Article XVI, Sections 1602-1608
Extracted standards
22 individual requirements pulled out of this section’s prose, each with the sentence it came from.
Fencing & walls
- Minimum screening fence/wall heightMaximum heightThe tallest a building may be, given in feet, in storeys, or both — whichever binds first.6 ft
When a fence or wall is provided, it shall be a minimum of six (6) feet in height and plantings shall be required along such fence or wall.
Landscaping & trees
- 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 (4) feet in height when planted.
- Minimum caliper for preserved trees3 in
Any existing tree used to meet the requirements of this ordinance must be at least three (3) inch caliper, in healthy condition and be protected from construction activity.
- Minimum 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 (8) feet.
- 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 fifty (50) square feet per tree, with a minimum dimension of five (5) feet in order to protect the landscaping and allow for proper growth.
- Minimum planting island dimension5 ft
Planting islands shall contain a minimum of fifty (50) square feet per tree, with a minimum dimension of five (5) feet.
- Minimum shade tree caliper1.5 in
Shade trees shall be a minimum one and one-half (1½) inches caliper (measured six (6) inches above ground level) when planted.
- Tree canopy preservation option
If ten (10) percent of a business's tree canopy exists on a site prior to development, the business may either (i) preserve and maintain the existing canopy and have that credited towards meeting the requirements of this article XVI, or (ii) modify or eliminate the canopy and thereafter comply fully with the requirements of this article.
- Street tree spacing50 ft
One (1) tree per fifty (50) feet of street frontage and one (1) shrub per ten (10) feet of street frontage shall be planted in creative groupings.
Other
- Evergreen shrub spacing in double staggered row10 ft
Vegetative screening shall consist of a double staggered row of evergreen trees planted fifteen (15) feet on center, or a double staggered row of evergreen shrubs planted ten (10) feet on center.
- Evergreen tree spacing in double staggered row15 ft
Vegetative screening shall consist of a double staggered row of evergreen trees planted fifteen (15) feet on center, or a double staggered row of evergreen shrubs planted ten (10) feet on center.
- Landscaping installation timing
All landscaping shall be installed by the first planting season following the issuance of a certificate of occupancy.
- Landscape surety requirement
The applicant shall post a secured bond, cash escrow or letter of credit in favor of the County equal to the value of material and installation costs prior to the issuance of a certificate of occupancy.
- Maximum maintained shrub heightMaximum heightThe tallest a building may be, given in feet, in storeys, or both — whichever binds first.24 in
Shrubs shall be maintained to a height not to exceed twenty-four (24) inches.
- 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 (3) feet in height.
- Minimum vegetative screening strip depth20 ft
Where only vegetative screening is provided; such screening strip shall not be less than twenty (20) feet in depth.
- Minimum shrub heightMaximum heightThe tallest a building may be, given in feet, in storeys, or both — whichever binds first.12 in
Shrubs shall be a minimum twelve (12) inches in height when planted and shall be maintained to a height not to exceed twenty-four (24) inches.
- Screening required for certain uses
Screening shall be required in the following instances: Commercial and industrial uses and manufactured home parks shall be screened from adjacent residential and rural area districts; Parking lots consisting of five (5) spaces or more shall be screened from adjacent residential and rural area districts; Objectionable features including loading areas, refuse areas, storage yards, retention ponds, and recreation facilities shall be screened from adjacent residential and rural area districts and public streets.
- Street shrub spacing10 ft
One (1) shrub per ten (10) feet of street frontage shall be planted in creative groupings.
- Street shrub spacing for parking lots5 ft
Shrubs shall be in a single row planted five (5) feet on center.
- Shade trees per parking space10 spaces per tree
Interior landscaping shall include a minimum of one (1) shade tree per ten (10) parking spaces or portion thereof.
From the ordinance
Landscaping shall be installed by first planting season after CO; surety required. Minimum standards: tree per 50 ft frontage, shrub per 10 ft, shade tree 1.5 in caliper, etc.