[Ord. No. 433 §8.01, 5-18-2005]
A. 
The purpose of this landscaping and screening regulation is:
1. 
To provide greenery to visually soften paved areas and buildings;
2. 
To establish healthy environmental conditions by providing shade, air purification, oxygen regeneration, ground water recharge, storm water runoff retardation and noise, glare and heat abatement;
3. 
To ensure that the local stock of native trees is replenished; and
4. 
To buffer uncomplimentary land uses and generally enhance the quality and appearance over the entire site of the project.
[Ord. No. 433 §8.02, 5-18-2005]
The City Engineer shall have authority to approve the landscape plan subject to such additional requirements as may be deemed necessary by the Board of Aldermen to promote the purpose of this Article.
[Ord. No. 433 §8.02, 5-18-2005]
All plans submitted in support of a site plan shall hereafter include a landscape plan and include transition strip visual screening where appropriate.
[Ord. No. 433 §8.04, 5-18-2005]
A. 
Information Required. All plans submitted for approval of a landscape plan shall have the following information:
1. 
North point and scale.
2. 
Topographic and final grading information adequate to identify and properly specify planting for areas needing slope protection.
3. 
The location, size and surface of materials of all structures and parking areas.
4. 
The location, size and type of all above ground and underground utilities and structures with proper notation, where appropriate, as to any safety hazards to avoid during landscape installation.
5. 
The approximate location, type, size and quantity of all proposed landscape materials, along with the names of all plant species. The size, grading and condition shall be specified according to American Association of Nurserymen standards.
6. 
The location, size and common name of all existing plant materials to be retained on the site. Large masses of trees may be indicated by mass outline only.
7. 
Mature sizes of plant material shall be drawn to scale and called out on plan by common name or appropriate key.
8. 
Location of hose connections and other water sources.
9. 
The location of all existing trees twelve (12) inch caliper or larger measured four and one-half (4½) feet above ground level on sites that are proposed for removal.
10. 
The location, size and type of required screening methods as required in Section 400.480(C).
B. 
Minimum Tree Requirements.
1. 
Residential areas. One (1) tree per fifty (50) feet or portion thereof of street frontage, public or private, shall be required within the landscape setback of ten (10) feet abutting said front property line. Said trees may be clustered or arranged within the setback and need not be placed evenly at fifty (50) foot intervals.
a. 
In addition to the required trees, based on street frontage, one (1) tree shall be required for every two (2) multi-family units. These may include the trees required in the parking lots as set out in Subsection (C).
b. 
Exception. Individual single-family and duplex dwellings not within a subdivision. However, all proposed subdivisions within the residential areas shall meet those requirements as a part of subdivision approval.
2. 
Commercial and industrial areas. One (1) tree per forty (40) feet or portion thereof of street frontage, public or private, shall be required within the landscape setback of ten (10) feet abutting said front property line. Said trees may be clustered or arranged within the setback and need not be placed evenly at forty (40) foot intervals.
a. 
In addition to the required trees, based on street frontage, one (1) tree shall be required for every three thousand (3,000) square feet of landscaped open space. These may include the trees required in the parking lots as set out in Subsection (C).
3. 
Existing trees saved. Existing trees saved on the site during construction may be credited toward the minimum tree requirements specified for each area. Those existing trees credited shall be a minimum of two (2) inch caliper as measured six (6) inches above the ground for deciduous shade tree. Minimum size for existing ornamental and evergreen species shall be six (6) feet in height. All existing plant material saved shall be healthy and free of mechanical injury.
4. 
Trees planted. The majority of the required trees planted shall be medium and large deciduous shade tree as specified in Subsection (D)(1).
C. 
Planting Requirements Within Parking And Vehicular-Use Areas. The intent of this Subsection is to encourage interior landscaping within vehicular parking areas, to break up the large expanses of pavement and to provide relief from the reflected glare and heat, as well as to guide vehicular and pedestrian traffic.
Except for vehicle storage lots, multiple level parking structures and parking lots having a paved area no wider than a double-loaded aisle no more than sixty-five (65) feet in width, all parking areas in all areas shall include the following as minimum requirements:
1. 
