Chapter 15.420 LANDSCAPING AND OUTDOOR AREAS

Chapter 15.420
LANDSCAPING AND OUTDOOR AREAS

Sections:

15.420.020 Landscaping and amenities in public rights-of-way.

15.420.010 Required minimum standards.

A. Private and Shared Outdoor Recreation Areas in Residential Developments.

1. Private Areas. Each ground-level living unit in a residential development subject to a design review plan approval shall have an accessible outdoor private space of not less than 48 square feet in area. The area shall be enclosed, screened or otherwise designed to provide increased privacy for unit residents, their guests and neighbors.

2. Individual and Shared Areas. Usable outdoor recreation space shall be provided for the individual and/or shared use of residents and their guests in any multifamily residential development, as follows:

a. One- or two-bedroom units: 200 square feet per unit.

b. Three- or more bedroom units: 300 square feet per unit.

c. Storage areas are required in residential developments. Convenient areas shall be provided in residential developments for the storage of articles such as bicycles, barbecues, luggage, outdoor furniture, and the like. These shall be entirely enclosed.

3. In the AR airport residential district a five percent landscaping standard is required with the goal of “softening” the buildings and making the development “green” with plants, where possible. The existence of the runway, taxiway, and approach open areas already provide generally for the 15 percent requirement.

B. Required Landscaped Area. The following landscape requirements are established for all developments except single-family detached dwellings, duplex dwellings, triplex dwellings, quadplex dwellings, townhouse dwellings and cottage cluster projects:

1. A minimum of 15 percent of the lot area shall be landscaped; provided, however, that computation of this minimum may include areas landscaped under subsection (B)(3) of this section. Development in the C-3 (central business district) zoning district and M-4 (large lot industrial) zoning district is exempt from the 15 percent landscape area requirement of this section. Additional landscaping requirements in the C-4 district are described in NMC 15.352.040(K). In the AI airport industrial district, only a five percent landscaping standard is required with the goal of “softening” the buildings and making the development “green” with plants, where possible. The existence of the runway, taxiway, and approach open areas already provide generally for the 15 percent requirement. Developments in the AI airport industrial district with a public street frontage shall have said minimum landscaping between the front property line and the front of the building.

2. All areas subject to the final design review plan and not otherwise improved shall be landscaped.

3. The following landscape requirements shall apply to the parking and loading areas:

a. A parking or loading area providing 10 or more spaces shall be improved with defined landscaped areas totaling no less than 25 square feet per parking space.

b. A parking, loading area, or drive aisle which runs adjacent to a property line shall be separate from any lot line adjacent to a street by a landscaped strip at least 10 feet in interior width or the width of the required yard, whichever is greater, and any other lot line by a landscaped strip of at least five feet in interior width. See subsections (B)(3)(c) and (d) of this section for material to plant within landscape strips.

c. A landscaped strip separating a parking area, loading area, or drive aisle from a street shall contain street trees spaced as appropriate to the species, not to exceed 50 feet apart on average, and a combination of shrubs and ground cover, or lawn. This landscaping shall provide partial screening of these areas from the street.

d. A landscaped strip separating a parking area, loading area, or drive aisle from an interior lot line shall contain any combination of trees, shrubs, ground cover or lawn. Plant material shall be selected from at least two different plant material groups (example: trees and shrubs, or lawn and shrubs, or lawn and trees and shrubs).

e. Landscaping in a parking or loading area shall be located in defined landscaped areas which are uniformly distributed throughout the parking or loading area.

f. Landscaping areas in a parking lot, service drive or loading area shall have an interior width of not less than five feet.

g. All multifamily, institutional, commercial, or industrial parking areas, service drives, or loading zones which abut a residential district shall be enclosed with a 75 percent opaque, site-obscuring fence, wall or evergreen hedge along and immediately adjacent to any interior property line which abuts the residential district. Landscape plantings must be large enough to provide the required minimum screening requirement within 12 months after initial installation. Adequate provisions shall be maintained to protect walls, fences or plant materials from being damaged by vehicles using said parking areas.

h. An island of landscaped area shall be located to separate blocks of parking spaces. At a minimum, one deciduous shade tree per seven parking spaces shall be planted to create a partial tree canopy over and around the parking area. No more than seven parking spaces may be grouped together without an island separation unless otherwise approved by the director based on the following alternative standards:

i. Provision of a continuous landscaped strip, with a five-foot minimum width, which runs perpendicular to the row of parking spaces (see Appendix A, Figure 13).

ii. Provision of tree planting landscape islands, each of which is at least 16 square feet in size, and spaced no more than 50 feet apart on average, within areas proposed for back-to-back parking (see Appendix A, Figure 14).

