(a) A landscape plan shall be:
(1) Required in
conjunction with any development project requiring site plan or
development plan approval;
(2) Prepared
and/or certified by a landscape architect, landscape nursery person,
horticulturalist, or other design professional practicing within
their area of competence; provided, however, that in the case of
development proposals involving sites located on a secondary system
roadway and classified IL or IG, the landscaping plan may be
prepared by the property owner;
(3) Shall cover
the entire project area included in the overall site plan or development
plan for which approval is sought.
(b) A landscape plan submitted to meet the requirements established
by the provisions of this chapter shall include the following
information and existing and proposed site landscape features:
(1) Location and
identification by size and name, both common and botanical, of all
heritage, memorial or specimen trees in open areas on the site which
are proposed to be disturbed. In wooded areas, the woodline before
site preparation, average size, and predominant species of trees
shall be noted, except that any heritage or memorial, within a
wooded area proposed for clearing shall be individually located and
identified by size and name, both botanical and common.
(2) Existing
vegetation to be saved shall be indicated and noted accurately if
credits for tree preservation are being proposed or claimed.
(3) Location,
dimensions and area of all required buffer and landscape yards,
including transitional areas.
(4) Location and
description of other proposed landscape improvements such as earth
berms, walls, fences, or paved areas including notes and details to
describe fully the methods and materials proposed.
(5) Plant list or
schedule to include common and botanical name, quantity, spacing and
size at time of planting of all proposed plants.
(6)
Locations and labels of all proposed plants.
(7)
Planting, installation details and tree protection details as
necessary to en-sure conformance with the standards in section
24.1-242.
(8) Schedules or
lists showing required and proposed quantities for landscape items
required by the zoning ordinance.
(c) In preparing landscape plans the following factors shall be
considered:
(1) Location of
trees, shrubs, groundcovers and other landscaping to utilize
effectively the natural capacities of plant materials to intercept
and absorb airborne and runoff-related pollutants and to reduce
runoff volume, velocity and peak flow increases caused by
development.
(2) Preservation and
protection of existing viable and mature trees to the maximum extent
feasible.
(3)
Appropriateness of plants and locations for the specific
characteristics of the site and the purpose for installation.
(4) A
preference to designs and plant materials with reduced water needs.
(5) An emphasis
on landscaping in front of the principal building on the site and on
providing appropriate breaks in parking and vehicular areas.
(d) No site or development plan required under the terms of this
chapter shall receive final approval unless a landscaping plan has
been submitted and approved.
(e) No certificate of zoning compliance or certificate of occupancy
may be issued unless the following criteria are fully satisfied with
regard to the approved landscape plan:
(1) Such plan has
been implemented on the site; or
(2) Such plan, because
of seasonal conditions, cannot be implemented immediately, but has
been guaranteed by a postponed improvement agreement between the
developer and the county in a form acceptable to the county
attorney, and secured by a letter of credit, cash escrow or other
instrument acceptable to the county attorney in an amount equal to
the cost of such installation plus a reasonable allowance for
estimated administrative costs, inflation and potential damage to
existing vegetation or improvements (see sample agreement in
Appendix B). An irrevocable fully executed contract with a landscape
contractor or nursery providing for such installation shall be
deemed to be a sufficient guarantee for the purposes of this
section.