§ 656.1202. Declaration of legislative intent and public policy.

It is the intent of these regulations to promote the health, safety and welfare of the current and future residents of the City of Jacksonville by establishing minimum standards for the conservation of water, the protection of natural plant communities, the installation and continued maintenance of landscaping, and the protection of trees within the City of Jacksonville in order to:

(a)

Improve the aesthetic appearance of commercial, governmental, industrial, and residential areas through the incorporation of landscaping into development in ways that harmonize and enhance the natural and manmade environment;

(b)

Improve environmental quality by recognizing the numerous beneficial effects of landscaping upon the environment, including:

(1)

Improving air and water quality through such natural processes as photosynthesis and mineral uptake;

(2)

Maintaining permeable land areas essential to surface water management and aquifer recharge;

(3)

Reducing and reversing air, noise, heat and chemical pollution through the biological filtering capacities of trees and other vegetation;

(4)

Promoting energy conservation through the creation of shade, thereby reducing heat gain in or on buildings or paved areas;

(5)

Reducing the temperature of the microclimate through the process of evapotranspiration; and

(6)

Encouraging the conservation of water through the use of site specific plants, various planting and maintenance techniques, and efficient watering systems.

(c)

Provide direct and important physical and psychological benefits to human beings through the use of landscaping to reduce noise and glare, and to break up the monotony and soften the harsher aspects of urban development;

(d)

Establish procedures and standards for the administration and enforcement of this Part;

(e)

Promote the creative site development concepts in order to promote water and energy conservation;

(f)

Increase and maintain the value of land by requiring a minimum amount of landscaping to be incorporated into development;

(g)

Preserve existing natural trees and vegetation and incorporate native plants, plant communities and ecosystems into landscape design where possible;

(h)

Promote landscaping methods that provide for the preservation of existing plant communities, re-establishment of native plant communities, use of site specific plant materials, use of pervious paving materials, and Florida-Friendly concepts in order to promote water conservation.

(i)

Assist in public information, the education of its citizens, and the effective implementation of this Part.

(j)

Promote Best Management Practices (BMPs) by establishing standards for irrigation systems without inhibiting creative landscape design.

(k)

Facilitate the implementation of Florida-Friendly concepts by offering flexibility and incentives in Florida-Friendly landscape design for new single-family residential developments.

(Ord. 91-59-148, § 1; Ord. 93-718-395, § 1; Ord. 2009-864-E, § 1; Ord. 2011-74-E, § 1)