the property shall be revoked or suspended until said charge is paid and a replacement tree plan is prepared and approved by the Zoning Officer.
(1) 
Perimeter screening required. Every off-street parking lot or parking area containing, five or more parking spaces shall be set back, buffered and screened from public view and adjacent property by a perimeter landscaped area having a minimum width of eight feet, or, where screening shall consist of a masonry wall, a minimum width of five feet.
a. 
The minimum width for the perimeter screening area shall be measured from the property line and shall not include any parking overhang.
b. 
Screening within the perimeter setback area shall consist of a masonry wall, densely planted hedge or massing of shrubs resulting in a 75% semi-opaque screen within one year of installation, installed in a manner so as to inhibit public views of the parking area.
c. 
Perimeter screening shall be continuous, except for breaks as may be permitted for sidewalks, driveways and sight triangles.
d. 
Masonry walls used for perimeter screening shall have a minimum height of 30 inches and a maximum height of 36 inches. Such walls shall have a finished surface which is the same or closely similar to the masonry of the principal building.
e. 
Shrubs planted as perimeter screening shall be at least three feet in height at time of installation.
f. 
The surface of the perimeter setback area shall be suitably covered with grass, ground cover or similar vegetation and periodically mulched. Impervious materials such as asphalt, concrete or a layer of stone is prohibited.
g. 
A six-inch continuous poured-in-place concrete curb shall separate all drive and parking surfaces from landscape areas.
h. 
Upon petition, the ZBA may recommend a creative alternate perimeter screening plan of berms, walls, shrubs, trees or other material, which has the effect of providing a minimum three-foot high visual screen of parking areas.
(2) 
Interior landscaping requirements.
a. 
A planting island equal in area to a parking space shall be located at each end of a parking row and after each 20 parking spaces within a parking row.
b. 
One tree shall be required for each planting island required in Section 6.14(2)(a) above.
c. 
The surface of the planting island shall be suitably covered with grass, ground cover or similar vegetation and periodically mulched. Impervious materials such as asphalt, concrete or a layer of stone is prohibited.
d. 
A six-inch continuous poured in place curb shall separate and surround all interior landscape island areas.
e. 
All areas within or at the edges of parking lots which are greater than 50 square feet and not designed for parking stalls, drive aisles or shopping cart collection points, shall be curbed and landscaped with sod, ground cover, bushes or trees.
f. 
All landscaped islands shall have a minimum topsoil depth of three feet and mounded to a center height of six to 12 inches above top of curb height.
(1) 
A minimum setback and landscape area of six feet in width shall be located immediately along the front and sides of all buildings.
(2) 
Except for building entryway areas and sidewalks as may be permitted, the surface of the required foundation landscape area shall be free of paving or other impervious surfaces and shall be landscaped.
(3) 
A six-inch curb shall separate all foundation landscape areas from drive aisle and parking areas.
(4) 
Foundation landscaping shall include shade trees, ornamental trees, hedges, shrubs, evergreens and ground cover in a manner which accents building entranceways and architectural features, softens large expanses of building walls, and screens mechanical equipment.
(1) 
A minimum ten-foot landscaped setback and screening area shall be located along the length of any property line located in the B-1, B-2, B-3, O, or M-B Zoning Districts when adjacent to property zoned residential, unless the required building setback has been reduced to less than 10 feet pursuant to Section 4.07(3)a of this Zoning Ordinance.
[Amended 3-7-2023 by Ord. No. 2023-3666]
a. 
Required screening shall be a minimum height of six feet at time of installation and may be comprised of berms, masonry walls, a double row of densely planted landscaping, or a combination thereof.
b. 
Screening shall be continuous along the property line.
c. 
Berms shall be utilized to the maximum extent feasible.
d. 
Evergreen trees and shrubs shall be used to the greatest extent feasible in a fashion so as to inhibit views from residential property.
e. 
The surface of the setback area shall be suitably covered with grass, ground cover or similar vegetation and periodically mulched. Impervious materials such as asphalt, concrete or a layer of stone is prohibited. The landscape buffer shall not be used for the purposes of parking, loading, servicing, or storage.
f. 
An eight-foot high masonry wall within a five-foot landscape setback area may be utilized as an alternative to meeting the minimum ten-foot width requirement. Masonry walls are subject to the regulations set forth, Article III, Section 3.13, Fences and natural screening, of this Zoning Ordinance.
[Ord. No. Z2009-368]
(1) 
Parkway landscaping requirements. Installation and maintenance of parkway landscaping within the public rights-of-way adjoining a property is governed by the Parkway Landscape Ordinance (Article 5 of Chapter 6 of the Village Code), as may be amended from time to time.
[Ord. No. Z2009-368; amended by 12-6-2011 by Ord. No. 2011-2979]
(2) 
Landscaping of monument and pole/pylon signs required. Installation of landscaping surrounding monument and pole/pylon freestanding signs is required pursuant to Article XI of this chapter, as may be amended from time to time.
