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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| 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. |
Privacy fences shall only be permitted within the
scenic corridor buffer area as explicitly permitted in Table 10.3.2.
- 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.
| 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.
- 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.