Chapter 16.14
LANDSCAPING
Sections:
16.14.010 Administrative provisions.
16.14.020 When landscaping is required.
16.14.030 Landscaping plan.
16.14.040 General requirements.
16.14.050 Buffers required at certain zoning boundaries.
16.14.060 Buffer types.
16.14.070 Guidelines for tree sizes in required buffers.
16.14.080 Guidelines for shrub sizes in required buffers.
16.14.090 Street frontages.
16.14.100 Parking lots.
16.14.110 Refuse containers.
16.14.120 Building facades.
16.14.130 Native species – Drought resistance – Irrigation.
16.14.140 Vision clearance triangle.
16.14.150 Other areas to be kept clear.
16.14.160 Stormwater ponds.
16.14.170 Plant installation methods.
16.14.010 Administrative provisions.
See Chapter 16.12 BLMC. (Ord. 1171 § 1, 2005).
16.14.020 When landscaping is required.
In any zone, this chapter shall apply at the time of any land development or change of land use other than single-family residences or duplexes. (Ord. 1171 § 1, 2005).
16.14.030 Landscaping plan.
If a proposed land development or change of land use requires landscaping per this chapter, the permit application pertaining to said proposal shall include a landscaping plan containing the following.
A. A conceptual landscaping plan showing existing and proposed shrubs and trees as masses, to be submitted during preapplication review.
B. A scaled plan showing existing property lines, ground elevations, streets, buildings, fences, walls, curbs, plants with species names, and similar elements.
C. Three copies of the proposed landscape plan, drawn to scale, showing proposed and retained property lines, ground elevations, streets, buildings, fences, walls, curbs, plants (with species names and numbers of each), irrigation, and other elements affecting the landscape.
D. As appropriate, cross sections of proposed berms or mounds.
E. If required by the director(s), a tree survey indicating the location, species, and diameter of existing trees, or stands of trees, greater than six inches in diameter, with notes as to which trees will be retained. The trees to be retained shall be noted on the grading plan by dripline boundary.
F. If irrigation is installed, an as-built irrigation drawing to be submitted prior to the issuance of the certificate of occupancy or release of the performance bond. (Ord. 1171 § 1, 2005).
16.14.040 General requirements.
A. All portions of development sites not used for buildings, parking, driveways, walkways, outdoor storage, plazas, stormwater ponds, or similar improvements shall either remain in their native state or be landscaped in accordance with the purpose of this chapter.
B. Required landscaping elements shall be designed by a licensed landscape architect.
C. The type, quantity, and arrangement of installed plants shall be appropriate to the size and purpose of the landscape area.
D. Nonvegetative material such as gravel, mulch, and bark may supplement but not substitute for plantings.
E. Based on site-specific factors such as topography and micro-climate, the director(s) may waive or amend specific landscaping requirements as necessary to achieve the purpose of this chapter.
F. The director(s) may require berms or similar artificial topographical features. (Ord. 1171 § 1, 2005).
16.14.050 Buffers required at certain zoning boundaries.
Along zoning boundaries where said boundaries do not coincide with a street, the proponent shall install buffers in accordance with the following table. The applicable buffer is that which appears at the intersection of the applicable zones in the table. If the location of existing building(s) prevents conformance, the director(s) shall determine the most effective method that provides comparable results.
|
|
RC-5 |
R-1 and R‑2 |
*R-3 |
C-1 |
*C-2, C‑2/C-3, DC and DM |
M-1 |
|
RC-5 |
None |
|||||
|
R-1 and R-2 |
None |
None |
||||
|
*R-3 |
Type II |
Type I |
None |
|||
|
C-1 |
Type II |
Type II |
Type I |
None |
||
|
*C-2, C-2/C-3, DC and DM |
Type II |
Type I |
Type I |
None |
None |
|
|
M-1 |
Type I |
Type I |
Type I |
Type II |
Type II |
None |
*No buffer is required if the land use is the same in the two adjacent zones, such as where high-density housing occurs in both the DM and R-3 zones.
(Ord. 1171 § 1, 2005).
16.14.060 Buffer types.
The Type I – IV buffers required in this chapter shall be as described in the following and in BLMC 16.14.070 through 16.14.170. Appropriate existing vegetation may substitute for required plantings.
|
Buffer Type |
Minimum Width |
Degree of Sight Obscuring |
Maximum % of Required Trees That Can Be Deciduous |
Typical Applications |
|
I |
20 feet |
Total |
25% |
To buffer highly incompatible land uses. |
|
II |
10 feet |
Moderate |
50% |
To buffer marginally incompatible land uses. |
|
III |
5 feet |
Slight |
100% |
Along streets. |
|
IV |
None |
Slight |
100% |
Islands in parking lot interiors. |
(Ord. 1171 § 1, 2005).