4. Trees, Shrubs and Ground Covers. The species of street trees required under this section shall conform to those authorized by the city council through resolution. The director shall have the responsibility for preparing and updating the street tree species list which shall be adopted in resolution form by the city council.

a. Arterial and minor arterial street trees shall have spacing of approximately 50 feet on center. These trees shall have a minimum two-inch caliper tree trunk or stalk at a measurement of two feet up from the base and shall be balled and burlapped or boxed.

b. Collector and local street trees shall be spaced approximately 35 to 40 feet on center. These trees shall have a minimum of a one and one-half or one and three-fourths inch tree trunk or stalk and shall be balled and burlapped or boxed.

c. Accent Trees. Accent trees are trees such as flowering cherry, flowering plum, crab-apple, Hawthorne and the like. These trees shall have a minimum one and one-half inch caliper tree trunk or stalk and shall be at least eight to 10 feet in height. These trees may be planted bare root or balled and burlapped. The spacing of these trees should be approximately 25 to 30 feet on center.

d. All broad-leafed evergreen shrubs and deciduous shrubs shall have a minimum height of 12 to 15 inches and shall be balled and burlapped or come from a two-gallon can. Gallon-can size shrubs will not be allowed except in ground covers. Larger sizes of shrubs may be required in special areas and locations as specified by the design review board. Spacing of these shrubs shall be typical for the variety, three to eight feet, and shall be identified on the landscape planting plan.

e. Ground Cover Plant Material. Ground cover plant material such as greening juniper, cotoneaster, minor Bowles, English ivy, hypericum and the like shall be one of the following sizes in specified spacing for that size:

Gallon cans	3 feet on center
4'' containers	2 feet on center
2-1/4'' containers	18'' on center
Rooted cuttings	12'' on center

5. Automatic, underground irrigation systems shall be provided for all areas required to be planted by this section. The director shall retain the flexibility to allow a combination of irrigated and nonirrigated areas. Landscaping material used within nonirrigated areas must consist of drought- resistant varieties. Provision must be made for alternative irrigation during the first year after initial installation to provide sufficient moisture for plant establishment.

6. Required landscaping shall be continuously maintained.

7. Maximum height of tree species shall be considered when planting under overhead utility lines.

8. Landscaping requirements and standards for parking and loading areas (subsection (B)(3) of this section) will apply to development proposals unless the institution has addressed the requirements and standards by an approved site development master plan. With an approved site development master plan, the landscape requirements will be reviewed through an administrative Type I review process.

9. In the M-4 zone, landscaping requirements and standards for parking and loading areas (subsection (B)(3) of this section) do not apply unless within 50 feet of a residential district.

C. Installation of Landscaping. All landscaping required by these provisions shall be installed prior to the issuance of occupancy permits, unless security equal to 110 percent of the cost of the landscaping as determined by the director is filed with the city, insuring such installation within six months of occupancy. A security – cash, certified check, time certificates of deposit, assignment of a savings account, bond or such other assurance of completion as shall meet with the approval of the city attorney – shall satisfy the security requirements. If the installation of the landscaping is not completed within the six-month period, or within an extension of time authorized by the director, the security may be used by the city to complete the installation. Upon completion of the installation, any portion of the remaining security deposited with the city shall be returned to the applicant. [Ord. 2889 § 2 (Exh. B § 34), 12-6-21; Ord. 2880 § 2 (Exh. B §§ 42, 43), 6-7-21; Ord. 2720 § 1(16, 17), 11-2-09; Ord. 2647, 6-5-06; Ord. 2564, 4-15-02; Ord. 2561, 4-1-02; Ord. 2513, 8-2-99; Ord. 2451, 12-2-96. Code 2001 § 151.580.]

Penalty: See NMC 15.05.120.

