The purpose of this chapter is to establish standards to encourage quality landscaping that will contribute to the appearance and aesthetic appeal of the city of Carlton. (Ord. 619, 2003)

All construction, expansion, or redevelopment of structures or parking lots for commercial, multi-family, or industrial uses shall be subject to the landscaping requirements of this chapter. (Ord. 619, 2003)

A. Landscaping plans shall be submitted as required by the site design review of Chapter 17.156.

B. Submittal Requirements. The applicant shall submit a landscape plan for approval that includes:

1. The percentage of the gross area to be landscaped;

2. The location, type, size, and species of existing and proposed plant materials;

3. All existing and proposed site features including walkways, graveled areas, mailboxes, street lamps, patios, terraces, courts, fences, decks, foundations, potted trees and potted plants, and other open spaces;

4. The location and height of fences, buffers, and screening;

5. The location of underground irrigation system sprinkler heads where applicable;

6. A narrative that addresses soil conditions and erosion control measures that will be used.

(Ord. 619, 2003)

All landscaping required by this title and approved by the planning commission shall be installed prior to issuance of a final occupancy permit unless security equal to one hundred ten (110) percent of the cost of the landscaping is filed with the city assuring such installation within six months of occupancy. The applicant will obtain cost estimates for landscape materials and installation to the satisfaction of the city prior to approval of the security. “Security” may consist of a faithful performance bond payable to the city, cash, certified checks, time certificates of deposit, assignment of a savings account or other such assurance of completion as shall meet with the approval of the city attorney. The city staff prior to any security being returned shall make the final landscape inspection. Any portions of the plan not installed, not installed properly, or not properly maintained shall cause the inspection to be postponed until the project is completed. If the installation of the landscaping is not completed within the six month time period or within an extension of time authorized by the city, the security may be used by the city to complete the installation. Any portion of the security that remains after installation of the landscaping shall be returned to the applicant. (Ord. 619, 2003)

Landscaped areas may include landscaping: around buildings, in open spaces and outdoor recreation areas, in islands and perimeter planting areas in parking and loading areas, and in areas devoted to buffering and screening as required in this chapter and elsewhere in this title. For expansions of existing developments and parking lots, the minimum new landscaped area shall be determined by: first calculating the percentage of the increase of total floor area or parking area; multiplying the gross site area by this percentage of increase; multiplying the resulting area by the minimum percentage for the type of development. (Ord. 619, 2003)

A. For purposes of satisfying the minimum requirements of this title, a “landscaped area” must be planted in lawn, ground cover plants, shrubs, annuals, perennials or trees, or desirable native vegetation, or be used for other landscape elements as defined in this title.

B. Landscaping shall be designed, developed, and maintained to satisfy the specific functional and aesthetic objectives appropriate to the development and the district, considering the following:

1. Type, variety, scale and number of plants used;

2. Placement and spacing of plants;

3. Size and location of landscaped areas;

4. Contouring, shaping and preparation of landscaped areas;

5. Use and placement of non-plant elements within the landscaping.

C. The city may grant the applicant credit for landscaping to be done in the public right-of-way provided the applicant meets the elements set forth for the granting of a variance. It shall not be necessary to hold a public hearing to grant this credit. The city shall consider the need for future use of the right-of-way for street purposes when granting approval for credit under this chapter.

D. The landscape design shall incorporate existing significant trees and vegetation preserved on the site.

(Ord. 619, 2003)

Where required by ordinance, or where placed as a condition of approval, screening and buffering shall meet the following minimum requirements:

A. Screening shall be used to eliminate or reduce the visual and noise impacts of the following uses:

1. Commercial and industrial uses when abutting residential uses;

2. Industrial uses when abutting commercial uses;

3. Service areas and facilities, including garbage and waste disposal containers, recycling bins, and loading areas;

4. Outdoor storage areas;

5. Parking areas for ten (10) or more vehicles for multi-family developments, or twenty (20) or more vehicles for commercial or industrial uses;

6. At and above-grade electrical and mechanical equipment, such as transformers, heat pumps, and air conditioners;

7. Any other area or use as required by this title.

B. Screening may be accomplished by the use of sight-obscuring plant materials (generally evergreens), earth berms, walls, fences, building parapets, building placement, or other design techniques.

