§ 8.5.10. Building perimeter landscaping.

Building perimeter landscaping visually connects structures to the landscape using trees, shrubs and groundcover. It enhances the overall appearance of the development and integrates the site with adjacent land uses and/or the surrounding neighborhoods. All uses that require site plan approval, under section 6.0 shall provide building perimeter landscaping per this section for structures included in the plan.

A.

Building perimeter landscape requirements:

1.

At least 50 percent of the length of any facade visible from public streets, roads, sidewalks and open space areas must have perimeter landscaping.

2.

Plant beds shall be at least five feet wide, with the actual size determined by the quantity and choice of plant materials. At least one tree and eight shrubs are required for every 500 square feet of building perimeter landscaping. Trees shall be placed a minimum of ½ the diameter of the mature canopy from the structure. Trees placed in landscape islands for building perimeter parking may be used to satisfy this requirement.

3.

Landscape islands for building perimeter parking areas:

a)

Parking along building perimeters with more than ten parking spaces must provide landscape islands after every tenth contiguous parking space.

b)

Landscape islands must be at least nine feet by 19 feet in size. Landscape islands on the perimeter of pedestrian staging areas must be a minimum of four feet in width per side.

c)

Landscape islands not visible from public roads, sidewalks or open space may be reduced in size to a minimum of 25 square feet.

d)

Landscape islands shall have a minimum of one ornamental tree and two shrubs. Shrubs are not required for landscape islands that are 25 square feet in size. Organic mulch must be used around plants per the requirements in section 8.5.11.A.11. Ground covers, boulders and other decorative features may be used as optional decorative elements.

e)

Landscape islands must include an automated sprinkler system and be contained within raised beds to minimize vehicles from entering planting areas. Where mulch is used in the islands, the interior level of the island must be constructed lower than the required curb to retain mulch and water.

4.

Sidewalks may be placed between the structure and the parking area landscaping. Cut-through areas are required to accommodate pedestrian movement.

5.

Exposed foundations not screened by landscaping must be finished with a decorative veneer or use some other method to hide the exposed foundation.

(Res. No. 07092013R005, Exh. A, 6-10-2013)