All portions of a lot not otherwise developed with buildings, accessory structures, vehicle maneuvering areas, or parking shall be landscaped, according to the following standards. Parking and vehicle maneuvering is not to be done on any landscaped area, including grass, gravel, dirt, or a streambed.
A. General Landscape Area Standards. A minimum percentage landscape coverage is required. Coverage is measured based on the size of plants at maturity or after two years of growth, whichever comes sooner. The minimum required landscaping is 15 percent of the gross lot area for the following uses:
1. Residential – Multiple-unit developments.
2. Commercial and office developments.
4. Industrial developments. Seventy-five percent of the required 15 percent site landscaping shall be located within the front yard setbacks and parking areas or other areas visible to the public, unless otherwise required as a condition of approval.
B. Landscape Materials. Landscape materials include live trees, shrubs, ground cover plants, nonplant ground covers, and outdoor hardscape features, as described below:
1. Plant Selection. Native vegetation shall be preserved or planted where practical. A combination of live deciduous and evergreen trees, shrubs and groundcovers shall be used for all planted areas, the selection of which shall be based on local climate, exposure, water availability, and drainage conditions. Fire resistive plants should be planted in forested areas or on slopes where necessary to reduce the risk of fire spreading to structures. As necessary, soils shall be amended to allow for healthy plant growth.
2. Hardscape Features. Ground-level areas for passive use, such as patios, decks, plazas, paved dining areas, etc., may count towards up to 15 percent of the required 15 percent landscape area; swimming pools, sports courts and similar active recreation facilities may not be counted toward fulfilling the landscape requirement.
3. Nonplant Ground Covers. Bark dust, chips, aggregate or other nonplant ground covers may be used and are not considered a substitute for ground cover plants. Measures must be taken to prevent erosion of nonplant ground covers onto adjacent properties or rights-of-way, storm drains, or other city systems.
4. Tree Size. Required deciduous trees shall have a minimum caliper size of two inches or larger at time of planting, including trees planted adjacent to a public right-of-way.
5. Shrub Size. Generally, shrubs shall be planted from two-gallon containers, unless utilized specifically for screening, where a minimum five-gallon size is required at the time of planting.
6. Ground Cover Location and Size. All of the landscaped area that is not planted with trees and shrubs or covered by allowable hardscape features must be planted in ground cover plants, including grasses. Ground cover plants shall be sized and spaced in the following manner: planted at a rate of at least one plant per 18 inches on center, in triangular spacing based on plant habitat (growth rate) with an expected coverage of 80 percent within five years of the time of planting.
7. Significant Vegetation. Significant vegetation preserved in accordance with this chapter may be credited toward meeting the minimum landscape area standards in subsection
(D) of this section. Credit shall be granted based on the total square footage of the preserved canopy.
a. Significant Vegetation Defined. Significant vegetation means individual trees with a specific trunk diameter as measured four feet above the ground (known as DBH, "diameter at breast height"); shall be inventoried during the site design process and protected during construction unless otherwise approved for removal through the site plan review process. For the purpose of this section, deciduous trees measuring six inches or greater and coniferous trees measuring 10 inches or greater shall be considered significant vegetation.
b. Protection Standards. Significant trees identified as meeting the criteria in subsection
(B) of this section shall be retained unless approved by the city to be removed for development. Preservation shall be considered impracticable when it would prevent development of public streets, public utilities, needed housing or land uses permitted by the applicable land use district. The term "prevent" in this standard means that the development cannot be designed to avoid the significant tree(s). An inability to achieve maximum permitted density by complying with this subsection shall not in itself be considered to prevent development. Building envelopes commensurate with the lot coverage standard of the zone shall be depicted on the tree protection plan. Trees outside the envelope shall be protected unless they prevent development. In instances where applying exceptions to certain development standards would make tree preservation practical, the city may allow one or more of the following exceptions to the development standards when individual trees with a DBH of 24 inches or larger or stands of trees that are in good health as determined by a qualified professional, are preserved by a proposed development with an approved tree preservation plan:
i. Reductions of setbacks up to 25 percent.
ii. Reduction of required on-site parking up to 10 percent.
iii. Increased lot coverage up to 15 percent.
iv. Reduced landscape coverage up to five percent.
8. Stormwater Facilities. Stormwater facilities (e.g., detention/retention ponds and swales) shall be landscaped. Landscaped bioswales are encouraged and can be counted in the required amount of landscaped area on the site. Planting of broad leaf canopy trees is encouraged as effective surface water interceptors.
C. Plan Submission. Landscape plans are to be submitted simultaneously with any other relevant application (building permit, land use, site design review, etc.) and at the direction of the city administrator, public works director, or city planner shall include the following:
1. A planting schedule containing the location, size, and species of the existing and proposed plant materials (at time of planting);
2. Existing and proposed building and pavement outlines;
3. Irrigation plans, written soil specifications at time of planting, and anticipated plant installation timeline;
4. The location of existing and proposed terraces, retaining walls, decks, patios, shelters, and play areas;
5. Existing and proposed abutting street right-of-way landscaping;
6. Locations of existing and proposed fences, as well their heights.
D. Plant Selection. A combination of deciduous and evergreen trees, shrubs, and ground covers shall be used for all planted areas, the selection of which shall be based on local climate, exposure, water availability, and drainage conditions, among other factors. To maintain the city of Rogue River's status as a Tree City, USA, and to provide for cooling shade and city beautification, the planting of trees is encouraged. When new vegetation is planted, soils shall be amended and irrigation shall be provided, as necessary, to allow for healthy plant growth.
The selection of plants shall be based on all of the following standards and guidelines:
1. Use plants that are appropriate to the local climate, exposure, and water availability. The presence of utilities and drainage conditions shall also be considered. The city may rely on Oregon State University Extension Service bulletins, University of Washington Urban Forestry Program guidelines, Jackson County Soil and Water District recommendations, or other Fire Wise expert sources and its own Tree City committee resources in evaluating landscape plans.
2. Plant species that do not require irrigation once established (naturalized) are preferred over species that require irrigation.
3. Trees shall be not less than two-inch caliper for street trees and one and one-half inch caliper for other trees at the time of planting. Trees to be planted under or near power lines shall be selected so as to not conflict with power lines at maturity.
4. Existing mature trees that can thrive in a developed area and that do not conflict with other provisions of this code shall be retained where specimens are in good health, have desirable aesthetic characteristics, and do not present a hazard.
5. Deciduous trees may be used where summer shade and winter sunlight is desirable.
6. Evergreen plants shall be used where a sight-obscuring landscape screen is required or desired. Where plants are used to screen outdoor storage or mechanical equipment, the selected plants shall have growth characteristics that are compatible with such features.
7. Shrubs shall be planted from five-gallon containers minimum where they are for required screens or buffers, and a minimum of two-gallon containers elsewhere.
8. Shrubs shall be spaced in order to provide the intended screen or canopy cover within two years of planting.
9. Where stormwater retention or detention, or water quality treatment, facilities are proposed, they shall be planted with water-tolerant species.
10. Where landscaping is not otherwise feasible, planter boxes or decorative tubs shall be installed. Planting shall be consistent with in-ground landscaping requirements.
(Ord. 23-418-O § 124 (Exh. A-4))