§ 3.37.27. Sidewalks, street tree planting zone, landscaping and ground cover requirements, and curb cuts for all tiers.

A.

Sidewalk requirement. There shall be a public sidewalk constructed along all public street frontages within Tiers 1, 2, and 5 of the district subject to the following standards:

1.

Covington Highway, Panola Road, Redan Road and South Hairston Road. Provide sidewalks at a minimum width of ten (10) feet in compliance with applicable Americans with Disabilities Act ("ADA") requirements; tapering of sidewalks may be required when connecting to existing sidewalks. A planting strip for street trees a minimum width of ten (10) feet shall be provided between the back of the curb and the sidewalk. In blocks where there are overhead utility lines, the planning director may authorize a two-foot extension of the planting zone from the curb with the street tree-planting zone to be located adjacent to the sidewalk.

2.

All other new streets in the district. Provide sidewalks at a minimum width of ten (10) feet in compliance with applicable ADA requirements. A planting strip for street trees a minimum width of five (5) feet shall be provided between the back of the curb and the sidewalk. In blocks where there are overhead utility lines, the planning director may authorize a two-foot extension of the planting zone from the curb with the street tree-planting zone to be located adjacent to the sidewalk. In blocks of residential-only properties, a minimum sidewalk width of five (5) feet shall apply.

B.

Street tree planting.

1.

Street trees of a caliper not less than three (3) inches shall be planted no less than thirty (30) feet on center along properties within the district having street frontage. Trees of the following type or equals approved by the DeKalb County Arborist shall be used:

a.

October glory red maple.

b.

Sunset maple.

c.

Nuttal oak (Quercus nattalli).

d.

Shumard oak (Quercus shumardii).

e.

Willow oak.

f.

Zelkova serrata.

g.

Ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba).

h.

Trident maple (Acer buergeranum).

i.

Allee lacebark elm (Ulmus parvifolia emer (II).

j.

Chalkbark Maple (Acer Leucoderme).

k.

Georgia Oak (Quercus Falcata).

2.

Street trees shall have a minimum planting area of four (4) feet by eight (8) feet. Tree-planting areas shall provide porous drainage systems that allow for drainage of the planting area.

3.

Benches, trash receptacles, and bike racks shall be placed within the sidewalk zone on all streets and shall comply with all applicable district design guidelines.

C.

Maintenance of trees and ground cover. All trees and all ground cover required by this chapter or by chapter 14 of the Code shall be maintained in a healthy condition, and any trees or ground cover which die shall be replaced at the next earliest possible planting season.

D.

Curb cuts. There shall be a minimum distance of twenty-five (25) feet between curb cuts. Curb cuts shall not be permitted within one hundred (100) feet of the intersection of any two (2) public streets and shall not be more than twenty-four (24) feet wide.

E.

Pedestrian zone. Safe and convenient pedestrian pathways shall be provided from sidewalks along streets to each structure entrance, including pedestrian access routes to parking decks and through parking lots and between adjacent buildings within the same development. All such pathways shall be concrete, brick or stone at a minimum width of five (5) feet except in Tiers 3 and 4, paths and trails may be constructed of natural materials.

F.

Landscaping requirements and plans. The following landscaping requirements shall apply to all uses in the district. Any new development or redevelopment applying for a land development permit shall include in the application a written landscape plan, which shall include the following elements:

1.

Landscape strips. A landscape strip shall be provided along all primary and secondary street frontages with a minimum width of ten (10) feet and shall be planted with a row of street trees selected from the list of street tree species identified in the district design guidelines of at least three and one-half (3½) inches in caliper and planted not less than thirty (30) feet on center.

2.

Ground cover. Ground cover shall also be provided in accordance with the district design guidelines in order to protect tree roots and to prevent erosion. Ground cover shall consist of evergreen shrubs or groundcover plant material mulched with pine bark mulch, or other similar landscaping material, to include mulch made from recycled materials.

3.

New trees. Newly planted trees shall conform to the district design guidelines.

4.

Tree spacing. No tree shall be planted closer than two (2) feet to the street or sidewalk, and no closer than five (5) feet to a fire hydrant, sign post, streetlight standard, utility pole, or similar structure.

G.

Parking lot landscaping requirements. All parking lots within the district shall be landscaped in conformity with the requirements of section 5.4.4.

( Ord. No. 15-06 , 8-25-2015)