15.04.170 Landscaping.
A. Landscape Plan Required. A detailed landscape plan (including irrigation, plant and material specifications) for any development requiring site plan approval shall be prepared by a licensed landscape architect and submitted to the Town prior to the issuance of building permits.
B. Any part of a site not used for structures, sidewalks, plazas, patios, parking, driveways or other vehicle use areas shall be landscaped. All undeveloped areas proposed for future uses shall be kept in a weed free condition and control dust and erosion by use of vegetative ground cover or other means acceptable to the Town.
C. A minimum of seventy-five percent (75%) of required landscaped area shall be covered with cultivated landscaped materials. Landscape materials shall be low-water, drought-tolerant, adaptive plants suitable for local soil conditions and climate. Minimum plant specifications shall meet the following:
1. Trees: minimum caliper of two and one-half (2.5") inches
2. Shrubs: minimum of five (5) gallons.
D. Parking Lot Landscaping.
1. Parking lots shall be landscaped as required by this section. In cases of hardship or to increase safety, the Town Manager may permit a portion of the required landscaping to be relocated or allowed other deviation from the parking landscaping to be relocated or allow other deviation from the parking landscaping requirements.
2. Parking Lot Interior. Landscaping is required in the interior of parking lots to direct traffic, to reduce heat and glare and to screen cars from adjacent properties. The interior of all parking lots shall be landscaped as follows:
a. Parking lot planting islands shall contain a minimum of one (1) tree for every ten (10) parking spaces in nonresidential uses and one (1) tree per every six (6) spaces in residential uses exclusive of perimeter landscaping and street trees;
b. Parking lot landscaped islands shall be a minimum of eight feet (8') wide and contain a minimum of one hundred forty (140) square feet in area;
c. A landscape island is required at the end of every row of parking spaces containing six (6) or more parking spaces;
d. Barrier curbing on all sides adjacent to the parking lot surface is required to protect each landscape island from vehicles;
e. A corner area (where it is not feasible to park a vehicle) may be considered an end island for the rows on the perimeter of the parking lot; and
f. Landscaping of the interior of a parking lot may include trees, shrubs and other natural materials, the design and placement of which conforms to the intent of this section.
3. Parking Lot Perimeter. Landscaping is required around the entire perimeter of a parking lot to assist in the shading of cars, to assist in the abatement of heat and to reduce the amount of glare from glass and metal, and to assist in the screening of cars from adjacent properties.
a. A five-foot (5') wide landscaping area is required along any public street. The Town Manager may approve an alternative to the five-foot (5') wide landscaping area based upon site topography, right-of-way, sidewalks and superior site design.
b. All unimproved rights-of-way adjacent to the property shall be landscaped and irrigated by the owner and/or homeowners’ association.
c. Screening from Residential Lots. All off-street parking areas with six (6) or more spaces shall be adequately screened from any adjoining residential lot by landscaping and opaque six-foot (6') fencing. The landscaping and fencing shall be maintained in good condition at all times.
E. Landscaping Maintenance.
1. Prior to the installation of the landscaping in public right-of-way, the developer shall provide for continued maintenance by an agreement with the Town.
2. Property owners are responsible for the continual maintenance of all landscaped areas on site, as well as contiguous planted areas within the public right-of-way. All landscaped areas shall be kept free from weeds and debris, maintained in a healthy, growing condition and shall receive regular pruning, fertilizing, mowing and trimming. Any diseased, dead, damaged or decaying plant materials shall be removed and replaced within thirty (30) days following written notice from the Town Manager.
3. Landscaping shall be irrigated by means of an automatic irrigation system. Irrigation systems shall be kept in working condition. Adjustments, replacements, repairs, and cleaning shall be a part of regular maintenance.
4. Trees shall be staked and tied with lodge poles. Stakes and ties on trees shall be checked regularly for correct functions. Ties shall be adjusted to avoid creating abrasions or girdling on trunks or branches.
5. Street trees planted within public rights-of-way and/or trees planted adjacent to public sidewalks shall be provided with root barriers. (Ord. 711 §1 (Exh. A), 2017)