§ 656.1215. Perimeter landscaping.

(a)

Perimeter landscaping adjacent to streets: For those uses described in Sections 656.604(e)(1) and 656.604(f)(1), all perimeter landscaping shall also satisfy the requirements set forth in the Parking Lot Landscaping Matrix, Figure B, set forth in Section 656.607(j). In the event the landscaping required under this section exceeds the requirements set forth in the Parking Lot Landscaping Matrix, Figure B of Section 656.607(j), the requirements of this section shall be relaxed to the extent necessary to comply with the Parking Lot Landscaping Matrix. All VUA's which are not entirely screened by an intervening building from any abutting dedicated public street or approved private street, to the extent such areas are not so screened, shall contain the following:

(1)

Except for those uses described in Sections 656.604(e)(1) and 656.604(f)(1), a landscaped area of not less than ten square feet for each linear foot of VUA street frontage, 50 percent of which shall be at least a five-foot wide strip abutting the street right-of-way except for driveways. For those uses described in Sections 656.604(e)(1) and 656.604(f)(1), the landscape area is determined by the total number of parking spaces provided and the parking rate. All perimeter landscaping shall conform to Section 656.607(j), Parking Lot Landscaping Matrix, Figure B. Landscaped area calculations shall be met exclusive of any driveway width. The remaining required landscape area shall be located within 30 feet of the street right-of-way;

(2)

A durable opaque landscape screen along at least 75 percent of the street frontage excluding driveways. Shrubs, walls, fences, earth mounds and preserved existing understory vegetation, or combination thereof, may be used so long as the screen is no less than three feet high measured from the property line grade two years after installation. Shrubs and preserved existing understory vegetation shall be evergreen, a minimum of 18 inches in height and spaced so that 85 percent opacity is achieved within two years. Shrubs located within three feet of a directional sign as defined in Section 656.1302(e) are not required to meet the minimum height requirements of this subsection. Walls or fences shall be no more than four feet in height and of wood or masonry at least 85 percent opaque. Earth mounds shall not exceed a slope of three to one. No less than 25 percent of street side frontage of walls or fences shall be landscaped with shrubs or vines;

(3)

No less than one tree, located within 25 feet of the street right-of-way, for each 50 linear feet, or fraction thereof, of VUA street frontage. The trees may be clustered, but shall be no more than 75 feet apart. At least 50 percent of the trees shall be shade trees. If an overhead power line abuts the street frontage, then the required trees reaching a mature height greater than 25 feet shall be located at least 20 feet away from the power line;

(4)

The remainder of the landscape area shall be landscaped with trees, shrubs, groundcovers, grass, or mulch, except that mulch shall not exceed 25 percent of the total landscape area;

(5)

Landscape areas required by this Section shall not be used to satisfy the interior landscape requirements. However, the gross area of the perimeter landscaping which exceeds the minimum requirements may be used to satisfy the interior landscape requirements;

(6)

If a railroad or utility right-of-way separates the VUA from the public street or approved private street, the perimeter landscaping requirements of this Section shall still apply.

(b)

Perimeter landscaping adjacent to abutting properties: For those uses described in Sections 656.604(e)(1) and 656.604(f)(1), all perimeter landscaping shall also satisfy the requirements set forth in the Parking Lot Landscaping Matrix, Figure B, set forth in Section 656.607(j). In the event the landscaping required under this section exceeds the requirements set forth in the Parking Lot Landscaping Matrix, Figure B of Section 656.607(j), the requirements of this section shall be relaxed to the extent necessary to comply with the Parking Lot Landscaping Matrix. All vehicular areas which are not entirely screened by an intervening building from an abutting property, to the extent such areas are not screened, shall contain the following:

(1)

A continuous landscape area at least five feet wide between the VUA's and the abutting property, landscaped with shrubs, groundcovers, preserved existing vegetation, mulch and grass.

(2)

No less than one tree, located within 25 feet of the outside edge of the VUA, for every 50 linear feet, or fraction thereof, of the distance the VUA abuts the adjacent property. Trees may be clustered but shall be no more than 75 feet apart. At least one-half of the required number of trees shall be shade trees.

(3)

A buffer wall between incompatible land uses as required by Section 656.1216, if applicable.

(4)

If an alley separates the VUA from the abutting property, the perimeter landscaping requirements shall still apply.

(c)

Existing landscape screen: If an existing landscape screen has been established on abutting property, then it may be used to satisfy the requirements of this Section, so long as the existing landscape screen is abutting the common property line, and it meets all applicable standards of this Subpart.

(d)

Driveways to streets: The maximum width of any driveway not containing a landscaped island through the perimeter landscape area shall be 36 feet. The maximum width of any driveway containing a landscaped island through the perimeter landscape area shall be 48 feet and the driveway shall contain a landscaped island which measures not less than eight feet in width (from back of curb to back of curb) and 18 feet in length, surrounded by a six inch continuous raised curb, or other alternative approved by the Chief. The maximum combined width of all driveways through the perimeter landscape area shall be no more than 48 feet for properties with 100 feet or less of street frontage. For properties with more than 100 feet of street frontage, an additional one foot of driveway through the perimeter landscape area may be constructed for each four feet of street frontage in excess of 100 feet. In no event shall more than 50 percent of any street frontage be paved, nor shall the provisions of this Section be applied to reduce the permitted driveway width to less than 24 feet.

(e)

Driveways to adjoining lots: Driveways may be permitted by the Chief to adjoining lots of compatible use. The maximum number of driveways which may be allowed shall be determined by first calculating the total length of the VUA perimeter adjacent to property lines of compatible use, less the portion of the VUA separated from the common property line by a building and less the portion of the perimeter VUA separated from the compatible use by a jurisdictional wetland or waterbody and then applying the following criteria:

Net Length of Perimeter VUA	Maximum Number of Driveways
50—149 feet	2
150—299 feet	3
300—599 feet	4
For each additional 500 feet	1 additional driveway

 

The maximum width of any driveway to an adjacent lot shall be 24 feet. The area of the continuous five feet wide perimeter landscape strip normally required where each driveway occurs shall be incorporated into the required perimeter landscape area to each side of the driveway.

(f)

If a joint driveway easement is provided between adjacent property, then the required perimeter landscaping for each property shall be provided between the drive and any other vehicular use areas. That portion of the drive on each property shall be counted as part of the VUA of each property.

(Ord. 91-59-148, § 1; Ord. 93-718-395, § 1; Ord. 2008-910-E, § 1; Ord. 2009-907-E, § 4; Ord. 2010-449-E, § 3)