The purpose of this regulation is to protect
and maintain property values by preserving existing vegetation and
requiring the planting of new materials; to reduce excessive heat,
glare, and accumulation of dust; to provide for water recharge areas;
to protect privacy from visual intrusion; to provide natural visual
screening of parking and loading areas; to prevent the erosion of
soil and runoff of stormwater; to ensure public safety by using landscaping
materials to define parking and loading areas and manage internal
vehicular and pedestrian circulation; to reduce sound pollution; and
to improve the environmental quality and aesthetics of the Town of
Suffield.
For the purpose of applying the provisions of
this section the terms below shall be defined as follows:
An earthen mound designed to provide visual interest on a
site, screen undesirable views, buffer properties from adjoining uses,
reduce noise, or control the direction of surface water flow.
Dogwood, Redbud, Crab apple, or similar.
Grass, turf, vinca, pachysandra, myrtle or other plants.
White gravel, brick or stone paving may be used in combination with
plants.
Evergreens at least four feet in height at the time of planting,
which shall be maintained at a height of six feet. A hedge shall provide
complete visual screening.
An area covered with grass or ground cover, where additional
planting is either specifically required or left to the discretion
of the property owner.
Contiguous plantings or fencing as determined by the Commission
which creates a complete visual screening at least six feet in height.
Deciduous shade trees such as Sugar Maple, Oak, London Plane,
or Linden, and conifers such as White Pine, Austrian Pine, or Canadian
Hemlock.
The desired effect is partial visual screening of an object.
The width of the screening strip may be varied by the Commission or
the applicant, but shall be at least five feet. Plant material shall
consist of shade trees spaced 40 feet on center or flowering trees
spaced 20 feet on center or a mixture of both. Where a continuous
landscaped screening strip is impractical, trees may be located in
islands at least 20 square feet in area.
The desired effect is partial visual screening between zoning
districts. Plant material shall be the same as specified for Type
"A" screening except that 1/2 of the trees shall be evergreens and
the number of trees required is doubled.
The desired year-round effect is complete visual screening
of parking and loading areas. The screening material shall consist
of a berm, hedge, screening fence or wall, or a combination thereof.
The screening strip shall be at least five feet wide for a fence or
wall and landscaped, and at least 10 feet for a hedge.
The desired effect is separation and partial visual screening
without creation of visual obstructions for traffic. The screening
material shall consist of planting materials with low growth habits
interspersed with flowering trees at about 20 feet on center and deciduous
shade trees space 40 feet on center. Said strip shall not be less
than 10 feet in width within the property line.
These regulations shall apply to any use requiring
a special permit or site plan approval, and shall include all associated
disturbed portions of property not otherwise used for buildings, structures,
parking and loading areas, sidewalks, or similar purposes. In addition,
the following shall apply:
A.
All plant materials required by these regulations
shall be nursery grown and conform to the standards of the American
Association of Nurserymen.
B.
All plant materials shall be planted in a growing
condition according to acceptable horticultural practices and shall
be maintained in a healthy growing condition.
C.
All landscaping, planting, and ground cover materials
shall be of a noninvasive species. Nonnative invasive species are
not permitted.
[Amended 1-4-2019]
D.
Trees and shrubs shown on an approved site plan that
are not in growing condition shall be replaced by the property owner
during the next planting season.
E.
At the time of planting, trees shall be balled and
burlapped and shall be of the following minimum size caliper according
to the American Nursery and Landscape Association:
F.
Mulched planting beds at least four inches deep shall
be placed around all trees and shrubs to help retain moisture. Mulching
material shall be shredded bark, wood chips, or other organic substitute
and shall be replaced yearly.
G.
No trees 12 inches or greater in caliper as measured
four feet above grade shall be removed unless approved by the Commission.
H.
Landscaping, trees and screening material contiguous
to parking and loading areas shall be properly protected by barrier,
curbs, or other means.
I.
All portions of nonresidential properties which shall
be proposed as locations for buildings, structures, off-street parking
and loading areas, sidewalks or similar improvements shall be landscaped
and permanently maintained in such manner as to minimize stormwater
runoff and harmoniously blend such nonresidential uses in with the
residential character of the Town.
J.
Depending on site conditions and the type of use proposed,
the Commission may require a landscaping plan prepared by and containing
the seal of a landscape architect registered by the State of Connecticut.
Screening and buffers shall be required as follows:
A.
Agricultural buffer. The Commission may require partial
or complete screening in an agricultural buffer.
D.
Uses in Neighborhood Commercial Zoning District. Type
"B" when abutting a residential lot.
E.
Uses in Town Center Village Zoning District. Type
"B" when abutting a residential lot.
F.
Uses in West Suffield Village Zoning District. Type
"B" when abutting a residential lot.
A.
The Commission may consider and approve modifications
to the landscape requirements when unusual conditions require more
extensive screening for noise abatement or to protect surrounding
residential properties, or when excellence in building or landscape
design demands less landscaping.
B.
All landscaping shown on the approved plan shall:
(1)
Be completed prior to issuance of a certificate of
occupancy; or
(2)
Be guaranteed of completion by filing a bond with
the Town, in an amount and form satisfactory to the Town Engineer
and Commission counsel, assuring completion within a specified time
(not to exceed one year), which bond shall be forfeited if the required
work is not completed.
