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.
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.
o. Refuse/recycling disposal areas.
p. Public rights-of-way/easements, including street widths/drives/approaches.
q. Planters or planting boxes.
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.