Landscaping shall consist of the use of ground covers, shrubs
and trees which are further described below.
A. Ground covers. "Ground covers" means grass, low shrubs, or flowers
but does not include asphalt, concrete, or bare soil which is exposed
and untreated. Gravel, decorative stone, or bark mulch shall also
be considered as acceptable ground cover if used in combination with
grass, shrubs, flowers, and trees. A minimum of 100 square feet of
ground cover shall be provided for every 1,000 square feet of required
landscaped area.
B. Shrubs. Shrubs must be a minimum two-and-a-half-gallon size utilized
by plant nurseries and should be approximately one foot in height
and one foot in width at the time of planting. A minimum of 20 live
shrubs shall be provided for every 1,000 square feet of required landscaped
area.
C. Trees. Trees must be of the deciduous or coniferous types and must
have a minimum diameter of two inches at the time of planting. A multi-trunk
tree shall have no fewer than three trunks, each of which is at least
one inch in diameter. A minimum of one live tree shall be provided
for every 1,000 square feet of required landscaped area.
D. Substitution of plant materials. Variations from the minimums defined
above will be considered in review of a landscaping plan by the Commission
if the proposed landscaping is environmentally sound and aesthetically
pleasing.
Landscaping shall be installed in accordance with the following
guidelines:
A. Yard location.
(1)
Of the total area required to be landscaped, at least 1/2 shall
be located within the front yard.
(2)
On corner, double-fronting, or triple-fronting lots, at least
1/4 of the required landscaped area shall be located on each frontage.
B. Parking lots. All new parking lots in excess of 100 spaces shall
include one tree, in addition to the minimum required above, for every
20 parking spaces to provide shade and visual relief. Covered parking
areas are exempted from this requirement.
Landscape screening shall be opaque from the ground to a height
of at least eight feet.
A. Sites in C-1, C-2, and M-1 Districts. Sites in C-1, C-2, and M-1
Districts which are contiguous with residential zones shall be required
to include a landscaped screen on that perimeter contiguous to the
residential zone.
B. Multifamily dwellings. Multifamily dwellings shall be required to
include a landscaped screen on that perimeter contiguous to single-family
housing.
Plant materials shall not exceed three feet in height at maturity
within the clear-sight triangle. Planted materials adjacent to the
clear-sight triangle which grow over or obstruct vision above the
allowable three-foot height within the clear-sight triangle shall
not be permitted.