The provisions in this article are intended to set minimum standards
for the design, installation, and maintenance of landscaping, greenbelts,
and screening for the protection and enhancement of the Village's
environment. Landscaping and screening enhances the visual image of
the Village, preserves natural features, improves property values,
and alleviates the impact of noise, traffic, and visual distraction
associated with certain uses. The intent of these provisions includes,
but is not limited to, the following:
A.Â
Promote the implementation of the Master Plan and promote values
of a Tree City USA community;
B.Â
Define, articulate, and integrate outdoor spaces, architectural elements,
and various site elements;
C.Â
Improve the appearance of off-street parking areas, vehicular use
areas, and property abutting public rights-of-way;
D.Â
Protect and preserve the appearance, character, and value of the
residential uses that abut nonresidential areas, parking areas, and
other intensive use areas, thereby protecting the public health, safety,
and welfare, by requiring complementary landscaping treatments and
providing transitional areas adjacent to natural areas;
E.Â
Reduce soil erosion and depletion by utilizing vegetative root systems
to stabilize soils and foliage to reduce the effects of erosive winds
and water;
F.Â
Increase stormwater retention and slow the movement of water, thereby
helping to prevent flooding;
G.Â
Provide reasonable standards to bring developed sites, which existed
prior to the adoption of these standards, into compliance with the
requirements contained herein;
H.Â
Recognize and preserve natural areas such as woodlands, wetlands,
and floodplains within and adjacent to a development site;
I.Â
Encourage the preservation of larger, native trees that, once destroyed,
can only be replaced after generations; and
J.Â
Support wildlife and natural systems through the planting of native
vegetation.
The regulations of this article are applicable to all proposed developments requiring a site plan per § 390-122, any new parking lot, and any addition of 10 or more spaces to an existing parking lot.
Whenever a landscape screen or landscape planting is required
by the provisions of this chapter, a landscape plan shall be provided
for review by the Zoning Administrator and/or Planning Commission.
The landscape plan shall demonstrate that all requirements of this
article are met, and shall at a minimum, include the following information:
A.Â
A scale drawing of the site and proposed development thereon, including
the date, name and address of the preparer, parcel lines, parcel area
and North arrow.
B.Â
The minimum scale of the drawing shall be one inch equals 30 feet.
C.Â
Contour lines at minimum two foot intervals shall be shown.
D.Â
Proposed and existing man-made features, including buildings, structures,
and parking areas.
E.Â
Setback lines and their dimensions.
F.Â
Location of existing and proposed driveways and curb cuts, if any.
G.Â
Location of existing public and private rights-of-way and easements
contiguous to and on the property.
H.Â
Natural features, including trees with a diameter at breast height
of three inches or more, water bodies and wetlands, high-risk erosion
areas, slopes in excess of 25%, drainage and similar features; and
an indication of which features would be preserved.
I.Â
Proposed location of plantings, spacing between plantings, height
and size at time of planting, type of plantings (common and botanical
names), and other elements to illustrate compliance with the standards
of this article.
J.Â
Description of the types of equipment and methods to be used to irrigate
the required landscape areas, if any.
K.Â
A landscape maintenance program, including a statement that all diseased,
damaged or dead materials shall be replaced in accordance with the
standards of this section and identifying the individual(s) or business(s)
who will be responsible for continued maintenance of the landscaping.
L.Â
A detailed description of either written or graphic form, indicating
the applicant's plans to protect the existing trees to be preserved
from damage during site development and construction such as dripline
fencing, tree wells and culverts.
M.Â
Location, height, elevation/section and material of proposed screening
walls, fencing, retaining walls, and berming. Berms are to be delineated
by one-foot contours.
N.Â
Where berms are used, the plan shall depict a typical cross section,
including the slope, height, and width of the berm and the type of
ground cover. Where a wall is used, the landscape plan shall depict
typical cross sections of the wall construction and footings.
O.Â
Calculation verifying minimum landscape requirements such as quantities/areas
of plantings for parking areas, screening areas, or greenbelts.
