(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 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 (2½") 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 subsection 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 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.