[Ord. No. Z2009-368; amended by 12-6-2011 by Ord. No. 2011-2979]
(3) 
Water supply; underground irrigation. A water supply to irrigate landscaping is required within 150 feet of all landscaped areas. Installation of an underground irrigation system is recommended.
(4) 
Changes to approved landscape plan. Any change to an approved landscape plan shall require the prior approval of the Zoning Officer.
[Ord. No. Z2009-368]
(5) 
Landscape maintenance required. When landscaping is required pursuant to Part D of this article:
a. 
Property owners shall be responsible for ongoing maintenance, fertilization, repair and replacement of all vegetation, barriers and landscape planting materials.
i. 
Replacement plantings shall be no less than the minimum required size indicated in this Section Part D or the size indicated in the approved landscape plan, whichever is greater.
ii. 
The property owner shall make replacement plantings promptly after any plant has died but no later than 120 days after notification by the Village of violation of this ordinance, unless a time extension for inclement weather is given.
b. 
Planting beds shall be initially, and thereafter periodically, filled with soil and mulched in their entirety, with shredded bark or other organic equivalent.
c. 
Grass, sod and lawn areas shall be periodically and routinely mowed during the growing season. The grass height of any lawn area shall be as required by the Village Code.
(1) 
Application. When compliance with the requirements of this section for a preexisting building or use will reduce or interfere with the number of existing off-street parking spaces, parking and driveway aisle requirements, or off-street loading requirements, or when compliance is not feasible because of property configuration, a property owner may file an application for a variation from these requirements. The application shall be processed in accordance with Article V, Section 5.15 of the Zoning Ordinance.
(2) 
Conditions. If the ZBA determines that a need for a variation exists, the ZBA may recommend, and the Board of Trustees may impose, any one or more of the following conditions and restrictions on the property benefited by a variation as may be deemed necessary to assure compliance with the purposes of this section, to reduce or minimize the effect of such variation upon other property in the neighborhood, or to implement the general purpose of this section.
a. 
Additional or substitute landscape plantings or areas on-site.
b. 
Construction of masonry walls for screening.
c. 
Installation of decorative wrought iron fencing.
d. 
Removal of excess pavement areas.
e. 
Rearrangement or removal of on-site parking spaces and drive aisles.
f. 
Other conditions as determined by the ZBA or the Board of Trustees.
(3) 
Zoning relief for other conditions affecting the property. In order to eliminate or minimize the degree of relief determined necessary from these landscape requirements, the ZBA may recommend, and the Board of Trustees may approve, relief from certain conditions affecting the property including, but not limited to: a) off-street parking requirements; b) driveway and walkway aisle dimensions; c) fencing and screening.
Consideration of such relief from these requirements shall not require any additional or separate public hearings on the matter, provided that notice thereof shall have been given in accordance with the requirements of Article V, Section 5.15(3)(c) of this Zoning Ordinance. In considering relief from the off-street parking requirement or required driveway aisle dimensions, the ZBA and the Board of Trustees shall consider the actual need and demand for off-street parking generated by the property.
(4) 
Findings required. In determining whether in a specific case there are practical difficulties or particular hardships in the way of carrying out the strict letter of this Zoning Ordinance, there shall be taken into consideration the extent to which the following facts are established. In recommending or providing any relief, the ZBA and the Board of Trustees shall make the following findings:
a. 
That the relief granted has been minimized to the greatest extent feasible.
b. 
That appropriate remedies have been employed as conditions so as to mitigate or compensate, to the greatest extent feasible, for the relief.
c. 
That the use of impervious surfaces on the property has been minimized to the greatest extent feasible.
d. 
That a physical separation exists between off-street parking areas and public sidewalks, which at a minimum shall mean a six-inch continuous poured in place nonmountable concrete curb, so as to create a barrier between public sidewalks and off-street parking and drive aisle areas.
(5) 
Required conditions affecting the duration of a variation. A variation approved under this section Part D: Landscaping Standards shall contain the following conditions:
a. 
That the owner of the property subject to the variation has an affirmative obligation to notify the Zoning Officer as set forth below.
b. 
If the property to which the variation applies becomes subject to: new development; application for a variation; increase in the intensity of use; or substantial building renovation; or, expansion or reconstruction of parking areas the variation(s) previously granted pursuant to this section shall become null and void.
(6) 
Certificate of occupancy. No certificate of occupancy for the property in question shall be issued until the all required landscaping has been installed satisfactorily, as determined by the Zoning Officer or his/her authorized designee. A temporary occupancy permit may be authorized by the Zoning Officer or his/her designee, due to weather conditions, provided a written commitment is provided by the property owner stating the completion date of the landscape installation. The Zoning Officer or his/her authorized designee may require a cash escrow deposit or performance bond equal to 100% of the cost of the landscaping prior to issuance of such temporary certificate of occupancy.
[Ord. No. Z2009-368]