15.420.020 Landscaping and amenities in public rights-of-way.

The following standards are intended to create attractive streetscapes and inviting pedestrian spaces. A review body may require any of the following landscaping and amenities to be placed in abutting public rights-of-way as part of multifamily, commercial, industrial, or institutional design reviews, or for subdivisions and planned unit developments. In addition, any entity improving existing rights-of-way should consider including these elements in the project. A decision to include any amenity shall be based on comprehensive plan guidelines, pedestrian volumes in the area, and the nature of surrounding development.

A. Pedestrian Space Landscaping. Pedestrian spaces shall include all sidewalks and medians used for pedestrian refuge. Spaces near sidewalks shall provide plant material for cooling and dust control, and street furniture for comfort and safety, such as benches, waste receptacles and pedestrian-scale lighting. These spaces should be designed for short-term as well as long-term use. Elements of pedestrian spaces shall not obstruct sightlines and shall adhere to any other required city safety measures. Medians used for pedestrian refuge shall be designed for short-term use only with plant material for cooling and dust control, and pedestrian-scale lighting. The design of these spaces shall facilitate safe pedestrian crossing with lighting and accent paving to delineate a safe crossing zone visually clear to motorists and pedestrians alike.

1. Street trees planted in pedestrian spaces shall be planted according to NMC 15.420.010(B)(4).

2. Pedestrian spaces shall have low (two and one-half feet) shrubs and ground covers for safety purposes, enhancing visibility and discouraging criminal activity.

a. Plantings shall be 90 percent evergreen year-round, provide seasonal interest with fall color or blooms, and at maturity maintain growth within the planting area (refer to plant material matrix below).

b. Plant placement shall also adhere to clear sight line requirements as well as any other relevant city safety measures.

3. Pedestrian-scale lighting shall be installed along sidewalks and in medians used for pedestrian refuge.

a. Pole lights as well as bollard lighting may be specified; however, the amount and type of pedestrian activity during evening hours, e.g., transit stops, nighttime service districts, shall ultimately determine the type of fixture chosen.

b. Luminaire styles shall match the area/district theme of existing luminaires and shall not conflict with existing building or roadway lights causing glare.

c. Lighting heights and styles shall be chosen to prevent glare and to designate a clear and safe path and limit opportunities for vandalism (see Appendix A, Figure 17, Typical Pedestrian Space Layouts).

d. Lighting shall be placed near the curb to provide maximum illumination for spaces furthest from building illumination. Spacing shall correspond to that of the street trees to prevent tree foliage from blocking light.

4. Street furniture such as benches and waste receptacles shall be provided for spaces near sidewalks only.

a. Furniture should be sited in areas with the heaviest pedestrian activity, such as downtown, shopping districts, and shopping centers.

b. Benches should be arranged to facilitate conversation between individuals with L-shaped arrangements and should face the area focal point, such as shops, fountains, plazas, and should divert attention away from nearby traffic.

5. Paving and curb cuts shall facilitate safe pedestrian crossing and meet all ADA requirements for accessibility.

B. Planting Strip Landscaping. All planting strips shall be landscaped. Planting strips provide a physical and psychological buffer for pedestrians from traffic with plant material that reduces heat and dust, creating a more comfortable pedestrian environment. Planting strips shall have different arrangements and combinations of plant materials according to the frequency of on-street parking (see Appendix A, Figures 18 and 19).

1. Planting strips which do not have adjacent parking shall have a combination of ground covers, low (two and one-half feet) shrubs and trees. Planting strips adjacent to frequently used on-street parking, as defined by city staff, shall only have trees protected by tree grates, and planting strips adjacent to infrequently used on-street parking shall be planted with ground cover as well as trees (see Appendix A, Figures 18 and 19, Typical Planting Strip Layouts). District themes or corridor themes linking individual districts should be followed utilizing a unifying plant characteristic, e.g., bloom color, habit, or fall color. When specifying thematic plant material, monocultures should be avoided, particularly those species susceptible to disease.

2. Street trees shall be provided in all planting strips as provided in NMC 15.420.010(B)(4).

a. Planting strips without adjacent parking or with infrequent adjacent parking shall have street trees in conjunction with ground covers and/or shrubs.

b. Planting strips with adjacent parking used frequently shall have only street trees protected by tree grates.