Not less than ten percent (10%) of the interior of a parking lot shall be landscaped. The interior of a parking lot shall be calculated by multiplying the number of parking spaces by two hundred seventy (270) square feet. Planting which is required along the perimeter of a parking lot shall not be considered as part of the interior landscaping requirement.
2. 
The landscaping and planting areas shall be reasonably dispersed throughout the parking lots.
3. 
The interior dimensions of any planting area planting median shall be sufficient to protect the landscaping materials planted therein and to insure proper growth. Any protected planting strip where trees are to be planted shall be a minimum of seven (7) feet wide and shall be protected from vehicle overhang.
4. 
The primary landscaping materials used in parking lots shall be trees that provide shade or are capable of providing shade at maturity. Shrubbery, hedges and other planting material may be used to complement the tree landscaping. Effective use of earth berms and existing topography is also encouraged as a component of the landscaping plan.
5. 
In those instances where plant material exists on a parking lot site prior to its development, such landscape material may be used if approved as meeting the requirements in Subsection (D).
6. 
No landscaping, tree, shrub, fence, wall or similar item shall be placed in zones of ingress or egress at street corners or in the intersection of a public right-of-way that will create an obstruction to visibility or is a traffic hazard.
D. 
Planting Requirements. The minimum planting sizes for all plant material shall be as follows:
1. 
Medium and large deciduous shade trees. Two (2) inch caliper, as measured six (6) inches above the ground as specified by the American Association of Nurserymen.
2. 
Small deciduous or ornamental trees. Four (4) feet in height as specified by the American Association of Nurserymen, with the exception of true dwarf species.
3. 
Conifers. Six (6) feet in height.
4. 
Upright evergreen trees. Four (4) feet in height as specified by the American Association of Nurserymen, except for true dwarf varieties.
5. 
Shrubs. (Deciduous and conifer including spreader and globe tree forms.) Size optional as determined by the applicant.
6. 
Ground cover plants. Crowns, plugs, containers: In a number as appropriate by the species to provide fifty percent (50%) surface coverage within the first (1st) growing season.
7. 
Grass seeding. As appropriate to provide complete coverage within the first (1st) growing season.
8. 
Sod. As necessary to provide coverage and soil stabilization.
[Ord. No. 433 §8.05, 5-18-2005]
A. 
Application. On any lot having a commercial or industrial use that abuts a lot in a residential district shall be provided a transition strip.
B. 
(Reserved)
C. 
Transition Strip Requirements.
1. 
Width. Such transition strip shall not be less than fifteen (15) feet for all commercial and industrial use properties.
2. 
Location. Such transition strip shall be provided along every lot line, except a front lot line, which abuts a lot in such districts and shall not be included as part of the yard required around the building or structure.
3. 
Screening required. Such transition strip shall be improved at the time the lot is improved and shall include a planting screen consisting of compact evergreen plants that will provide an effective screen. A six (6) to eight (8) foot high screen wall or fence may be required in addition to or in lieu of a planting screen when the reviewing authority deems it necessary in order to adequately screen certain types of non-compatible uses.
4. 
Sight triangle exception. On a corner lot in any district no planting, berm, fence, sign or wall shall be placed in such a manner as to impede vision within the twenty-five (25) foot sight triangle.
[Ord. No. 433 §8.06, 5-18-2005]
A. 
Landscaping In Place Prior To Occupancy Permit. All landscape material, living and non-living, shall be healthy and in place prior to issuance of final occupancy permit. A temporary certificate may be issued without the installation, provided written assurances are given that the planting will take place when the proper season arrives. A site performance bond maybe required.
B. 
Maintenance And Enforcement. The trees, shrubs, fences, walls and other landscaping materials depicted on plans approved by the City shall be considered as elements of the project in the same manner as parking, building materials and other details are elements of the plan.
C. 
The developer, his/her successor and/or subsequent owners and their agents shall be responsible for the continued maintenance.
D. 
Plant material that exhibits evidence of insect pests, disease and/or damage shall be appropriately treated and dead plants promptly removed and replaced within the next planting season.
Should landscaping not be installed, maintained and replaced as needed to comply with the approved plan, the owner and his/her agent or agents shall be considered in violation of terms of the building or occupancy permit. The City Engineer or his/her designee is empowered to enforce the terms of this Article.