16.14.070 Guidelines for tree sizes in required buffers.
The following guidelines shall serve for trees in required buffers:
A. Evergreen trees: at least six feet height on planting, spaced every 20 feet on center, plantings to be staggered or triangular if the buffer width permits.
B. Maximum on-center spacing of deciduous trees: 10 feet if one-inch caliper, 20 feet if two-inch caliper, and 30 feet if three-inch caliper; provided, that the spacing shall be appropriate for the potential size of the trees. (Ord. 1171 § 1, 2005).
16.14.080 Guidelines for shrub sizes in required buffers.
The following guidelines shall serve for shrub and groundcover in required buffers:
A. Minimum height at planting: 12 inches for small shrubs, 18 inches for medium and large shrubs.
B. Maximum spacing for required shrubs: three feet on center for small shrubs, four feet on center for medium shrubs, five feet on center for large shrubs.
C. Minimum coverage for required groundcover in planting beds: 50 percent at time of planting. Alternatively, maximum spacing of groundcover: 18 inches on center for one-gallon, 15 inches on center for four-inch pots, 12 inches on center for two and one-quarter-inch pots. (Ord. 1171 § 1, 2005).
16.14.090 Street frontages.
A. For subdivisions, four- to nine-lot short plats, and commercial developments, the proponent shall install street trees and Type III buffer along all street frontages.
B. The director(s) shall determine street tree species. Trees under power lines shall be of a species whose height at maturity is compatible with such location.
C. Street trees shall be at least two-inch caliper and shall be planted at least every 30 feet on center where practical.
D. Shrubs planted along street frontage shall be of species that when mature are less than 36 inches tall.
E. In pedestrian-oriented zones the director(s) may specify alternative street frontage buffers appropriate to the design guidelines for such areas.
F. See BLMC 16.14.140 for vision clearance triangle. (Ord. 1171 § 1, 2005).
16.14.100 Parking lots.
Parking areas accommodating five or more cars shall have:
A. Type III buffers installed along interior, non-street property lines when the adjoining property is not also devoted to parking;
B. At least five percent of their surface area, including maneuvering areas but excluding Type III buffer areas, devoted to Type IV buffers to provide tree canopy, improve appearance, and reduce stormwater runoff; and
C. Sufficient number, species, and distribution of trees in Type III and Type IV buffers that, upon maturity, tree canopy shall cover at least 30 percent of parking and maneuvering areas, not counting receiving and refuse areas. (Ord. 1230 § 13, 2007; Ord. 1171 § 1, 2005).
16.14.110 Refuse containers.
Refuse containers shall be screened by a buffer at least five feet in depth that contains plantings and that may also contain a fence or wall. The buffer shall be dense and tall enough to totally obscure the refuse container from parking lots, public rights-of-way, and abutting properties, except that the buffer may have such opening as necessary for access. The buffer may be within a street right-of-way if approved by the public works director. (Ord. 1171 § 1, 2005).
16.14.120 Building facades.
Type III buffers shall be installed along building facades more than 50 feet wide. (Ord. 1171 § 1, 2005).
16.14.130 Native species – Drought resistance – Irrigation.
Preference shall be given to native, drought-resistant plant species. Permanent irrigation systems shall be installed if necessary for survival of required plantings. (Ord. 1171 § 1, 2005).
16.14.140 Vision clearance triangle.
Within vision clearance triangles (see BLMC 16.12.010, Definitions), no plants nor structures shall be allowed which substantially impair vision at a height between three feet and eight feet above the street grade. See also public works road approach standards. (Ord. 1171 § 1, 2005).
16.14.150 Other areas to be kept clear.
Plants shall be established which when mature will not conflict with overhead utilities, sidewalks, driveways, sight lines at street intersections, and which will not block access to equipment such as fire hydrants, telephone pedestals, and pad-mount transformers. (Ord. 1171 § 1, 2005).
16.14.160 Stormwater ponds.
To the extent feasible given engineering constraints, stormwater facilities shall be designed to also maximize natural biological functions and aesthetic appearance, such as through plantings of suitable wildflowers, shrubs, and trees. (Ord. 1171 § 1, 2005).
16.14.170 Plant installation methods.
Plants shall be installed using best landscaping practices. Prior to planting, soils shall be made friable and conducive to healthy growth. Newly planted trees shall be properly staked. Plants shall be manually irrigated if necessary until they are established. (Ord. 1171 § 1, 2005).