Article XV - Landscaping, Sec. 36-684
Dimensional standards
Height & bulk
- Minimum landscaping
- 0.1%
Servicing
- Geographic extent
- Applies to development or redevelopment in R-1, R-2, R-3, B-1, B-2, MHP-1, P-1, and M-1 zoning districts and to any use requiring a special use permitConditional useAllowed only after a discretionary approval — usually a public hearing and a board vote. approval; does not apply to single-familySingle-family dwellingOne dwelling unit on its own lot, usually detached from its neighbours. or two-family dwellings.
Extracted standards
21 individual requirements pulled out of this section’s prose, each with the sentence it came from.
Other
- Prohibition of structures in buffer area
No proposed building, building addition, structure, parking area or other physical land improvement shall be located in the buffer area.
- Buffer tree row spacing15 ft
The evergreen tree line shall be planted in rows 15 feet apart and staggered ten feet on center.
- Buffer tree stagger spacing10 ft
The evergreen tree line shall be planted in rows 15 feet apart and staggered ten feet on center.
- Minimum buffer width20 ft
Where required, the buffer area shall be a minimum of 20 feet in width extending along the entire length of the development area.
- Chainlink fence as sole screening prohibitedProhibitedNot allowed in the district at all, short of rezoning or a variance.
The use of chainlink fence as the sole method of screening is prohibited.
- Average earthen berm heightMaximum heightThe tallest a building may be, given in feet, in storeys, or both — whichever binds first.3 ft
On average, the height of the earthen berm should be three feet in height.
- Minimum evergreen tree heightMaximum heightThe tallest a building may be, given in feet, in storeys, or both — whichever binds first. at planting4 ft
The evergreen tree material shall be a minimum of four feet in height at the time of planting.
- Minimum caliper for existing vegetation credit3 inch
No tree or shrub less than three-inch caliper shall be counted when utilizing existing vegetation.
- Fractional tree/shrub count rounding
When a calculation of the number of required trees and/or shrubs results in a fractional amount, the fraction shall be rounded up to the next whole number.
- Ground cover requirement for landscaped areas
All landscaped areas shall be covered with an appropriate ground cover, mulch, or decorative landscape stone. The use of gravel and/or riprap is discouraged.
- Installation per landscape architecture standards
The planting of trees and shrubbery shall be installed in accordance with the standard landscaping specifications of the state society of landscape designers and/or the state chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects.
- Landscaping plan required for commercial/industrial and multi-familyMultifamily dwellingA building of four or more dwelling units. Where zoning is most restrictive.
A landscaping plan shall be required of all new development or redevelopment of property within the town for commercial or industrial purposes. Multiple-family residential dwelling developments shall be considered commercial for the purposes of this article.
- Large shrub requirement per building frontageFrontageThe length of a lot line that touches a public street.0.1 shrubs per ft
One large shrub per ten feet of building frontage.
- Native origin and invasive species prohibition
All trees and/or shrubs used to satisfy this article shall be of native origin. No tree, shrub or ground cover contained on the invasive alien plant species of the state list as maintained by the state department of conservation and recreation (DCR) may be used to satisfy the requirements of this article.
- Perpetual maintenance requirement
Required landscaping shall remain alive and in good condition in perpetuity. The property owner shall be responsible for the ongoing protection and maintenance of all required landscaping in a manner consistent with the approved site development plan.
- Planting timing and guarantee
Landscaping required by this article shall be planted during an opportune planting season and shall be in place and in good condition prior to occupancy, or the owner/developer may provide a guarantee in a form acceptable to the town that ensures installation.
- Sight distance triangle landscaping restrictions
Landscaping within a sight distance triangle shall not include any evergreen trees and shall not include shrubs exceeding three feet in height above the ground at maturity. Tree limbs in a sight distance triangle shall be raised to ensure visibility for motor vehicle safety.
- Slope ground cover requirement
All slopes shall be covered with an appropriate ground cover. The use of riprap as ground cover on slopes visible from the public right-of-way is discouraged.
- Small shrub requirement per building frontageFrontageThe length of a lot line that touches a public street.0.2 shrubs per ft
Two small shrubs per ten feet of building frontage.
- Screening of objectionable items
Loading areas, refuse areas, storage yards, stormwater management facilities, HVAC equipment, water vaults, or other objectionable items shall be screened from view of any public right-of-way or any adjacent residential use type.
Signage
- Freestanding sign base landscaping0.1 shrubs per sqftsq ftSquare feet. An acre is 43,560 sq ft; a typical suburban lot is 7,000–10,000.
Landscape plantings shall be a minimum of one small shrub per ten square feet of sign area.
From the ordinance
The provisions of this article are applicable to the development or redevelopment of any property ... located in an R-1, R-2, R-3, B-1, B-2, MHP-1, P-1 and M-1 zoning district or to any use requiring a special use permit approval. It is not the intent of this article to regulate landscaping for single-family dwellings or two-family dwellings.