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Chapter 10 Tree Canopy, Landscaping and Open Spaces Part
3 Parkway and Scenic Corridor Development Standards Page 2 of 2
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- When the requirements of this Part specify the use of Type A trees in areas where existing overhead utility lines make the use of Type A trees impractical, Type B trees may be substituted at a rate of one tree for each thirty (30) linear feet of road frontage and Type C trees at a rate of one tree for each fifteen (15) feet of road frontage.
- All scenic corridor setbacks and buffer areas shall be measured from the property line adjacent to the right-of-way of the scenic corridor.
- All scenic corridor buffer areas and landscaping requirements shall be applicable to the first fifty (50) linear feet of any intersecting street unless that street is a designated Parkway, Olmsted Parkway or the Gene Snyder Freeway, in which case the specific buffering and landscaping requirements for those corridors shall be applicable.
- All required landscaping shall be located within the required buffer area except where explicitly stated otherwis
- The berm required to screen the vehicle use area of non-residential developments may be replaced by a continuous fence, wall or hedge when the Planning Director finds that the proposed modification is in character with nearby developments or allows for tree preservation that would not be possible if a berm was provided.
- Plantings shall consist of a mix of deciduous and evergreen trees so as to provide for the corridors visual interests, whether it be screening or creating a filtered view from the roadway, on a year round basis.
- No tree clearing, construction, or re-grading shall take place within forty (40) feet of the right-of-way prior to landscape plan approval, except that utility maintenance and landscape maintenance required for public health and activities ordinarily associated with surveying and similar preliminary site analysis shall be permitted.
- Scenic corridor buffer areas shall be set aside to accommodate the required landscape and buffering materials. No vehicle use areas, except for necessary driveway crossings, or buildings or structures, except for fences permitted by this Section and structures attendant to public utility services, shall be permitted within a required scenic corridor buffer area. Freestanding signs shall be permitted within a required scenic corridor buffer area. . Retention or detention basins may occupy no more than 50% of the required width of any scenic corridor buffer area.
- Required scenic corridor setbacks shall apply to buildings, excluding accessory structures less than one hundred (100) square feet in area. They shall not apply to vehicle use areas.
- Signage
All signage shall be in accordance with Chapter 8 Sign Regulations and with all other applicable provisions of the Land Development Code. - Fences
- Chain-link fences shall not be permitted within the scenic corridor buffer area.
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Privacy fences shall only be permitted within the scenic corridor buffer area as explicitly permitted in Table 10.3.2.NOTE: For the purpose of this Part "privacy fence" shall mean any fence made of wood or other material whose primary purpose is to block or substantially reduce or obstruct visibility. This definition includes stone and masonry walls, except as provided in C.3. of this Section. - Three and four board wood fences, sometimes called horse fences, wire fences traditionally used to secure livestock, and stone or masonry fences less than four feet in height shall be permitted within the scenic corridor buffer area.
- Road Improvements
As development occurs adjacent to the communitys scenic corridors, road improvements may be required to provide for the safety of those facilities. As these improvements occur, special consideration shall be given to preserving / maintaining the existing character of the corridor. The following aspects shall be considered when making such improvements.- Limiting land disturbance to only those areas necessary for road improvements to occur. This may require the use of construction fencing to protect existing trees located in the right-of-way and on private property.
- Maintaining the existing streetscape of the corridor. This may require applying for an encroachment permit to establish vegetation in the right-of-way and locating pedestrian facilities so as to maximize tree preservation. Meandering sidewalks are specifically permitted and encouraged.
10.3.7 Gene Snyder Freeway Development Standards
All new development and expansion of existing developments as prescribed in Section 10.3.2, above, shall meet the following requirements.
- Gene Snyder Freeway Setbacks, Buffering and Landscaping Requirements
- Gene Snyder Freeway setbacks, buffering and landscaping shall be
required in accordance with Table 10.3.3, below.
Table 10.3.3
Type of Development Required Setback Required Buffer Area Required Landscaping All Development See Chapter 5 Part 1 (Form District Regulations) for residential Setback requirements. 50 feet 1 Type A or B tree for each 30 feet of road frontage and 1 large shrub for each 20 feet of road frontage - All Gene Snyder Freeway setbacks and buffer areas shall be measured from the property line adjacent to the right-of-way of the Freeway.
- At least seventy-five (75) percent of the trees and shrubs being planted to meet the requirements of this Part shall be native to this area. DPDS staff shall provide applicants/developers with guidance as to which vegetative species are appropriate to be used to meet this requirement.
- Plantings may be grouped together so as to be natural in style and are intended to partially screen the buildings from the Freeway in an effort to provide for the visual interest of the corridor.
- At least twenty-five (25) percent of the trees required by this Part shall be evergreen trees so as to partially screen development from the Freeway on a year round basis.
- No tree clearing, construction, or re-grading shall take place within fifty (50) feet of the right-of-way prior to landscape plan approval, except that utility maintenance and landscape maintenance required for public health and activities ordinarily associated with surveying and similar preliminary site analysis shall be permitted.
- Preservation of existing vegetation is the preferred means of meeting the screening objective. When preservation occurs, the applicant shall provide as Part of the tree preservation plan an existing tree survey that depicts the general location, species mix, and typical size of existing stands of trees that are proposed to be retained. Photographs showing the general quality of the buffer areas existing vegetation shall also be provided.
- In those instances that because of a sites topography in relation to the freeway vegetation alone will not provide for effective screening between a development and the Freeway, the Planning Commission or its designee may require a berm or other screening measures in addition to the plantings required by this Section.
- All required setbacks, buffer areas and vegetation applicable to the Gene Snyder Freeway shall also be applicable to all Gene Snyder Freeway access ramps.
- Gene Snyder Freeway buffer areas shall be set aside to accommodate the required landscape and buffering materials. No vehicle use areas, buildings or structures, except for fences or walls permitted by this Section and structures attendant to public utility services, shall be permitted within a required Gene Snyder Freeway buffer area. . Retention or detention basins may occupy no more than 50% of the required width of the Freeway buffer area.
- Gene Snyder Freeway setbacks, buffering and landscaping shall be
required in accordance with Table 10.3.3, below.
- Signage
All signage shall be in accordance with Chapter 8 Sign Regulations and with all other applicable provisions of the Land Development Code. - Fences
- All privacy fences shall be setback at least thirty (30) feet from the right-of-way line of the Freeway and all of the required plantings shall be located between the Freeway and the fence.
- Where conditions permit, any fences or walls constructed to mitigate noise levels on adjacent or nearby properties shall provide the required trees and shrubs between the Freeway right-of-way and the fence or wall.
10.3.8 Olmsted Parkway Development Standards (RESERVED)
10.3.9 Alternative Landscape Designs
It is not the intent of this Part to discourage innovative, aesthetically pleasing landscape buffer area designs. Thus, the developer may choose to submit a landscape plan depicting buffering materials/plantings that conform to the spirit and intent of this Part, while varying from the specific planting requirements. The alternative buffering materials/plantings may be permitted if the Planning Director finds that said deviations are a substantial improvement over the minimum requirements of this Part.
10.3.10 Modifications
The Planning Commission may modify or waive the buffering
and planting requirements of this Part upon making the findings specified in
Chapter 11 Part 8 of the Land Development Code.