P.Â
Any other information as may be required by the Zoning Administrator
to aid in the review of the site plan.
Q.Â
The Zoning Administrator may permit less information to be shown
on the landscape plan based on the scope and scale of the project.
The following general requirements shall be met by all landscaping
plans.
A.Â
Occupancy certificates. All required, screens, buffer areas, and landscaping plantings shall be planted in accordance with the approved landscape plan, and a certificate of occupancy shall not be issued until the screen, buffer area, and landscape planting has been completed in accordance with the approved plan. If a use is ready for occupancy between November 1 and March 31, a temporary certificate of occupancy may be issued, provided a performance guarantee, as regulated in § 390-153, has been provided in an amount equal to the estimated cost of the landscape improvements. In any case, all required landscaping must be complete by June 1 following issuance of the temporary certificate of occupancy.
B.Â
Disturbed ground areas. All disturbed ground areas shall be stabilized
with dense vegetative materials, including grass, shrubs, and ground
covers consistent with these provisions. Native, low maintenance ground
cover is encouraged.
C.Â
Density of trees. Trees shall be planted on nonresidential parcels
at a rate of at least one tree per 1,000 square feet of any unpaved
open area for which specific landscaping requirements do not apply.
D.Â
Street trees. Where a parkway exists or is proposed, street trees
shall be planted within the parkway along public and private streets
in all developments requiring site plan approval.
(1)Â
Street trees shall be deciduous and capable of achieving a mature
canopy diameter of at least 25 feet;
(2)Â
Provide branching structures which naturally grow, have been trained,
or will be pruned to at least seven feet above pedestrian and 14 feet
above vehicular traffic areas;
(3)Â
Shall be planted 30 feet on center; and
E.Â
Irrigation. Methods of temporary and permanent irrigation for trees
and all landscape areas must be specified. Landscape areas larger
than 1,000 square feet in area and landscape areas within parking
lots shall be provided with an underground irrigation system. To encourage
sustainable landscape practices and the use of natural water sources,
the Planning Commission may approve an acceptable alternative water
supply if the applicant/owner can demonstrate the use of drought-tolerant
varieties and other natural sources of irrigation such as swales and
rain gardens. If the alternative irrigation fails to maintain the
landscaping in a healthy state, the property owner shall be required
to install traditional methods of irrigation sufficient to maintain
the plants. All irrigation shall utilize sustainable practices to
the greatest extent practicable.
F.Â
Fractional plant requirements. Where this article requires landscaping
for any distance along a property or other line, and an applicant's
property is a fraction of the given measurement, then the property's
measurement shall be rounded to the next highest number to comply
with the minimum standards herein. Driveways and other paved points
of access shall not be included in frontage calculations.
G.Â
Visual clearance. Landscaping shall be installed such that, when mature, it does not obstruct or obscure traffic signs, fire hydrants, lighting, drainage patterns on the site or adjacent properties, or obstruct vision for safety of ingress and egress, and is subject to the clear vision corner requirements of this chapter, as regulated in § 390-11A(2).
H.Â
Credit for existing vegetation. Existing healthy, well-formed trees,
shrubs, and herbaceous perennials may be credited towards the requirements
of this article provided the vegetation is identified on the landscape
plan, protected from harm during construction, located in an appropriate
place, and maintained in a healthy growing condition.
I.Â
Tree preservation. Existing healthy trees located within required
setbacks and areas not required for development shall be preserved,
and may be counted toward the number of trees required.
(1)Â
All trees to be preserved as indicated on the landscape plan shall
be sheltered by a protective fence and shall remain upright and intact
until all construction activity is complete. Construction activities,
including driving of machinery or pedestrian movements, and the storage
of equipment shall not occur within these protected areas. Tree protection
barriers shall extend at a minimum to the drip line of trees which
have been identified for preservation.
(2)Â
Should any tree designated for preservation fail to thrive as a result
of pre-construction, construction, or post-construction activities,
the owner shall calculate the diameter breast height (DBH) inches
of the damaged tree and replace with tree(s) equivalent in caliper
inches to the total DBH inches lost.
