(1) 
General Applicability. Landscaping required pursuant to this chapter shall be installed throughout the entire building site in accordance with an approved site plan, prior to issuance of the certificate of occupancy or business license for any of the following development activities:
(a) 
Construction of a new building or structure;
(b) 
Expansion of an existing building or structure where such expansion contains 20 percent or more of the floor area of the existing building or structure;
(c) 
Creation or expansion of a parking area or other paved surface; and
(d) 
Creation or expansion of an outdoor use, activity, or storage area.
(2) 
Exceptions. The provisions of this chapter shall not apply in the following circumstances:
(a) 
Single-family residential development activities shall not be subject to the provisions of this chapter except as may be specifically required by any section.
(b) 
Where the Planning, Building and Public Works Department determines that existing structures are situated so as to preclude installation of required landscaping, such required landscaping shall be waived for the area affected by such structures.
(c) 
Where compliance with the provisions of chapter 18.210 DMMC, loading areas and off-street parking requirements for existing buildings or structures, conflicts with the requirements of this chapter, the required landscaping shall be waived, or modified in accordance with DMMC § 18.195.420.
(d) 
The irrigation requirements of DMMC § 18.195.080 shall apply only to construction of a new building or structure or expansion of an existing building or structure.
(3) 
Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to relieve the applicant of open space, buffer, setback, and other such development constraints defined by the zoning code, conditional use permit concomitant rezone agreement, subdivision code, planned unit development, shorelines master program, and terms of approvals associated therewith.
(4) 
Plan Requirements. The Planning, Building and Public Works Department shall review and may approve, approve with modifications, or disapprove site landscape development plans for all development activities subject to the provisions of this chapter. A landscaping plan shall be submitted to the Planning, Building and Public Works Department accurately drawn using an appropriate engineering or architectural scale which shows the following:
(a) 
Boundaries and dimensions of the site;
(b) 
Location and identification of all streets, alleys, sidewalks, and easements abutting the site, including dimensions;
(c) 
Proposed topography at a maximum of five-foot contours;
(d) 
Proposed location and dimensions of all on-site buildings including height of structures and distance between buildings;
(e) 
Details of any proposed architectural barriers;
(f) 
Dimensions and location of storage and trash areas, loading docks, exterior utility installations, and mechanical equipment;
(g) 
Layout and dimensions of all parking stalls, easements, access ways, turnaround areas, driveways, and sidewalks on-site;
(h) 
Percentage of landscaping for total site and net square footage of parcel;
(i) 
Proposed landscaping including location, species, and size at time of planting;
(j) 
Existing vegetation in general, and identifying all evergreen trees six inches in diameter or greater as measured at 54 inches above the ground and all deciduous trees eight inches in diameter or greater as measured at 54 inches above the ground;
(k) 
Irrigation plan, indicating the location of pipes, sprinkler heads and pumps, pipe size, head capacity, water pressure in pounds per square inch at the pump and sprinkler heads, and timer system.
(Ord. 1591 § 413, 2014; Ord. 1611 § 16, 2014)
The purpose of the landscaping and screening requirements of this chapter are to increase compatibility between different intensities of land uses, by providing visual barriers, visually interrupting the barren expanse of paved parking lots, screening undesirable views which have a blighting impact on surrounding properties, and providing a visual separation and physical buffer between varying intensities of abutting land uses; to implement the Comprehensive Plan; to encourage the retention of significant existing vegetation to the extent feasible; to reduce erosion and water runoff; to conserve energy; to preserve and promote urban wildlife habitats; to minimize impacts of noise, light and glare; and to aid in regulating vehicular circulation.
(Ord. 1591 § 414, 2014)