The following standards are intended to assure an acceptable degree of landscaping, screening, and buffering between land uses, particularly between residential and nonresidential uses, providing a balance between developed uses and open space, enhancing the visual and aesthetic appearance of the community, and encouraging preservation of existing natural features. Specifically, these regulations are intended to:
A. 
Encourage the landscaping of developments and to dissuade the unnecessary clearing and disturbing of land so as to preserve the natural and existing growth of flora and to replace removed flora or plan new flora indigenous to the region.
B. 
Provide natural visual screening of parking areas and along property boundaries to protect the existing visual quality of adjacent lands.
C. 
Reduce surface runoff and minimize soil erosion through the natural filtering capability of landscaped areas.
D. 
Provide natural buffers that reduce glare and noise, and protect wetlands, stream corridors and other significant environmental features.
E. 
Moderate the microclimate of parking areas by providing shade, absorbing reflected heat from paved surfaces and creating natural wind breaks.
F. 
Enhance the overall environmental and aesthetic quality of the community in order to provide a healthful and pleasant atmosphere for Village residents and visitors.
A. 
Site plan review. Development activities requiring site plan approval shall submit, as part of such approval, a landscaping plan in accordance with § 95-54.4 of this article. This shall include, but not be limited to, commercial, retail, industrial, multifamily residential, and institutional uses.
B. 
Existing site features. Existing unique, cultural, or natural site features, such as stonewalls, shall be incorporated into landscaping plans to the maximum extent feasible. Sites that possess significant ecological properties such as aquifers, public water supply watersheds, wetlands, and streams whose degradation would negatively affect other properties should be developed in a manner that will effectively prevent the possibility of such degradation.
C. 
Completion of work. The issuance of a certificate of occupancy shall require completion of lot grading, seeding and required landscaping, or posting of a performance guaranty acceptable to the Code Enforcement Officer. If the applicant cannot perform the work due to seasonable impracticalities, all landscaping work shall be completed by June 30 of the year following the issuance of the certificate of occupancy.
D. 
Pedestrian access. Pedestrian access to sidewalks or buildings shall be considered in the design of all landscaped areas.
E. 
Compliance. Where existing conditions make compliance with these regulations not feasible, the Planning Board, at its discretion, may modify the requirements provided they comply with the intent of these regulations to the maximum extent practicable.
F. 
Existing trees. Existing healthy trees with a minimum twelve-inch caliper should be identified on site plans and preserved. Said preserved trees shall be credited against the requirements of these regulations in accordance with their size and location.
G. 
Appropriate plant species. All plant materials must conform to the most current edition of the American Nursery and Landscape Association's American Standard for Nursery Stock (ANSI Z60.1 - 2004). Applicants are required to design and install landscaping that shall be tolerant of typical environmental conditions of this region (USDA Hardiness Zone 5). Proper trees shall be chosen where any height restrictions (i.e., power lines) exist to minimize conflicts and improper pruning techniques. Species appropriate for the Village can be determined by a registered landscape architect, landscape consultant, or other professional.
H. 
Minimum plant size. Unless otherwise specifically stated elsewhere in this section, all plant materials shall meet the minimum size standards set forth in Table 54-1 below.
Table 54-1: Minimum Plant Size in Buffer
Plant Material
Side or Rear Yards
All Other Landscaped Areas
1. Trees
Deciduous
1 1/2 inch caliper
2 1/2 inch caliper
Evergreen
4 feet (height)
5 feet (height)
2. Shrubs
Deciduous
15 inches (height)
24 inches (height)
Evergreen
12 inches (height)
18 inches (height)
All nonresidential uses must reserve a minimum of 30% of the total lot area in green space and landscaping. All landscaped areas are subject to the following standards:
A. 
Perimeter landscaping. Landscaping shall be required along the perimeter of projects, or within the required setbacks, and shall be provided except where driveways or other openings may be required. The Planning Board may consider alternatives to the location of landscaping materials, based on the existing character of the neighborhood. For large development projects such as shopping centers, perimeter landscaping shall apply to the full perimeter of the project, and not to internal property lines. The linear feet guidelines below are to be used to calculate the number of required plantings; they do not require that plantings be uniformly spaced. Rather, grouping of plants consistent with accepted landscape practice is encouraged. Specific requirements are as follows:
(1) 
At least one tree for each 40 linear feet of the perimeter of the lot; and
(2) 
At least one shrub for each 10 linear feet of the perimeter of the lot.
B. 
Street trees. All streets and roads within the Village shall be lined with trees unless important scenic views or visibility by traffic would be obstructed.
(1) 
Trees should be placed between the sidewalk and curb to form a protective row that makes pedestrians feel safely separated from traffic. Trees should be spaced no more than 30 feet apart in areas with slow speed limits, and no more than 40 feet apart and slightly back from the road in higher speed situations. Residential street trees should be placed close to the road and to each other to create a park-like canopy.
