Chapter 16.29
LANDSCAPING
Sections:
16.29.000 Landscaping requirements.
16.29.010 Existing development.
16.29.020 Existing vegetation.
16.29.030 Prohibited landscaping.
16.29.040 Repealed.
16.29.050 Repealed.
16.29.060 Parking lot landscaping.
16.29.070 Landscaped yards.
16.29.080 Installation and design requirements.
16.29.090 Landscaping plan.
16.29.000 Landscaping requirements.
The provisions of this chapter apply to all landscaping required under this title. [Ord. 1301 § 4 (Exh. A), 2010; Ord. 863 § 5, 1990. UZ Ord. § 29.00.]
16.29.010 Existing development.
Where the construction of, or addition to, a structure or parking area increases the total area of the lot covered by structures, paving, or both by more than 50 percent, the entire lot shall meet the landscaping requirements of this title; otherwise, only landscaping associated with the expansion shall be provided. [Ord. 1301 § 4 (Exh. A), 2010; Ord. 863 § 5, 1990. UZ Ord. § 29.01.]
16.29.020 Existing vegetation.
Existing vegetation which is retained as part of the development may be included as part of the landscaping requirement unless prohibited under MCC 16.29.030. [Ord. 1301 § 4 (Exh. A), 2010; Ord. 863 § 5, 1990. UZ Ord. § 29.02.]
16.29.030 Prohibited landscaping.
No area required to be landscaped under any provision of this title shall include any artificial trees, plants, or turf, impervious surfacing or any carpeting designed as a visual substitute for lawn or other ground cover. Neither areas devoted to the cultivation of farm crops nor any area used for pasture shall be considered as landscaped for purposes of fulfilling any landscaping requirement under this title. [Ord. 1301 § 4 (Exh. A), 2010; Ord. 863 § 5, 1990. UZ Ord. § 29.03.]
16.29.040 Maintenance.
Repealed by Ord. 1301. [Ord. 863 § 5, 1990. UZ Ord. § 29.04.]
16.29.050 Landscaping exemptions.
Repealed by Ord. 1301. [Ord. 863 § 5, 1990. UZ Ord. § 29.05.]
16.29.060 Parking lot landscaping.
Where more than 20 uncovered parking spaces are provided, an area equal to not less than five percent of the area devoted to driveways and required parking spaces shall be landscaped. The landscaping required in this section shall be within or abutting the area devoted to parking spaces and shall not include, but shall be in addition to, any required yard. [Ord. 1301 § 4 (Exh. A), 2010; Ord. 863 § 5, 1990. UZ Ord. § 29.06.]
16.29.070 Landscaped yards.
Required yards and planting areas near buildings shall be landscaped as provided herein:
A. In residential zones all portions of required yards lying between a street or roadway and the dwelling or between the street or roadway and any sight-obscuring fence or hedge located within the required yard shall be landscaped.
B. In commercial, industrial, P, UD and UT zones landscaping shall be provided in any required yard adjacent to a residential zone and in any required front or street yard, except area used for a driveway. The zoning administrator may also require use of shrubs and trees to reduce visual impact of building walls more than eight feet high and longer than 50 feet in commercial and industrial developments.
C. A landscaped area at least three feet wide shall be provided between any parking or loading spaces or driveway thereto, and a street or a lot in a residential zone unless a sight-obscuring fence or wall is provided along the lot line. [Ord. 1301 § 4 (Exh. A), 2010; Ord. 863 § 5, 1990. UZ Ord. § 29.07.]
16.29.080 Installation and design requirements.
A. Installation of required landscaping shall be a condition of issuance of a determination. Required landscaping shall be planted and installed prior to occupancy of any structure or establishment of a use except a single-family dwelling. Landscaping required on a lot occupied by a single-family dwelling shall be provided within two years of occupancy of the dwelling.
B. Plantings within landscaped areas shall be spaced so that the plants will achieve, within five growing seasons, ground coverage of at least 75 percent of the landscaped area. Landscaped areas not occupied by water shall be covered by organic or rock material.
C. Except in vision clearance areas and special setback areas, areas required to be landscaped in commercial and industrial zones between public streets and parking spaces and driveways shall be landscaped with berms and/or planting that will screen the parking area from view from the public. [Ord. 1301 § 4 (Exh. A), 2010; Ord. 863 § 5, 1990. UZ Ord. § 29.08.]
16.29.090 Landscaping plan.
A landscape plan may be required as a condition of land use approval, and is required for all landscaping required under MCC 16.29.080(C). The zoning administrator shall determine if the plan meets the requirements of this title before issuing a determination of conformance. A landscape plan shall be drawn to workable scale showing all plantings by common names together with their size at time of planting or expected coverage within five growing seasons, the location and type of ground cover, the size and configuration of other landscaping features, and show the areas to be watered by an irrigation system. [Ord. 1301 § 4 (Exh. A), 2010; Ord. 863 § 5, 1990. UZ Ord. § 29.09.]