C. Buffering shall be used to mitigate adverse visual impacts, dust, noise or pollution, and to provide for compatibility between dissimilar adjoining uses. Where buffering is determined to be necessary, one of the following buffering alternatives shall be employed:

1. Planting area: width not less than twenty (20) feet, planted with the following materials:

a. At least two rows of deciduous or evergreen trees staggered and spaced not more than ten (10) feet apart; and

b. At least one row of evergreen shrubs which will grow to form a continuous hedge at least five feet in height within one year of planting; and

c. Lawn, low-growing evergreen shrubs or evergreen ground cover covering the balance of the area.

2. Berm plus planting area: width not less than fifteen (15) feet, developed in accordance with the following standards:

a. Berm form shall not slope more than forty (40) percent (2.5H:1V) on the side away from the area screened from view; and

b. A dense evergreen hedge shall be located so as to most effectively buffer the proposed use; and

c. Combined total height of the berm plus the hedge shall be at least five feet within one year of planting.

3. Wall plus planting area: width must not be less than five feet developed in accordance with the following standards:

a. A masonry wall or fence not less than six feet in height; and

b. Lawn, low-growing evergreen shrubs, and evergreen ground cover covering the balance of the area.

4. Other methods that produce an adequate buffer considering the nature of the impacts to be mitigated, as approved by the city. (Ord. 619, 2003)

All landscaping shall be continually maintained, including necessary watering, weeding, pruning, mowing, and replacement, in a substantially similar manner as was approved by the city. In addition, the following shall apply:

A. No sight-obscuring plantings exceeding twenty-four (24) inches in height shall be located within any required vision clearance area as defined in Section 17.92.080.

B. Plant materials shall not cause a hazard. Landscape plant materials over walks, pedestrian paths, and seating areas shall be pruned to a minimum height of eight feet and to a minimum height of fifteen (15) feet over streets and vehicular traffic areas.

C. Landscape plant materials shall be selected which does not generally interfere with utilities above or below ground.

D. Landscape plant material shall be installed to current nursery industry standards.

E. Landscape plant materials shall be properly guyed and staked to current industry standards as necessary. Stakes and guy wires shall not interfere with vehicular or pedestrian traffic.

F. All landscape material shall be guaranteed by the developer for a period of one year from the date of installation. A copy of the guarantee shall be furnished to the city by the developer.

G. Plant materials shall be suited to the conditions under which they will be growing. As an example, plants to be grown in exposed, windy areas that will not be irrigated should be sufficiently hardy to thrive under these conditions. Plants should have vigorous root systems and be sound, healthy, and free from defects, diseases, and infections.

H. Deciduous trees should be fully branched, have a minimum caliper of one and one-quarter inches, and a minimum height of eight feet at the time of planting.

I. Evergreen trees shall be a minimum of six feet in height, fully branched.

J. Shrubs shall be supplied in minimum one gallon containers or eight inch burlap balls with a minimum spread of fifteen (15) inches and a minimum height of eighteen (18) inches.

K. Ground cover plants shall be spaced in accordance with current nursery industry standards to achieve covering of the planting area. Rows of plants are to be staggered for a more effective covering. Ground cover shall be supplied in a minimum four inch size container or equivalent if planted eighteen (18) inches on center.

L. All developments are required to provide appropriate methods of irrigation for the landscaping. Sites with over one thousand (1,000) square feet of total landscaped area shall be irrigated with automatic sprinkler systems to insure the continued health and attractiveness of the plant materials. Hose bibs and manually operated methods of irrigation may be used for landscaped areas totaling less than one thousand (1,000) square feet. Irrigation shall not be required in wooded areas, wetlands, floodplains, or along natural drainage channels or stream banks. Sprinkler heads shall not be a hazard to the public.

M. Appropriate methods of care and maintenance of landscaped plant material shall be provided by the owner of the property.

N. Landscape plant material shall be protected from damage due to heavy foot traffic or vehicular traffic by protective tree grates, pavers or other suitable methods. (Ord. 619, 2003)