Extracted standards
29 individual requirements pulled out of this section’s prose, each with the sentence it came from.
Landscaping & trees
- Minimum tree canopy for commercial, office, or industrial uses10 pct
Ten percent canopy of a site to be developed with commercial, office or industrial uses;
- Minimum tree canopy for residential at gross density >=5 du/acdu/acreDwelling units per acre — the number of homes allowed on each acre of land.10 pct
Ten percent canopy of a residential site to be developed at a gross density of five dwelling units per acre or more;
- Minimum tree canopy for residential at gross density <5 du/acdu/acreDwelling units per acre — the number of homes allowed on each acre of land.15 pct
15 percent canopy of a residential site to be developed at a gross density of less than five dwelling units per acre.
- Tree canopy bonus factor for existing trees1.25 factor
The resultant area shall be multiplied by a factor of 1.25.
- Tree limbing heightMaximum heightThe tallest a building may be, given in feet, in storeys, or both — whichever binds first. for sight lines8 ft
Trees that obstruct traffic sight lines shall be limbed up to a height of eight feet.
Other
- Evergreen shrub spacing in double staggered row10 ft
Vegetative screening shall consist of a double staggered row of evergreen trees planted 15 feet on center, or a double staggered row of evergreen shrubs planted ten feet on center.
- Evergreen tree spacing in double staggered row15 ft
Vegetative screening shall consist of a double staggered row of evergreen trees planted 15 feet on center, or a double staggered row of evergreen shrubs planted ten feet on center.
- Flower/mulch bed area exchange for a tree100 sqftsq ftSquare feet. An acre is 43,560 sq ft; a typical suburban lot is 7,000–10,000.
The construction of flower/mulch beds of a total area of at least 100 square feet may be planted in exchange for a tree as stated above;
- Landscape plan required for certain developments
A landscape plan shall be required as a precedent to final site plan or subdivision approval for the following: All commercial and industrial development including expansions; All entryways and common areas, including the areas along new streets, in residential subdivisions; All other developments if deemed appropriate by the commission and the zoning administrator...
- Landscaping maintenance requirement
All landscaping shall be installed by the first planting season following the issuance of a certificate of occupancy. Thereafter, landscaping shall be maintained in a healthy condition by the current owner or property owners' association and replaced when necessary.
- Maximum caliper of healthy tree that may be removed18 in
Removal of healthy trees over 18 inches in caliper shall be prohibited except in the building footprint area, construction activity area, rights-of-way or private drives, utility easements and septic areas;
- Minimum earthen berm heightMaximum heightThe tallest a building may be, given in feet, in storeys, or both — whichever binds first.3 ft
Earthen berms shall be a minimum of three feet in heights;
- Minimum evergreen screening heightMaximum heightThe tallest a building may be, given in feet, in storeys, or both — whichever binds first.4 ft
Evergreen trees for screening shall be a minimum four feet in height when planted.
- Minimum fence or wall heightMaximum heightThe tallest a building may be, given in feet, in storeys, or both — whichever binds first. for screening6 ft
When a fence or wall is provided, it shall be a minimum of six feet in height and plantings shall be required along such fence or wall.
- Minimum ornamental tree caliper1 in
Ornamental or flowering street trees shall be a minimum of one-inch caliper when planted.
- Minimum planting island area per tree50 sqftsq ftSquare feet. An acre is 43,560 sq ft; a typical suburban lot is 7,000–10,000.
Planting islands shall contain a minimum of 50 square feet per tree, with a minimum dimension of five feet.
- Minimum planting island dimension5 ft
Planting islands shall contain a minimum of 50 square feet per tree, with a minimum dimension of five feet.
- Minimum screening shrub heightMaximum heightThe tallest a building may be, given in feet, in storeys, or both — whichever binds first.24 in
Shrubs for screening shall be a minimum 24 inches in height when planted.
- Minimum shade tree caliper1.5 in
Shade trees shall be a minimum 1½ inches caliper (measured six inches above ground level) when planted.
- Shade trees per parking space0.1 trees/space
Interior landscaping shall include a minimum of one shade tree per ten parking spaces or portion thereof.
- Minimum street shrub heightMaximum heightThe tallest a building may be, given in feet, in storeys, or both — whichever binds first.18 in
Shrubs for street planting shall be a minimum 18 inches in height when planted.
- Minimum vegetative screening strip depth20 ft
Where only vegetative screening is provided, such screening strip shall not be less than 20 feet in depth.
- Screening required for commercial/industrial from residential
Commercial and industrial uses and manufactured home parks shall be screened from adjacent residential and rural area districts;
- Screening may be required for historicHistoric districtAn area where exterior changes need design review to protect its character. landmarks
The zoning administrator and commission may require screening of any use, or portion thereof, upon determination that the use would otherwise have a negative visual impact on a property listed on the bona fide historic landmarks register.
- Screening required for objectionable features
Objectionable features including, but not limited to, the following uses shall be screened from adjacent residential and rural area districts and public streets: Loading areas; Refuse areas; Storage yards; Retention ponds; and Recreation facilities determined to be of objectionable character.
- Screening required for parking lots from residential
Parking lots consisting of five spaces or more shall be screened from adjacent residential and rural area districts;
- Street shrub row spacing for parking lot screening5 ft
Shrubs shall be in a single row planted five feet on center.
- Street shrub spacing5 ft
One shrub per five feet of street frontage shall be planted.
- Street tree spacing15 ft
One tree per 15 feet of street frontage and one shrub per five feet of street frontage shall be planted in creative groupings.
From the ordinance
It is recognized that a vegetative landscape is desirable throughout the town... minimum tree canopy shall be provided...