ARTICLE VI. DESIGN STANDARDS

DIVISION 1. GENERAL LAYOUT AND DESIGN

(a) Landscaping.

     (1) Entrances and common areas shall be landscaped by the subdivider with appropriate combinations of trees, shrubs, grass and groundcovers except where the existing mature trees have been preserved and protected in such areas. Unless the agent determines that such landscape treatment is unnecessary, impractical or in conflict with drainage, utilities, or other required features of the subdivision, the cleared portions of entrance and common areas in residential subdivisions shall be landscaped with a minimum of one (1) tree and one (1) shrub for each one thousand (1,000) square feet contained in such areas exclusive of roadways, sidewalks, recreational facilities, or other paved areas.

      (2) All landscape treatments required by this chapter or the zoning ordinance shall be designed, arranged, installed and maintained in accordance with the landscaping standards contained in the zoning ordinance.

(b) Tree planting and replacement.

     (1) In accordance with section 15.2-961, Code of Virginia, trees shall be preserved, planted or replaced on all residential lots, excluding recreation lots. Tree preservation/planting shall be accomplished such that, within twenty (20) years growing time, the minimum tree canopy or cover on residential lots shall be twenty percent (20%).

     (2) The required tree canopy or cover shall generally be evenly distributed across the lot with a preference for trees located in front of the principal building and along the rear property line.

     (3) The calculation of tree canopies shall be based on the Manual of Woody Landscape Plants, 4th edition, 1990, by Michael A. Dirr (ISBN 0-87563-347-1) or Street Tree Factsheets, 1993, Municipal Tree Restoration Program, Pennsylvania State University (ISBN 1-883956-00-5) as they may from time to time be amended.

    (4) Existing trees which are to be preserved and used to meet all or part of the canopy requirements shall be protected before, during, and after the development process in accordance with those standards contained in the zoning ordinance.

     (5) Newly planted trees and shrubs shall be selected, installed and maintained in accordance with the standards contained in the zoning ordinance.

      (6) In all subdivisions in nonindustrial zoning districts, deciduous shade or ornamental trees shall be planted as street trees along all rights-of-way within and abutting the subdivision. Such trees shall be located either within the right-of-way itself or within a ten-foot (10') landscape preservation easement contiguous to such right-of-way and shall contain, at a minimum, one (1) tree planted approximately every forty feet (40'). Where located within an easement, the subdivider shall dedicate the easement together with a maintenance easement to the property owners’ association or other entity approved by the agent and county attorney. All trees planted to meet this requirement shall have a minimum caliper of two and one-half inches (2˝") and conform with the relevant provisions of the zoning ordinance. Existing trees which are within twenty feet (20') of the edge of the right-of-way and which are protected and preserved in accordance with the standards contained in the zoning ordinance may be used to satisfy the planting requirement.

    (7) The subdivider shall have the option to meet the requirements of this sub-section through actual installation/retention, a postponed improvement agreement with surety, establishment of restrictive covenants, or some combination which achieves the same intent.

(c) Buffers. A landscaped buffer, broken only by necessary entrances approved by the agent, shall be established on all residential lots along all major roads abutting a proposed subdivision. Such roads shall be defined to include Routes 17, 105, 132, 134, 143, 171, 199, and Interstate 64 and such other routes as may be specified in section 24.1-245 of the zoning ordinance.

     (1) The minimum width of said landscaped buffer shall be thirty-five feet (35'), or such greater dimension as may be prescribed by the zoning ordinance, measured from the edge of the existing or reserved right-of-way.

     (2)  A landscape preservation easement, acceptable as to content and form by the county attorney and encompassing the required buffer, shall be granted to the county.

      (3)  The buffer shall be landscaped in accordance with the landscaping requirements contained section 24.1-243(a)(1) of the zoning ordinance, provided however, that lakes which are at least thirty-five feet (35') in width and are adjacent to such roadways shall be deemed to meet this requirement without the provision of the landscaping required herein.

(d)  Screening fences.

     (1) Screening fences supplemented by appropriate landscaping shall be required between proposed commercial/industrial subdivisions and abutting property used for residential purposes where the agent determines that such fences are necessary by reason of use, topography, building location, or other physical aspect of the site.

      (2) Screening fences shall be constructed of wood or masonry and the agent shall specifically review and approve both the location and design of the screening fence. Fences facing streets shall be finished on the street side.

     (3) Where required, such screening fences and supplementary landscaping shall be included within the terms of any subdivision agreement entered into by the subdivider and the county.

      (4)  All screening fences shall be erected in accordance with proper construction standards, shall be maintained in good repair, and shall be kept free from trash, litter, or debris.

      (5)  All screening fences shall be designed and located so as to not interfere with fire hydrants and fire department connections.

(e) The agent may reasonably modify, transfer, or grant an exception to the requirements contained in this section upon a finding that strict application of the requirements would result in unnecessary or unreasonable hardship and that practicable alternatives to such strict application would achieve a similar intent. Any request for such modification, transfer, or exception shall be made in writing and clearly state the reasons for such request.

(Ord. No. 05-33, 12/20/05; Ord. No. 09-17, 8/18/09)