J.Â
Tree removal and replacement. All reasonable attempts to conserve
established, high-quality canopy trees shall be made. Trees specified
for removal measuring 12 diameter breast height (DBH) inches or more
shall be subject to the following tree replacement standards.
(1)Â
Trees must be replaced in caliper inches at a rate of 50% of the
total DBH removed. Replacement deciduous trees shall be at least three
caliper inches and replacement evergreen trees shall be at least eight
feet in height.
(2)Â
Where the Village finds it not reasonable or desirable to relocate
or replace trees on site, the Village may direct the applicant to
pay into the established Village Tree Fund an amount of money equal
to the value of replacement trees, including installation, that would
otherwise be required. The cost per three inch caliper deciduous tree
and eight foot tall evergreen tree will be set annually by the Village
based on current market conditions.
(3)Â
Exceptions to the replacement of trees measuring 12 diameter breast
height (DBH) inches or more shall be limited to the following:
(a)Â
When no feasible and prudent alternative location can be had
without causing undue hardship;
(b)Â
When the tree is dead, diseased, injured or is a danger to existing
structures, utility service, or interferes with safe vision clearances;
(c)Â
Or if the tree is listed in the prohibited varieties table at
the end of this article.
K.Â
Maintenance and replacement of plant material. Landscaping shall
be installed and maintained in a healthy, neat, and orderly appearance,
free from refuse, debris, and weeds. Plant materials, including lawn,
shall be maintained in a substantially weed free, healthy growing
condition, neat and orderly in appearance in accordance with the approved
Site Plan and detailed planting plan. Plants shall be controlled by
pruning, trimming, or other suitable methods so that they do not interfere
with public utilities, restrict pedestrian or vehicular access, or
constitute a traffic hazard. All unhealthy and dead plant material
shall be replaced within one year or in the next appropriate planting
period, whichever comes first. A description of the proposed maintenance
program shall be submitted with the detailed planting plan, including
a statement that all diseased, damaged, or dead materials will be
replaced in accord with the chapter.
L.Â
Revised site plan. No landscaped area may be abandoned, paved, or otherwise employed without submission and approval of a revised site plan, in accordance with Article XVII.
M.Â
Performance guarantee. The Zoning Administrator or Planning Commission may require a performance guarantee per § 390-153 of this chapter to ensure proper installation and maintenance of all required landscaping.
N.Â
The Planning Commission and Village Council may lessen the requirements
of this section if site conditions make the strict application of
these regulations unreasonable, assuming the applicant could provide
for sufficient buffering between dissimilar uses and between expanses
of parking and rights-of-way or if existing landscaping meets the
intent of this article. Additional requirements on landscaping may
be imposed if such modification would further the intent of this article.
O.Â
The Planning Commission and Village Council may retain the services
of a landscape architect or other similarly qualified professional
to review a landscape plan to ensure compliance with this article.
A.Â
Landscaping in the MFR District.
(1)Â
When a multiple-family dwelling abuts a one-family or two-family
dwelling, a greenbelt or a screen shall be required along the side
and rear property lines. The greenbelt area may be located within
a required yard area.
(2)Â
When a multiple-family dwelling abuts any use that is not a one-family
or two-family dwelling, a greenbelt shall be required along the side
and rear property lines. The greenbelt area may be located in a required
yard area.
(3)Â
The Planning Commission may require a taller screen based on site
conditions.
B.Â
Landscaping in nonresidential districts.
(1)Â
When a nonresidential district abuts a property used for residential
purposes, a greenbelt or a screen shall be required along the side
and rear property lines. The greenbelt area may be located within
a required yard area.
(2)Â
The Planning Commission or Village Council may require installation
of wrought iron or material that gives the appearance of wrought iron,
fence with brick pier accents, as seen in typical Village developments,
or a solid brick wall or hedge, 24 inches in height, along street
frontages for new development or substantially redeveloped properties.
This shall also include a five-foot-wide landscaped area with one
tree for every 25 feet of length and one bush for every five feet
of length. If the property is in the CBD or C districts, or where
parking, loading, or storage has been permitted by the Planning Commission
in the front yard, these standards are required.
