§ 36.2-648. Parking area landscaping.

(a)

Parking areas shall be subject to the following buffering and screening standards:

(1)

Wheel stops, curbing, or other barriers shall protect landscaping from damage by motor vehicles.

(2)

Interior planting areas shall be at least eight (8) feet by eighteen (18) feet, with a minimum soil depth of two (2) feet, and shall include surface landscaping, mulch, grass or other vegetative ground cover, or river rock. Interior planting areas shall be located in one or more of the following locations:

(A)

Within an otherwise continuous row of parking spaces so as to provide separation between groups of parking spaces within a row;

(B)

At the end of a row of parking spaces so as to provide separation between parking spaces and an access aisle, driveway, street, alley or other paved area;

(C)

At the end of a row of parking spaces so as to provide a corner between rows of parking spaces that are arranged at an angle to one another; or

(D)

Between opposing rows of parking spaces or between a row of parking spaces and an access aisle, driveway, street, alley or other paved area.

(3)

Trees required by this section shall be selected from Table 642-1.

(b)

Parking areas shall be landscaped according to the standards set forth in the Table 648-1.

(c)

The landscaping and screening materials shall be provided in accordance with Section 36.2-649.

Table 648-1. Parking Area Landscaping Standards

Size of Parking Area	Street Frontage Buffering Materials	Perimeter Buffering Materials	Minimum Tree Canopy Required
6 or fewer parking spaces	None required	None required	None required
7—20 parking spaces	Street screen or an 8-foot deep yard with deciduous trees and evergreen shrubs.	Deciduous trees and shrubs between the parking area and an abutting residential district. Exception: Buffering is not required where the parking area abuts a parking area with 7 or more spaces on an adjacent lot.	The minimum parking area tree canopy is 10%. If the canopy of trees planted to meet requirements for street frontage buffering materials and perimeter buffering materials does not meet 10% of the parking area canopy, add at least half of the balance of required tree canopy to the interior of the parking area. Any remaining balance may be added to the perimeter of the parking area. Only trees planted within 8 feet of the parking area pavement are credited toward parking area canopy.
21 or more parking spaces	Street screen or an 8-foot deep yard with deciduous trees and evergreen shrubs.	Deciduous trees and shrubs between the parking area and an abutting residential district. Exception: Buffering is not required where the parking area abuts a lot that contains a parking area with 7 or more spaces.	The minimum parking area tree canopy is 20%. If the canopy of trees planted to meet requirements for street frontage buffering materials and perimeter buffering materials does not meet 20% of the parking area canopy, add at least half of the balance of required tree canopy to the interior of the parking area. Any remaining balance may be added to the perimeter of the parking area. Only trees planted within 8 feet of the parking area pavement are credited toward parking area canopy.

 

(Ord. No. 37633, § 14, 11-20-06; Ord. No. 38237, § 5, 9-15-08; Ord. No. 38423, § 1, 4-20-09; Ord. No. 39495, § 1, 9-4-12; Ord. No. 40710, § 1, 12-5-16)

(Ord. No. 37633, § 14, 11-20-06; Ord. No. 38237, § 5, 9-15-08; Ord. No. 38423, § 1, 4-20-09; Ord. No. 39495, § 1, 9-4-12; Ord. No. 40710, § 1, 12-5-16)