[Ord. No. 2021-1953A, 7-20-2021]
A.
The purpose of this Article is to provide regulations for the review
and approval of landscape design and plant selections for permitted
building projects involving new buildings and any project that disturbs
more than one (1) acre within the City of Frontenac to:
1.
Enhance the beauty, livability, privacy and prosperity of the
community;
2.
Encourage originality, creativity, and diversity in design and
to avoid monotony;
3.
Preserve greenspace by requiring the preservation/replacement
of existing trees and enhanced landscape;
4.
Maintain and promote tree canopy coverage;
5.
Provide a transition or re-establish privacy between adjacent
lots;
6.
Complement and enhance the landscape of the surrounding neighborhood;
7.
Soften the appearance of structures and equipment;
8.
Control erosion and protect water quality; and
9.
Provide year-round/evergreen screening as required for pool
equipment, garage doors, and generators.
[Ord. No. 2021-1953A, 7-20-2021]
A.
In addition to serving the purposes specified in Section 425.120, landscape plans shall meet the following additional criteria.
1.
Landscaping shall, whenever possible, create and preserve visual
buffer zones between neighboring properties.
2.
Landscaping shall be located to screen from neighbors and from
passing motorists and soften the appearance and noise of air conditioning
units, pool equipment and similar exterior mechanical apparatus, and
the appearance and aesthetics of driveway pads, garage doors, retaining
walls, blank facades, and other poor views.
3.
The landscape plan shall encompass the entire lot, including
front, side, and rear yards.
4.
Plantings should meet commercial landscape size, quality, and
spacing standards.
5.
Landscape designs should incorporate and enhance existing natural
landscapes and existing trees.
6.
Plans should choose a type of landscaping design preference
(i.e., naturalistic vs. formal, etc.) and be consistent with the chosen
design.
7.
Landscaping shall be chosen to provide a variety of colors,
textures, and sizes.
8.
Landscape designs should be compatible with and enhance the
architectural character and features of the buildings on site, and
help relate the building to the surrounding landscape.
9.
No invasive species or noxious weeds shall be allowed.
[Ord. No. 2021-1953A, 7-20-2021]
A.
A review and approval of landscape plans by a landscape designer
or licensed landscape architect retained by the City of Frontenac
shall be required.
1.
Landscaping shall be reviewed by the Architectural Review Board
to assure compliance with the following:
a.
Each residential property is required to maintain a minimum percentage of green space in accord with Section 405.161 of the City's Code of Ordinances. Required green space shall consist of undisturbed natural areas, lawn, planting beds, gardens, and water features including rain gardens and ponds, but not including pools.
c.
All property owners having yards bordering on streets, both
public and private, shall be required to install at least one (1)
canopy tree for every one hundred (100) feet of street frontage or
portion thereof unless this frontage is occupied by existing trees
in good or fair condition, as defined herein.
d.
At least one (1) canopy tree shall be required for every one
thousand (1,000) square feet of lot area for a residential development.
If the required number and size of trees already exist on the site,
the applicant shall not be required to plant additional trees, but
will be required to maintain the existing trees.
e.
Required landscaping shall be maintained in good growing condition.
Whenever necessary, plantings shall be replaced with other plant materials
to ensure continued compliance with landscaping requirements.
f.
Trees that can reach a height of twenty-five (25) feet shall
not be planted within fifteen (15) feet to either side of overhead
utility lines.
2.
Quality landscaping materials shall be installed at an appropriate
spacing (density) and the following minimum size:
a.
Canopy trees - two (2) inches caliper minimum.
b.
Small deciduous trees - two (2) inches caliper minimum.
c.
Flowering trees - one and five-tenths (1.5) inches single stem,
eight (8) feet tall clump, or one and five-tenths (1.5) inches caliper
multi-stem minimum.
d.
Evergreen trees - six (6) feet height minimum - except for screening
of garage doors, where an eight (8) feet height minimum will be required.
e.
Shrubs - twenty-four (24) inches height minimum.
3.
Trees should be from the City's recommended tree list set
out in Appendix A to this Chapter.
5.
French drains and other landscape drainage must meet the stormwater
requirements and other City ordinances related to water drainage.
[Ord. No. 2021-1953A, 7-20-2021]
A.
Landscape plans prepared by a landscape designer, licensed landscape
architect, arborist, or urban forester are required for all construction
projects involving a new main building on a lot. If the City engages
the services of a licensed landscape architect, arborist or urban
forester or other expert to review or assess whether a landscape plan
meets the criteria of this Chapter, the cost of those services will
be assessed to and paid by the applicant.
B.
The submittal should be accompanied by a written narrative that describes
how application requirements and/or subsequent review comments have
been addressed with an indication of where to find this information
in the submittal.
C.
The landscape plan application submittal should include the following:
1.
Photographs of key existing conditions and context photos of
the front elevations of the homes on either side of the home and across
any adjoining street.
2.
Digital and full-size, to-scale drawings including topographic
survey, grading plan and utilities, and architectural drawings.
3.
Drawing preparation and revision dates on each drawing submission.
4.
Tree Preservation Plan (TPP) to illustrate tree removal and
preservation plan to meet all other requirements of this Chapter.
5.
Landscape plan for the entire property including new building(s)
and site improvements coordinated with the civil grading plan to show:
a.
North arrow and scale.
b.
Existing and proposed contours.
c.
Existing and proposed utilities, if applicable.
d.
Existing and proposed tree locations.
e.
Tree removals.
f.
New trees and other plantings.
g.
Plant labels and quantities.
h.
Plant list with genus/species, common name, botanical name,
estimated installed size, container or balled & burlap.
i.
Labels and illustrations for hardscape materials including sidewalks,
driveways, patios, walls and other features.
j.
All other applicable features, such as stormwater mitigation.
D.
Any party aggrieved by the decision to approve or deny approval of
a landscape plan of the City's Landscape Architect shall have
the right to appeal such decision by filing a notice of appeal with
the Board of Adjustment within thirty (30) days of the decision.