(3)Â
The Planning Commission may require a taller screen based on site
conditions.
C.Â
Parking areas. In addition to the site landscaping required in Subsections A and B above, any off-street parking area containing 10 or more parking spaces shall be landscaped according to the following requirements:
(1)Â
All required interior landscaped areas shall be protected by a barrier
(i.e., a raised standard or rolled concrete curb), except where landscape
islands in parking lots are being utilized as part of a stormwater
detention or conveyance system.
(2)Â
In the case of a shared parking lot, screening and greenbelts shall
not be required along the common property line.
(3)Â
The interior portion of the parking lot shall contain landscaped
areas consisting of one square foot of landscaped area for every 12Â 1/2
square feet of pavement, or fraction thereof, and one deciduous tree
for every 200 square feet, or portion thereof, of landscaped area
provided.
(4)Â
Each landscaped area shall be a minimum of 200 square feet, with
a minimum width of 10 feet, and shall include one deciduous tree.
In addition to the tree, each landscaped area shall be covered with
living vegetative materials such as shrubs, grasses, and flowers,
and may include no more than 20% exposed surface area of natural mulch
materials.
(5)Â
At least 50% of the deciduous trees within the landscape areas shall
be canopy trees, able of achieving a mature canopy diameter of at
least 25 feet.
(6)Â
The landscaped areas shall be dispersed throughout the parking lot
in order to break up and soften large expanses of impervious surface
and to define access and circulation patterns.
(7)Â
The Planning Commission may permit the required landscape areas to
be combined into larger areas if they find that the resulting landscape
area is of a higher quality and meets the intent of this article to
visually enhance the parking lot.
D.Â
Storage and dumpsters. Exposed storage areas, trash receptacles and
dumpsters, machinery installations, service areas, loading docks,
utility buildings and utility structures such as electrical transformers,
air conditioners, and similar features shall be screened from view
from adjoining streets and properties by a screen of sufficient height
to obscure the view of the equipment. Dumpster enclosures shall comply
with the following requirements.
(1)Â
Dumpster enclosures shall be sturdy and constructed of quality, long-lasting
masonry materials, or other acceptable durable materials (i.e., split
face block or CMU) that are generally compatible in character and
appearance to the principal structure. Cinder block, conventional
concrete block, wire, or cyclone fencing materials are prohibited.
(2)Â
The enclosure shall be four sided and placed on a concrete pad.
(3)Â
The enclosure shall be four sided with lockable opaque gates which
complement the screen materials. The Zoning Administrator or Planning
Commission may permit the enclosure to be three sided where site dimensions
make a four sided enclosure impractical and where the three sided
enclosure will effectively screen the dumpster from view from the
adjoining right-of-way.
(4)Â
Walls of the enclosure shall be six feet in height.
(5)Â
When a dumpster is added to any developed site for regular use, such
dumpster shall be enclosed pursuant to this section.
A.Â
Where screening is required, the screen shall consist of one of the
following (Figure 390-94A):
(1)Â
A solid uniform wall or fence having a height of at least four feet
and sufficiently dense to obscure vision through it. In no case shall
wire or cyclone fencing materials be permitted. High-quality, low-maintenance
materials such as brick and vinyl are strongly recommended. Wood fence
may be permitted if it is properly treated as often as necessary to
maintain the look of new wood.
(2)Â
Evergreen landscape material having a height of at least six feet
and sufficiently dense to obscure vision through it.
