14.16.030 Landscaping.

Chapter 14.16 APPEARANCE, BUFFERING, SCREENING, LANDSCAPING, AND OPEN SPACE REGULATIONS*

A. Definition. Landscaping is a type of open space permanently devoted and maintained for the growing of shrubbery, grass, other plants and decorative features to the land.

B. Purpose. The purpose of landscaping is to improve the appearance of vehicular use areas and development abutting public rights-of-way; to enhance environmental and visual characteristics; to promote the greening of development and the reduction of noise pollution, storm water run off, air pollution, and artificial light glare, and to safeguard property values, protect public and private investments; and promote high-quality development.

C. Where Required. No proposed commercial, institutional, industrial or other nonresidential use, or multi-family project or manufactured home park, shall hereafter be established or reestablished in an existing building or structure, and subsequently used unless landscaping is provided in accord with the provisions of this section. No existing building, structure, or vehicular use area shall be enlarged by fifty percent (50%) of more unless the minimum landscaping required by the provisions of this section is provided throughout the building site.

D. Landscaping Plan. A landscaping plan shall be submitted as part of the application for a building permit. The plan shall:

1. Designate areas to be reserved for landscaping. The specific design of landscaping shall be sensitive to the physical and design characteristics of the site.

2. Indicate the location and dimensions of landscaped areas, plant materials, decorative features, etc.

E. Landscaping Requirements. Required landscaping shall be provided as follows:

1. Along the outer perimeter of a lot or parcel, where required by the buffer area provisions of this chapter, to buffer and separate incompatible land uses. The amount specified shall be as prescribed by Section 14.16.010, Buffer yards.

2. Within the interior, peninsula or island type landscaped areas shall be provided for any open vehicular use area containing twenty (20) or more parking spaces. Landscaped areas shall be located in such a manner as to divide and break up the expanse of paving and at strategic points to guide travel flow and direction. Elsewhere, landscaped areas shall be designed to soften and complement the building site and separate the building from the vehicular surface area.

At a minimum, interior lot landscaping shall be provided in the following amounts:

Use	% of Lot
Institutional	15%
Industrial/wholesale/storage	10%
Office	10%
Commercial-retail-service	5%
Multi-family Projects	10%
Manufactured Home Parks	10%

3. Landscaping along exterior building walls and structures is suggested to separate with greenery the building from the vehicular surface area.

F. Landscaped Areas.

1. All landscaped areas in or adjacent to parking areas shall be protected form vehicular damage by a raised concrete curb or an equivalent barrier of six inches in height. The barrier need not be continuous.

2. Landscaped areas must be at least twenty-five (25) square feet in size.

G. Required Maintenance. The maintenance of required landscaped areas shall be the responsibility of the property owner. All such areas shall be properly maintained so as to assure their survival and aesthetic value, and shall be provided with an irrigation system or a readily available water supply. Failure to monitor such areas is a violation of this section, and may be remedied in the manner prescribed for other violations. (Ord. 99-O-25 § 4.3, 1999)