A. Generally.
Parking lot landscape areas are required on parcels proposed for development as follows:
1. Minimum Landscape Surface Ratio (LSR) Requirements.
All landscape area plantings on a lot (including parking lot landscaping and bufferyards) may be used to meet the minimum landscape surface ratio (LSR) requirements as set out in Table 3.301A., Nonresidential and Mixed-Use Development Standards (for nonresidential and mixed-uses), and open space ratio (OSR) requirements as set out in Table 3.101B., Residential Development Standards in Nonresidential and Mixed-Use Districts (for multi-family uses). Required street tree plantings may not be used to satisfy the minimum LSR or OSR requirements, as they are planted in the right-of-way, and not on individual lots.
2. Planting Numbers and Locations, Generally.
The minimum number and type of site and parking lot landscape area plants required are set out in this Section. Minimum plant requirements may only be planted in the area specified in the requirement. For example, if a specified number of trees are required per parking lot island, as required by subsection C. [B.], Parking Lot Landscaping, of this Section, then those required plantings may only be planted in areas delineated in Figure 7.203A, Nonresidential, Mixed-Use, and Multi-Family Landscape Areas, as “parking lot landscaping,” and may not be used to meet the minimum requirements for bufferyards, or street tree plantings. The minimum requirements for these landscape area plantings are set out in subsection C. [B.], Parking Lot Landscaping, of this Section (for parking lots), Section
7.201, Street Trees (for street trees), and Division 7.300, Bufferyard Landscaping (for required bufferyards).
Figure 7.203A Nonresidential, Mixed-Use, and Multi-Family Landscape Areas |
B. Parking Lot Landscaping.
1. Generally.
Parking lot landscaping is required within and around nonresidential and multi-family parking lots that contain more than five parking spaces. This subsection does not apply to single-family detached or single-family attached uses.
2. Parking Lot Planting Locations.
As illustrated in Figure 7.203B., Parking Lot Landscape Areas, or Figure 7.203D, Large Parking Row Reduced Interior Islands, as an alternate plan, parking lot landscape areas are required as follows:
a. At the ends of parking rows, planted in endcap islands that are not less than nine feet wide and the length of the parking row (i.e., if there is single row of 90-degree parking spaces, the length is 18 feet; if there is a double row of 90-degree parking spaces, the length is 36 feet), with 10-foot curb radii on the side closest to the parking aisle.
b. In the middle of parking rows at intervals required by subsection C.3. [B.3.], below, planted in interior islands that are not less than nine feet wide and the length of the parking space (i.e., if there is single row of 90-degree parking spaces, the length is 18 feet; if there is a double row of 90-degree parking spaces, the length is 36 feet), with five-foot curb radii on the side closest to the parking aisle.
c. At the corners of parking lots, planted in corner islands, which is the area defined by the extension of the edges of intersecting parking rows.
d. A three-foot landscape hedge along 25 percent of parking lot when it is adjacent to street right-of-way and access drives to multi-tenant shopping centers. See Figure 7.203C., Illustrative Composition of Parking Lot Landscape Hedge.
Figure 7.203B Parking Lot Landscape Areas |
Figure 7.203C Illustrative Composition of Parking Lot Landscape Hedge |
3. Parking Lot Planting Requirements.
Parking lot landscape islands shall be provided at an interval of one island for each 10 parking spaces, or fraction thereof, planted as follows:
a. Each interior and endcap island shall be planted with a minimum of:
i. One large tree per parking row; and
ii. Ground cover, which shall:
a. Consist of xeric shrubs, ornamental grasses, or perennials that are planted at intervals of not less than three feet in a bed of mulch, and sod, which may only be used for a maximum of 25 percent of the ground cover area.
b. Not include concrete, asphalt, or other impervious surfaces, with the exception of decorative pavers or stamped, dyed concrete which may be used only within the first foot of the parking island to allow persons to access their vehicle without stepping on landscaping.
c. Each parking lot corner shall be planted with two large trees or five small trees and ground cover in conformance with subsection C.3.a.ii. [B.3.a.ii.], of this Section.
4. Large Parking Row Planting Requirements.
a. In parking lots where parking rows have equal to or exceed 30 parking spaces, the interior planting islands (planted at intervals of not less than one island for each 10 parking spaces) may be reduced to 16 square feet configured in a diamond pattern, with the center point of the diamond located at the point where two (for a single parking row) or four parking spaces meet (for double parking rows). See Figure 7.203D, Large Parking Row Reduced Interior Islands.
b. In these reduced parking islands, one small tree shall be planted with the remaining area being filled in with mulch or other ground cover.
Figure 7.203D Large Parking Row Reduced Planting Island |
5. Substitution of Large Trees.
Small trees may only be substituted for large trees if the dimensions of the lot are such that the large trees would not have room to grow to a full canopy without conflicting with the building or overhead utilities. For the purposes of this substitution, one large tree equals two small trees.
6. Protection of Planting Areas.
Planting areas shall be protected by wheel stops and six-inch curbs per the specifications of the City Engineer. Curbs may be punctuated to allow for stormwater flows into biological treatment areas, as applicable, pursuant to an approved drainage plan, provided that the punctuations do not interfere with their protective function (see subsection D., Use of Island for Low Impact Development, below).
7. Purpose and Maintenance.
The primary purpose of planting trees in parking lots is to provide shade and reduce peak temperatures throughout the parking lot. Secondary purposes are to improve air quality, reduce maintenance costs for improved hard surfaces, support stormwater management, and improve overall appearance. To preserve the benefit of the primary purpose, trees shall not be pruned in a manner that attempts to restrict the overall growth of the canopy, except in instances where large trees would not have room to grow to a full canopy without conflicting with buildings or each other.
D. Use of Islands for Low Impact Development.
Wherever possible, landscape areas may be used for low impact development (LID) to satisfy stormwater management requirements. These landscape areas may have to exceed the minimum areas required by subsections
B., and
C., above, in order to meet ensure [sic] engineering best management practices (BMPs) requirements are met (see Section 8.302C., Low Impact Development (LID).
(Ordinance 2015-30 adopted 10/30/15)