This chapter shall be known and may be cited
as the “Springfield Township Landscape Ordinance.”
The purpose of this chapter is to provide proper
guidelines and specifications for preserving the natural character
of the land and vegetation; to provide regulations for planting trees
and shrubs and landscaping in buffer areas, along streets and throughout
each development, as required by Township ordinances; to prevent soil
erosion; to enhance the aesthetic nature of each project; to reduce
air and sound pollution; to provide visual barriers; to provide wind
control; and to reduce glare and reflection.
As used in this chapter, the following terms
shall have the meanings indicated:
BALD AND BURLAP (B&B)
The earth surrounding the roots of plant material which are
being transplanted and wrapped in burlap. No synthetic burlap shall
be permitted.
BARE ROOTED (BR)
Harvested plant material from which the ground medium has
been removed.
BERM
An elongated aesthetic mound of soil on a site, used as a
view obstruction or to vary the grade pattern, either natural or man
made.
BUFFER
An area within a property or site, generally adjacent to
and parallel with the property line, consisting of either natural
existing vegetation or created by the use of trees, shrubs, fences
and/or berms designed to continuously limit view of the site from
adjacent sites or properties.
CALIPER
The diameter of a tree trunk measured in inches, six inches
above the ground for trees up to four inches in diameter or 12 inches
above the ground for trees four inches in diameter or larger.
CONTAINER
A can, flat, pot, tub, etc., used to grow or hold plant material.
DECIDUOUS PLANTS
Trees and/or shrubs that shed all their leaves at the end
of the growing season and remain leafless during the winter or dormant
period.
FIELD GROWN
Plant material grown in a field not operated and owned by
a nursery.
GROUNDCOVER
Low-growing plants or sod that in time forms a dense mat
covering the area in which it is planted, preventing the growth of
unwanted plants while holding the soil in place.
MULCH
Any covering placed on soil to conserve moisture, retard
weed growth and protect plants from extremes of heat and cold.
NURSERY GROWN
Plant material grown in and/or obtained from a nursery which
is grown in a field or in containers.
ORNAMENTAL TREES
Trees that are grown for the beauty of their form, foliage,
flowers or fruit rather than for food, fiber or other uses.
SCREEN
A structure or plantings providing a continuous view obstruction
of the site, consisting of fencing, berms and/or evergreen trees or
shrubs.
SHADE TREE
A deciduous woody perennial plant, usually having a single
main axis or stem (trunk) exceeding 30 feet in height at maturity
and having foliage to provide partial obstruction of direct sunlight.
SHRUBS
A woody perennial plant, usually smaller than a tree and
generally with multiple stems arising from the roots.
TOPSOIL
Soil which is friable and loamy, free of debris, contains
no toxic substance, has a pH range of 5.0 to 7.5 and contains not
less than 5% organic matter.
TREE EASEMENT
An area of the street in which trees shall be planted and
maintained for street shade or decoration, or both.
Shade trees shall be limited to deciduous trees as more fully set forth in §§
119-6 and
119-7. Only shade trees shall be installed along streets. Center islands of culs-de-sac may be either evergreens or deciduous species and a combination of trees and shrubs.
A. Shade trees shall be planted in all major subdivisions
and shall be located within a tree easement adjacent to the street
line. A plan showing location of all proposed shade trees, installation
details and specifications shall be submitted to the approving authority
before preliminary approval.
B. There shall be established, where possible and practical,
a tree easement along either side of each new street, as such streets
are hereafter laid out and established, and along the side of an existing
street that abuts the subdivision. The tree easements shall be five
feet in width and abutting the right-of-way line.
C. In each subdivision of land, the developer shall plant
in the tree easements along the side of the streets proper shade trees
at a maximum distance of 40 feet between trees. The trees shall not
be located within site triangle easements.
D. All shade trees planted in accordance with the provisions
of this chapter shall be placed in a proper manner and in a good grade
of planting soil mix within the area where the tree is planted.
E. All shade trees hereafter to be planted in accordance
with this chapter shall be nursery grown, of substantially uniform
size and shape, shall have straight trunks and shall comply with the
American Standard for Nursery Stock ANSI 260.1-1986 or latest edition.
