Sec. 24-87

Landscaping & trees

• Landscape installation before certificate of occupancy

  Where a landscape plan is required, landscaping shall be installed and existing trees shall be preserved in conformance with the approved landscape plan. A certificate of occupancy shall not be issued until all landscaping has been installed in accordance with the approved landscape plan unless the installation of any incompleted landscaping is guaranteed as provided in section 24-8.

• Landscape maintenance required

  The owner, or his agent, shall be responsible for the maintenance, repair and replacement of all landscaping materials, fences and barriers as may be required by the provisions of this section. All plant materials, including existing trees preserved to meet the requirements of this section, shall be tended and maintained in a healthy growing condition, replaced when necessary, and kept free of refuse and debris. Fences and walls shall be maintained in good repair. Replacement material shall conform to the original intent of the approved landscape plan and any replacement planting shall meet the minimum requirements of this section.

• Landscape plan exclude future right-of-way

  Required landscape areas shall exclude any planned future right-of-way as designated on the Comprehensive Plan, Six-Year Primary or Secondary Road Plan, Long Range Transportation Plan, approved master plan, or any road plan adopted by the board of supervisors.

• Landscape plan narrative required

  A narrative shall accompany the plan explaining how only trees necessary for the development of the site are proposed to be removed and that no adverse impacts are created on adjacent properties that result in damaged trees.

• Landscape plan preparer qualifications

  A Virginia registered landscape architect, a member of the Virginia Society of Landscape Designers, or a Certified Virginia Nurseryman with experience preparing planting plans and landscape construction drawings, shall prepare landscape plans for projects that propose a new building or group of new buildings whose building footprint(s) exceeds 2,500 square feet; or propose site improvements which result in the disturbance of 5,000 or more square feet of land area.

• Landscape plan required

  A landscape plan and tree clearing and protection plan is required for any site plan or residential subdivision plan for development subject to sections 24-100(f) and (g) and shall be submitted at the time of application for plan approval.

• Landscape plan required building footprint2,500 sqftsq ftSquare feet. An acre is 43,560 sq ft; a typical suburban lot is 7,000–10,000.

  A Virginia registered landscape architect, a member of the Virginia Society of Landscape Designers, or a Certified Virginia Nurseryman with experience preparing planting plans and landscape construction drawings, shall prepare landscape plans for projects that propose a new building or group of new buildings whose building footprint(s) exceeds 2,500 square feet; or propose site improvements which result in the disturbance of 5,000 or more square feet of land area.

• Landscape plan required disturbance5,000 sqftsq ftSquare feet. An acre is 43,560 sq ft; a typical suburban lot is 7,000–10,000.

  A Virginia registered landscape architect, a member of the Virginia Society of Landscape Designers, or a Certified Virginia Nurseryman with experience preparing planting plans and landscape construction drawings, shall prepare landscape plans for projects that propose a new building or group of new buildings whose building footprint(s) exceeds 2,500 square feet; or propose site improvements which result in the disturbance of 5,000 or more square feet of land area.