(3)Â
A three-foot-tall vegetative berm designed with a maximum slope ratio
of three feet horizontal to one-foot vertical, with a minimum of a
two-foot level area at the top of the berm and slopes stabilized plant
materials. The berm may be used in conjunction with a wall, fence,
or plantings to achieve the total six feet in height of screening.
 |
B.Â
When a greenbelt is required, it shall comply with the following
landscape requirements (Figure 390-94B):
C.Â
The following chart defines site landscaping for front, side and
rear yards for each zoning district, in addition to other landscaping
standards contained in this chapter.
|
Screening and Greenbelt Required Landscaping
| ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Zoning District or Use
|
Adjacent to
|
Required Landscape Elements
|
Location
|
Additional Requirements
|
|
Industrial
|
All residential zones and uses
|
Greenbelt4 and screen2
|
Along the side and rear property lines with the screen located
on the inner edge of the greenbelt
| |
|
Industrial
|
All other zoning districts except Industrial
|
Greenbelt4
|
Along the side and rear property lines
| |
|
Industrial
|
Industrial Zone
|
Greenbelt4
|
Along the side and rear property lines
| |
|
Multiple-Family Dwelling uses in MFR
|
SFR-A, SFR-B and one or two-family uses
|
Greenbelt4 or screen2
|
Along the side and rear property lines
| |
|
Multiple-Family Dwelling uses in MFR
|
All other zoning districts
|
Greenbelt4
|
Along the side and rear property lines
| |
|
C, CBD
|
All zoning districts
|
Greenbelt4 or screen2
|
Along the side and rear property lines
| |
|
C, CBD
|
Public street or private roadway
|
Decorative brick and wrought iron fence or solid hedge1 and a minimum five-foot wide landscaped area3
|
Along property lines of all street frontages
|
Required where parking, loading or storage has been permitted
by the Planning Commission in the front yard, and where determined
by the Planning Commission
|
|
NOTES:
| |
|
1.
|
To be determined by the Planning Commission as a condition of
site plan approval.
|
|
2.
|
The Planning Commission may require a taller screen based on
site conditions.
|
|
3.
|
The landscaped area shall include one tree for every 25 feet
and one bush for every five feet of length.
|
|
4.
|
No parking, loading or accessory uses are permitted in the greenbelt.
|
A.Â
All plant material shall be hardy to Ottawa County, be free of disease
and insects, and conform to the American Standard for Nursery Stock
of the American Association of Nurserymen.
B.Â
Diversity. The overall landscape plan shall not contain more than
25% of any one species.
C.Â
Native vegetation. At least 70% of new plantings shall be species
native to West Michigan.
D.Â
Deciduous canopy trees shall have a minimum caliper of 2Â 1/2
inches at time of planting, measured at four feet from grade.
E.Â
Deciduous ornamental trees shall have a minimum caliper of two inches
at time of planting, measured at four feet from grade.
F.Â
Evergreen trees shall be a minimum of six feet in height at the time
of planting. Evergreen trees may be planted in staggered rows to provide
space for spreading and growth.
G.Â
Shrubs shall be at least 30 inches in height at time of planting
with a minimum spread of 24 inches.
H.Â
Spreading shrubs shall have a minimum height of 24 inches at time
of planting with a minimum width of 30 inches.
I.Â
Ornamental grasses and perennials shall be a minimum pot size of
two gallons when planted.
J.Â
The following are suggested native plant species, and the use of
native species is encouraged.