3. Shrubs and ground covers shall be provided in planting strips without adjacent parking with low (two and one-half feet) planting masses to enhance visibility, discourage criminal activity, and provide a physical as well as psychological buffer from passing traffic.

a. Plantings shall be 90 percent evergreen year-round, provide seasonal interest with fall color or blooms and at maturity maintain growth within the planting area.

b. Ground cover able to endure infrequent foot traffic shall be used in combination with street trees for planting strips with adjacent occasional parking (refer to plant material matrix below).

c. All plant placement shall adhere to clear sight line requirements as well as any other relevant city safety measures.

C. Maintenance. All landscapes shall be maintained for the duration of the planting to encourage health of plant material as well as public health and safety. All street trees and shrubs shall be pruned to maintain health and structure of the plant material for public safety purposes.

D. Exception. In the AI airport industrial district and AR airport residential district, no landscape or amenities except for grass are required for any area within 50 feet of aircraft operation areas including aircraft parking areas, taxiways, clear areas, safety areas, object-free areas, and the runway.

Plant Material Matrix – Newberg Transportation Planning Rule Implementation
	Median		Pedestrian Space	Planting Strip
	Central Business District/Urban Application	Low Density Application	Pedestrian Space	Frequent On-Street Parking	Infrequent On-Street Parking	Without On-Street Parking
Plant Material	Trees, shrubs and ground cover		Trees, shrubs and ground cover (where applicable)	Trees in tree wells with grates	Trees and ground cover	Trees, shrubs and ground cover
Tree and Shrub Arrangement	Single row of trees planted in triangular pattern, equally spaced, shrubs as desired	Single row of trees planted in triangular pattern, arranged in clusters, shrubs as desired	Refer to median or planting strip specifications as applicable	Single row of trees planted in linear pattern, equally spaced	Refer to tree specifications for median as applicable, ground cover as desired	Refer to tree specifications for median as applicable, ground cover as desired
Tree Form	Columnar to round tree canopy	Round to broad tree canopy	Refer to median or planting strip specifications as applicable	Refer to median recommendations as applicable	Refer to median recommendations as applicable	Refer to median recommendations as applicable
Examples of Recommended Tree Species	Bradford Flowering Pear (Pyrus calleryana “Bradford”), Flowering Cherry (Prunus serrulata, several varieties), Red Sunset Maple (Acer rubrum), Londos Plana (Platanus acerifolia)	Flowering Cherry (Prunus serrulata, several varieties), Flowering Dogwood (Cornus species, several varieties), Hawthorn (Crataegus species, several species), Red Sunset Maple (Acer rubrum), Red Oak (Quercus rubra)	Refer to median or planting strip specifications as applicable	Refer to median recommendations as applicable, lowest tree limb height of 10 feet	Refer to median recommendations as applicable, lowest limb height of 10 feet	Refer to median recommendations as applicable, lowest limb height of 10 feet
Shrub and Ground Cover Characteristics (i.e., environmental tolerance, mature size)	Pollutant and reflected heat tolerant	Pollutant and reflected heat tolerant	2.5 feet maximum height, pollutant and reflected heat tolerant	Not applicable	2.5 feet maximum height, pollutant and reflected heat tolerant	2.5 feet maximum height, pollutant and reflected heat tolerant
Examples of Recommended Shrub Species	Lonicera japonica (Privet Honeysuckle), Sargent Juniper (Juniperus sargentii), Cotoneaster (Cotoneaster, various varieties), Winter Creeper (Euonymus fortunei)	Lonicera japonica (Privet Honeysuckle), Sargent Juniper (Juniperus sargentii), Cotoneaster (Cotoneaster, various varieties), Winter Creeper (Euonymus fortunei)	Sargent Juniper (Juniperus sargentii), Cotoneaster (Cotoneaster, low varieties), Winter Creeper (Euonymus fortunei)	Not applicable	Sargent Juniper (Juniperus sargentii), Cotoneaster (Cotoneaster, prostrate varieties)	Sargent Juniper (Juniperus sargentii), Cotoneaster (Cotoneaster, various varieties), Winter Creeper (Euonymus fortunei)

[Ord. 2763 § 1 (Exh. A § 14), 9-16-13; Ord. 2647, 6-5-06; Ord. 2513, 8-2-99. Code 2001 § 151.581.]