§ 36.2-642. General landscaping and screening standards.

(a)

General requirements.

(1)

All portions of a lot which are not included in the calculation of impervious surface ratio shall be landscaped. Landscaping shall include plant materials as may be required by this division as well as open areas covered with grass or other vegetative groundcover.

(2)

Landscaping within a sight distance triangle shall not include any evergreen tree and, furthermore, shall not include shrubs or ground cover exceeding thirty (30) inches in height above the graded ground level.

(3)

When a determination of the number of required trees or shrubs, as set forth in this division, results in a fraction, any fraction shall be counted as one (1) tree or shrub.

(4)

If the development of any portion of a lot includes the creation of a slope of two to one (2:1), horizontal to vertical, or greater, such slope shall be planted with vegetative cover, subject to determination of the Zoning Administrator that the methods of planting will hold the soil in place and that the proposed vegetative cover and rate of planting will ensure stabilization of the slope.

(b)

Planting materials. Where landscaping is required by this division, the following standards shall apply:

(1)

Trees used to meet the requirements of this division shall be selected from the current list of landscape trees approved and published by the zoning administrator. Such list shall specify minimum height or minimum caliper at planting, the 20-year canopy of trees in square feet, and the suitability of each species for parking areas, site canopy, or buffer yards.

(2)

Where evergreen or deciduous shrubs are required by this division, such shrubs shall have a minimum height of eighteen (18) inches at the time of planting.

(3)

Existing vegetation which meets the standards prescribed by this division, as determined by the Zoning Administrator, may be preserved and may be used to meet some or all of the landscaping requirements.

(4)

All required landscaping materials shall meet the specifications and standards of the American Association of Nurserymen.

(5)

Where the planting of trees which have a height at twenty-year maturity which would interfere with overhead utility lines, the Zoning Administrator may, as a part of development plan approval, permit the substitution of trees with a lesser height at maturity, provided the substitute trees shall be provided at a rate that will result in the same amount of total tree canopy.

(c)

Screening. Where screening is required by this division, the following standards shall apply:

(1)

Screening shall be visually opaque and constructed of a durable material. Where specified, open space may be permitted in the screen materials to allow for air circulation with the open spaces to be distributed throughout the screen structure (e.g., space between louvers or gaps in mesh).

(2)

Screening shall be maintained by the owner of the property so as to meet the requirements of this division.

(3)

Acceptable screening materials shall include stockade fences, decorative masonry walls, brick walls, earth berms, and perforated or louvered metal panels. The Zoning Administrator may approve alternative materials where their characteristics and design meet the intent and standards of this division.

(d)

Landscape plan. For development plans subject to the requirements of this division, the following landscaping information shall be required as part of development plan approval:

(1)

For a basic development plan, the landscaping information as set forth in Section B-1, Appendix B, shall be submitted; or

(2)

For a comprehensive development plan, a Landscape Plan as set forth in Section B-3, Appendix B, shall be submitted.

(e)

Installation. The installation of required tree canopies, landscaping, buffering, and screening shall meet the following requirements:

(1)

Only healthy planting materials shall be used for required plantings.

(2)

The planting of trees shall be done in accordance with either the standardized landscape specifications jointly adopted by the Virginia Nurserymen's Association, the Virginia Society of Landscape Designers, and the Virginia Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects, or the road and bridge specifications of the Virginia Department of Transportation.

(3)

No temporary Certificate of Occupancy shall be issued until either the required landscaping is completed in accordance with an approved development plan or the property owner or developer provides a guarantee in a form acceptable to the City Attorney that ensures installation.

(A)

A guarantee for required landscaping shall be an amount equal to one hundred ten (110) percent of the cost of the plants, related materials, and installation.

(B)

All required landscaping shall be installed, inspected, and approved within three (3) months of acceptance of the guarantee.

(C)

During any water emergency declared by the governing body in which the use of water is restricted, the Zoning Administrator may permit the delayed installation of required trees, plants, or screening materials. In this event, the property owner shall be required to maintain the guarantee. After a declaration of water emergency ends, the property owner shall install the required plants within thirty (30) days.

(4)

No permanent Certificate of Occupancy shall be issued until the required landscaping is completed in accordance with an approved development plan.

(f)

Maintenance. After approval by the Zoning Administrator that all landscaping required by this chapter is complete and in healthy condition, the property owner shall be responsible for the ongoing protection and maintenance of all required landscaping in a manner that complies with the requirements of this chapter and in conformance with the approved development plan. Where necessary to comply with the requirements of this chapter and the approved development plan, dead or damaged landscaping materials shall be replaced by the property owner within six (6) months of notification by the City.

(g)

Modification of landscaping requirements. The Zoning Administrator may approve in writing a development plan subject to, in whole or in part, alternative landscaping, screening, or buffer yard standards if the Zoning Administrator finds that any of the following circumstances exist on the proposed development site, or surrounding properties, provided any such alternative plan shall provide the equivalent quantity of required vegetative material and shall have no additional adverse visual impact on adjacent properties or public areas or otherwise be inconsistent with the stated purposes of this division:

(1)

Natural land characteristics, such as topography or existing vegetation, on the proposed development site would achieve the same intent of this division;

(2)

Innovative landscaping or architectural design is employed on the development site to achieve an equivalent tree canopy, landscaping, screening, or buffering effect;

(3)

The screening and landscaping for a required buffer would be ineffective because of the proposed topography of the site or the location of the improvements on the site; or

(4)

The topography of adjacent and surrounding sites would render required screening ineffective.

(Ord. No. 37633, § 14, 11-20-06; Ord. No. 37984, § 6, 12-17-07; Ord. No. 38423, § 1, 4-20-09; Ord. No. 39495, § 1, 9-4-12; Ord. No. 41173, § 1, 6-18-18; Ord. No. 41370, § 1, 1-22-19)

(Ord. No. 37633, § 14, 11-20-06; Ord. No. 37984, § 6, 12-17-07; Ord. No. 38423, § 1, 4-20-09; Ord. No. 39495, § 1, 9-4-12; Ord. No. 41173, § 1, 6-18-18; Ord. No. 41370, § 1, 1-22-19)