§ 8.5.7. Street landscaping.

Street landscape improvements are intended to add an attractive element to a site that complements the overall neighborhood character. Street trees, shrubs, ornamental grasses, ground covers and flowers can enhance the pedestrian experience, provide an element of safety by separating pedestrians and vehicular traffic, reduce the heat island effect of pavement on surrounding structures and help to establish a neighborhood identity.

A.

Required street landscape areas. The following types of uses must provide street landscaping for all areas that adjoin public streets, roads or sidewalks.

1.

All nonresidential development, except vehicle sales lots (see section 8.5.9).

2.

All single- and multifamily residential development inside designated growth management areas.

3.

All facilities that require site plan review, except vehicle sales lots (see section 8.5.9).

B.

Street landscape standards.

1.

Installation and certificates of occupancy.

a)

Nonresidential: Nonresidential landscaping shall be installed before the issuance of any certificate of occupancy. A temporary certificate of occupancy may be issued.

b)

Residential: Landscaping may be required for residential development in a designated growth management area on a per lot or residence basis. This landscaping shall be installed no later than three months following the issuance of the certificate of occupancy for each lot in front of which the landscaping is required. If seasonal conditions prohibit plant installation, it must be done no later than June 15 of the following year. The final plat documents shall describe who is responsible for when and how street trees will be installed.

2.

Plant beds: Landscape areas along public streets or roads must be at least five feet wide, and run the length of the street or road between access points.

3.

Shade trees:

a)

Inside designated growth management areas: One shade tree is required for every 40 feet of street frontage. Trees must be planted at an average spacing of 20 to 40 feet on center and within three to ten feet of sidewalks. Trees must be at least 25 feet from street intersections; at least ten feet from fire hydrants and access points and at least 40 feet from streetlights. Where utility lines are present, trees shall be located outside of the utility easements.

b)

Outside designated growth management areas: Shade tree plantings are required where the site includes a sidewalk, trail or parking area adjacent to the public street or road. Shade trees may be planted in a lineal fashion or in groups depending on the context of the site and the existing pattern of development. The required number of trees is one tree for every 40 feet of street frontage adjacent to the sidewalk, trail or parking area.

4.

Sidewalks/tree grates: Cutouts for tree plantings in sidewalks must include tree grates to provide for pedestrian safety and adequate water penetration. Grates can vary in shape/size but shall cover at least 25 square feet and may be constructed of decorative iron, structural plastic or other sustainable materials. Tree grates shall be set flush with the sidewalk and maintained at even levels, and replaced when damaged or when necessary to accommodate trunk growth. Trees shall be set so that the root flare remains exposed below the grate to provide proper air circulation for the health of the tree.

5.

Understory landscaping: Street landscaping for commercial, industrial and business uses shall include groups of understory plantings, groundcovers, rock features, sculptures, etc., or a combination of these elements. Understory landscape plants shall reach a minimum height of three feet at maturity, measured from the ground plain adjacent to the landscaped area. Understory landscaping shall cover a minimum of 40 percent of the street frontage, and may be divided into groups or run in a linear fashion.

6.

Right-of-way landscaping:

a)

Inside a growth management area: Sites in designated growth management areas may place trees, shrubs and other plant materials in the right-of-way.

b)

Outside of a growth management area: Outside of designated growth management areas, only include native or adaptive ornamental grasses and/or wildflowers may be planted in the right-of-way. Trees, shrubs and irrigation systems and other elements must be located outside of the right-of-way, unless approved by the county engineer. See Larimer County Rural Area Road Standards, chapter 3 (submittal requirements for construction plans) section 4.3.6 and chapter 4 (road design and technical criteria) section 4.3.7.

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