F. All shade trees planted pursuant to this chapter shall
be planted in a dormant state. The minimum height of all shade trees
at time of planting shall be 14 feet and have a minimum caliper of
three inches, as measured six inches above the finished grade. The
main leader of all trees shall not be pruned, split or broken.
G. Replacement of all new trees which fail to survive
shall be made at the next planting season and shall be of the same
variety and species and conform to the size and shape of the existing
trees in that area. Any deviation must be done only with the approval
of the Township Land Development Board.
[Amended 3-13-2024 by Ord. No. 2024-01]
In conjunction with commercial, industrial or
professional office uses, all areas of a lot not occupied by buildings,
pavement or other surfacing and other required improvements, except
as otherwise specifically provided, shall be landscaped by the planting
of grass and/or groundcover, shrubs and trees. The minimum quantity
of plant material used shall be one tree and two shrubs per every
250 square feet or fraction thereof. When this requirement applies,
such trees and shrubs shall be of a type approved by the Board. The
placement of the plant material shall be appropriate for the enhancement
of the property, in accordance with a landscape plan approved by the
Board.
The applicant shall select deciduous, evergreen
and groundcover species which are typically found in this area. The
shade tree species shall be one of the following kinds of trees, or
of a deciduous variety approved by the Board:
A. Pin Oak (Quercus Palustris).
B. Red Oak (Quercus Borealis).
C. Honey Locust (Gleditsia Triancanthos Inermis), seedless
varieties.
D. Little Leaf Linden (Tilia Cordata).
E. Bradford Callery Pear (Pyres Calleryana Bradford).
F. Sugar Maple (Acer Saccharum).
G. Green Ash (Fraxinus Pennsylvanica Lanceolata), seedless
variety.
The following trees shall be prohibited along
the streets:
A. Ginkgo (Ginkgo Biloba, Female).
B. Caster Aralia (Kalopanax Pictus).
C. Sweet Gum (Liguidambar Styraciflua).
D. Walnut (Juglans, all species).
E. Osage Orange (Machura Pomifera).
F. Crab Apple (Malus, all species).
G. Weeping Willow (Salix, all species).
H. All trees with thorns, such as Aralia species (Japanese
Angelica), the Crataegus species (Hawthorn) and Gleditsia Triacanthos
(common Honey Locust).
The following trees shall be prohibited in all
buffer areas:
B. Araucaria Araucaria and Araucaria Heterophylla.
C. Cedrus Atlantica and Cedrus Libani.
D. Chamaecyparis Nootkatensis.
E. Cryptomeria Japonica Lobbii.
I. Latrix Kaempferi and Laris Leptolpis.
J. Pinus Wallichiana, Pinus Parviflora, Pinus Peuce and
Pinus Ponderosa.
All plans submitted to the Township for approval,
except minor subdivisions, shall contain a landscape plan. The landscape
plan shall be prepared by a landscape architect, architect, planner
or engineer certified in the State of New Jersey, whose name, signature,
certification number and seal shall appear on the plan. Wherever possible,
the landscape architect, architect, planner or engineer shall promote
creativity in design locations and selection of species.
All plans shall contain a plant material list
and show the following information:
A. Symbols or numbers identifying the proposed species.
B. The scientific name and common name of all trees,
shrubs and groundcover proposed for the site.
C. The quantity of each species.
D. The size and spacing of each species at initial planting,
either by caliper, spread or height. All deciduous trees shall be
specified by caliper.
E. An indication as to how the plants will be grown and
moved. For example, plants may be field grown or nursery grown and
moved by ball and burlap (B&B), bare roots (BR) or containerized
(can size).
F. Any remarks as to spacing of plants or other special
information regarding the plant.
G. Grass seed mixture and rate of application or type
of sod.
The requirements of this chapter shall be enforced
by the Township Engineer or Construction Code Official, who shall
inspect or require adequate inspection of work. If the Township Engineer
or Construction Code Official find any conditions not as stated in
any application, (s)he may refuse to approve further work.
The landscape plan shall be submitted concurrent
with applications for final or preliminary approval, and therefore,
no additional fees shall be charged under this chapter. All expenses
for legal, engineering or planning work required by the Township in
connection herewith shall be authorized, paid and funded out of the
escrow accounts set up as part of the fee and escrow structure under
the applicable Township ordinances.