|
Suggested Native Plant Species
| ||
|---|---|---|
|
Plant Type
|
Common Name
|
Botanical Name
|
|
Canopy Trees
|
Red Oak
|
Quercus rubra
|
|
Hackberry
|
Celtis occidentalis
| |
|
American Hornbeam
|
Carpinus caroliniana
| |
|
Black Oak
|
Quercus velutina
| |
|
Ironwood
|
Ostrya virginiana
| |
|
Kentucky Coffee Tree (fruitless varieties)
|
Gymnocladus dioicus
| |
|
Red Maple
|
Acer rubrum
| |
|
Sugar Maple
|
Acer saccharum
| |
|
White Oak
|
Quercus alba
| |
|
Sycamore
|
Platanus occidentalis
| |
|
Thornless Honeylocust
|
Gleditsia triacanthos f. inermis
| |
|
River Birch
|
Betula nigra
| |
|
Osage orange (fruitless varieties)
|
Maclura pomifera
| |
|
Black Gum
|
Nyssa sylvatica
| |
|
Ornamental Trees
|
American Hazelnut
|
Corylus americana
|
|
Eastern Red Bud
|
Cercis canadensis
| |
|
Cockspur hawthorn
|
Crataegus crus-galli
| |
|
Pagoda Dogwood (tree form)
|
Cornus alternifolia
| |
|
Fringe Tree
|
Chionanthus virginicus
| |
|
Allegheny Serviceberry
|
Amelanchier laevis
| |
|
Evergreen Trees
|
Eastern White Pine
|
Pinus strobus
|
|
Red Cedar
|
Juniperus virginiana
| |
|
White Spruce
|
Picea glauca
| |
|
Balsam Fir
|
Abies balsamea
| |
|
Canadian Hemlock
|
Tsuga canadensis
| |
|
Shrubs
|
Bush Honeysuckle
|
Diervilla lonicera
|
|
Common Juniper
|
Juniperus communis
| |
|
Red osier dogwood
|
Cornus sericea
| |
|
Highbush Blueberry
|
Vaccinium corymbosum
| |
|
New Jersey Tea
|
Ceanothus americanus
| |
|
Carolina Rose
|
Rosa carolina
| |
|
Fragrant Sumac
|
Rhus aromatica
| |
|
Common Witch Hazel
|
Hamamelis virginiana
| |
|
Michigan Holly
|
Ilex verticillata
| |
|
Buttonbush
|
Cephalanthus occidentalis
| |
|
Spice Bush
|
Lindera benzoin
| |
|
Shrubby cinquefoil
|
Potentilla fruticosa
| |
|
Creeping Juniper
|
Juniperus horizontalis
| |
|
American Arborvitae
|
Thuja occidentalis
| |
|
Ornamental Grasses and Perennials
|
Palm Sedge
|
Carex muskingumensis
|
|
Little bluestem
|
Schizachyrium scoparium
| |
|
Switchgrass
|
Panicum virgatum
| |
|
Tufted Hairgrass
|
Deschampsia cespitosa
| |
|
Sundial Lupine
|
Lupinus perennis
| |
|
Bee Balm
|
Monarda fistulosa
| |
|
Black-Eyed Susan
|
Rudbeckia hirta
| |
|
Sweet Joe Pye Weed
|
Eupatorium purpureum
| |
|
Cardinal Flower
|
Lobelia cardinalis
| |
|
Butterfly Weed
|
Asclepias tuberosa
| |
|
New England Aster
|
Aster novae-angliae
| |
|
Blue Stemmed Goldenrod
|
Solidago caesia
| |
|
Columbine
|
Aquilegia canadensis
| |
|
Wild Blue Phlox
|
Phlox divaricata
| |
K.Â
The following trees are not permitted in an effort to protect the
health, safety, and welfare of the Village. Some of the plant species
listed below are prone to splitting; having wood that is brittle and
breaks easily; roots which clog drains and sewers; and or may be unusually
susceptible to disease or insect pests. Existing trees of these species
may not be counted toward the required number of trees for the development
and need not be preserved on the development site. The plants included
in this list denoted with an asterisk, have native varieties which
are species permitted in naturalized locations where limited contact
with people, vehicles, and structures can be obtained.
|
Prohibited Trees
| |
|---|---|
|
Common Name
|
Botanical Name
|
|
Box Elder
|
Acer Negundo*
|
|
Tree of Heaven
|
Ailanthus
|
|
Ginkgo (Female)
|
Ginkgo Biloba
|
|
Ash
|
Fraxinus
|
|
Honey Locust (with thorns)
|
Gleditsia Triacanthos (with thorns)
|
|
Eastern Cottonwood
|
Populus Deltoids*
|
|
Mulberry
|
Morus species (Morus rubra*)
|
|
Black Locust
|
Robinia species*
|
|
Catalpa
|
Catalpa species*
|
|
Chinese Elm
|
Ulmus Parvifola
|
|
Silver Maple
|
Acer Saccharinum*
|
|
Willow Tree
|
Salix tree species*
|
|
Bradford Pear
|
Pyrus calleryana "Bradford"
|
|
Norway Maple
|
Acer platanoides
|
