§ 5.4.4. Site and parking area landscaping.

A.

Single-family residential lots. Each single-family residential lot on which new development occurs shall be planted with a minimum of three (3) new trees. Street trees along the lot frontage shall count towards this requirement. The species and specifications for the trees to be planted in compliance with this requirement shall meet the requirements of a list approved by the county arborist.

B.

Interior strips. Interior to non-residential, mixed-use and multi-family developments, three-foot wide planted landscape strips shall be required along all interior drives and pedestrian paths.

C.

Property perimeter landscape strip. Along non-residential, mixed-use and multi-family development perimeter lot lines, a perimeter landscape strip shall be required, as follows:

1.

A five-foot-wide continuous perimeter landscape strip is required along all property lines that are not subject to streetscape requirements. This applies to individual tenant sites interior to a master planned project, even in instances where individual tenant sites do not have separately platted lot lines.

2.

A perimeter landscape strip shall include one (1) overstory deciduous shade tree, or three (3) understory or three (3) evergreen trees, for every fifty (50) linear feet at a minimum size of two-inch caliper for deciduous trees and eight-foot height for evergreen trees.

3.

A perimeter landscape strip is not required where a transitional buffer is also required.

D.

Parking area landscaping. All surface parking lots that contain a total of fifteen (15) or more parking spaces that are constructed or redeveloped subsequent to the effective date of this chapter shall comply with the following requirements:

1.

A minimum of ten (10) percent of the total lot area of the parking lot shall be landscaped.

2.

Non-continuous barrier curbs shall be installed around the perimeter of the parking lot and around landscaped areas that are required herein, except where the perimeter abuts an adjacent building or structure and except at points of ingress and egress into the facility, so as to prevent encroachment of vehicles onto adjacent property, rights-of-way, sidewalks and landscaped areas.

a.

Barrier curbs shall be a minimum of six (6) inches in height and six (6) inches in width, shall be concrete or stone, shall be securely installed, and shall be maintained in good condition.

3.

A continuous hedge, berm, or short wall with landscaping thereon, not to exceed three (3) feet in height shall be required between surface parking and an adjacent public street right-of-way.

4.

Tree and island quantity. A minimum of one (1) tree per eight (8) parking spaces, and one (1) island per ten (10) parking spaces, shall be provided.

5.

Landscape islands. All trees planted in a parking lot shall be planted in a landscape island, which island shall be a minimum of two hundred fifty (250) square feet.

6.

In addition to trees, ground cover shall also be provided in order to protect tree roots and to prevent erosion. Ground cover shall consist of shrubs, ivy, liriope, pine bark mulch, or other similar landscaping material.

7.

Ground cover shrubs in parking area landscaping shall be maintained at a maximum height of thirty (30) inches, except where such shrubs are screening the parking surface from an adjacent residential area.

8.

Newly planted trees in parking area landscaping shall be a minimum of two-inch caliper as measured at a height of six (6) inches above ground level, shall be a minimum of ten (10) feet in height at planting, shall have a thirty-foot minimum mature height, and shall be drought tolerant. Trees shall be planted at least thirty (30) inches from any barrier curb, so as to prevent injury to trees from vehicle bumpers. A minimum of seventy-five (75) percent of the trees planted pursuant to these requirements shall be deciduous hardwood shade trees.

9.

All landscaped areas shall be properly maintained in accordance with landscape plans approved as part of the land disturbance permit. In the event that a tree or any plant material dies, it shall be replaced within twelve (12) months so as to meet all requirements of this section and to allow for planting in the appropriate planting season.

10.

All trees planted pursuant to the requirements of this section shall be counted for the purpose of meeting the tree planting and tree replacement requirements required by section 14-39 of the Code.

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