(2) 
Street trees should be hardy, deciduous varieties that are salt and drought resistant, free of droppings that mar sidewalks and cars, and tall enough to frame the street and not block the view of storefronts.
C. 
Building foundations. Building foundations shall be planted with ornamental plant material, such as ornamental trees, flowering shrubs, perennials, and ground covers. The arrangement of said landscaping shall be arranged along the front facade as well as any facades visible from the public right-of-way. Trees and shrubs shall be provided according to the following requirements:
(1) 
At least one tree for each 30 linear feet of the perimeter of the building; and
(2) 
At least one shrub for each five linear feet of the perimeter of the building.
D. 
Parking areas. Parking lots containing 10 or more spaces shall be internally landscaped, so as to provide shade and screening, and facilitate the safe and efficient movement of traffic. The area designated as required setbacks shall not be included as part of the required landscaping. Plantings shall be spaced and grouped consistent with accepted nursery standards and shall not be located in a manner that impedes driver visibility. Specific requirements are as follows:
(1) 
A landscaped buffer at least 10 feet in width must be provided between a parking lot and the public rights-of-way;
(2) 
A minimum of one landscaped island, at least 162 square feet in size, shall be provided for every 10 parking spaces contained within each single row of parking. Islands shall be planted with trees and shrubs with a minimum of one tree per 10 parking spaces;
(3) 
End islands shall be required for all parking configurations entirely surrounded by drive aisles, provided such configurations contain more than five spaces in a single row and 10 spaces in a double row. End islands shall completely separate the parking spaces from the drive aisle;
(4) 
Landscaped parking lot medians, a minimum of 10 feet in width, shall be used to completely separate driveway entrance aisles from parking areas;
(5) 
All landscaped areas shall be no less than eight feet in average width;
(6) 
All plant material adjacent to parking areas, loading areas, and driveways shall be protected by barriers, curbs, or other means to prevent damage from vehicles; and
(7) 
Plantings shall present a clear view of any driving lane within 15 feet.
E. 
Screening requirements.
(1) 
A fence without landscaping shall not be considered a buffer.
(2) 
A landscaped barrier at least 10 feet in width shall be provided to screen vehicular activity from adjacent properties. If there is insufficient space to accommodate a ten-foot landscaped area, the Planning Board may allow screening to consist of a wall, fence, berm, hedge, or other plant materials or combinations thereof no less than five feet high.
A. 
The Planning Board may determine that the landscaping plan must be prepared by a licensed landscape architect, landscape designer or other professional. All landscaping plans shall contain the following information:
(1) 
A title block with the name of the project, the name of the person preparing the plan, a scale, North arrow and date.
(2) 
All existing, significant plant materials on the site.
(3) 
Existing and proposed structures.
(4) 
Topographical contours at two-foot intervals.
(5) 
Drainage patterns.
(6) 
Location, size and description of all landscape materials existing and proposed, including all trees and shrubs, and shall identify those existing plant materials that are to be protected or removed.
(7) 
Landscaping of parking areas, access aisles, entrances, common open areas, recreation areas, and perimeter buffer areas.
(8) 
Other information as may be required by the Code Enforcement Officer and/or the Planning Board.
B. 
Relief from any landscape plan requirements that are deemed unnecessary may be granted with Planning Board approval.
It shall be the responsibility of the property owner and/or lessee to maintain the quality of all plant material, non-plant landscaping, and irrigation systems used in conjunction with the landscaping.
A. 
Maintenance shall include, but not be limited to, watering, weeding, mowing (including trimming at the base of fencing), fertilizing, mulching, proper pruning, and removal and replacement of dead or diseased trees and shrubs on a regular basis.
B. 
All landscaping and plant material that is missing, dead, decaying, or injured as of September 30 shall be replaced by June 30 of the following year at the owner's expense. The replacement shall be of the same species and size unless otherwise approved by the Code Enforcement Officer.
C. 
Irrigation systems shall be designed to minimize spray on buildings, neighboring properties, roads or sidewalks, maintained in proper operating condition, and conserve water to the greatest extent feasible through proper watering techniques.
D. 
Improper maintenance shall be determined through periodic inspection by the Code Enforcement Officer. The Code Enforcement Officer may require a review and status report of plantings by a professional landscaper, arborist, or engineer. All reasonable costs for review and determination shall be at the expense of the property owner.
In any district, all dumpsters, service areas or mechanical units used or intended to be used for any building or land use other than single-family and two-family dwelling units, shall be subject to the following:
A. 
All dumpsters, service areas and mechanicals must be located behind the front building line; and
B. 
All dumpsters, service areas and mechanicals shall be screened from view with either a wall, a solid fence or a combination of fencing and evergreens creating a solid visual barrier from adjacent properties and the public right-of-way. Said barrier shall be a height of at least five feet above grade level on all sides where the adjacent land is in a residential district or a residential use.