ARTICLE II. GENERAL REGULATIONS

Sec. 24.1-242. Landscaping standards.

(a)       Maintenance of landscaping and screening. The property owner, or the owner's successors, shall be responsible for the maintenance of all landscaping, fencing, and screening materials required by this chapter or under the terms of other development approvals and shown on an approved landscape plan.  Failure to maintain such landscaping, fencing and screening shall be deemed a violation of this chapter.

     (1)       All plant material and planting areas required by this chapter or other development approval shall be tended and maintained in a healthy growing condition, replaced when necessary, and kept free of refuse, litter, and debris.  The replacement provision for landscaping shall apply only to plants that were required to be installed or that were awarded preservation credits as part of the site plan approval process. 

     (2)       All fences, walls, and screening required by this chapter shall be maintained in good repair.

     (3)       In the event that any required landscaping material shown on the plan is subsequently replaced, the new material shall conform with the original approved landscape plan, or an approved amended plan, with respect to size and characteristics of the plantings.  In meeting the terms of this section, the replacement of mature trees which were counted toward the original landscape compliance shall be with trees of a similar species and of a size that meets the standards for new installations.

(b)       Source standards. All plant materials installed on a site shall have been grown in conformance with the American Standard for Nursery Stock, provided however that the zoning administrator may approve, in writing, the transplanting of trees or shrubs when such transplanting is done in accordance with accepted horticultural and silvicultural practices. 

(c)       Standards for berms and earth forms.  All berms and earth forms required or otherwise proposed for use shall conform with the following standards (See Figure II-5 in Appendix A):

      (1)       Design should include physical variations in height and alignment

     (2)       Landscape plant material installed on berms and earth forms should be arranged in an irregular pattern to accentuate variation and achieve a natural appearance.

     (3)       Location and design shall minimize disturbance to existing trees located on the site or adjacent thereto.

     (4)       Sight triangle provisions contained in this chapter and the subdivision ordinance shall be observed.

(d)       Layout and design standards. Except as may be otherwise required by this article, the following layout and design standards shall apply to all landscape plans:

    (1)      All trees installed to meet the requirements of this chapter shall be comprised of a combination of tree types (e.g., deciduous shade, evergreen, flowering ornamental) unless otherwise specified.  No more than fifty percent (50%) of the required trees shall be of one type (i.e., deciduous, evergreen), nor shall more than twenty-five percent (25%) of the required trees be of a single species. 

     (2)       All trees installed to meet the requirements of this chapter should be dispersed throughout the required planting areas, should be planted with a combination of single and groups of trees in a staggered, clustered or other pattern designed to complement the building and site design and promote appropriate views and sight lines.  Trees shall not be installed in a continuous single row except where necessary and appropriate to meet screening or transitional buffer requirements.

    (3)       Shrubs, perennials and ornamental grasses installed to meet the requirements of this chapter should be installed in groupings and integrated with trees.

     (4)       Existing vegetation which is suitable for use in the land­scape shall be preserved and used as required plantings to the maximum extent practicable.  In no case shall any viable mature, heritage, memorial, specimen or significant tree be removed from any buffer area or landscape preservation easement except to accommodate necessary entrances or utility service to the site which cannot be relocated in an appropriate manner or where such preservation would create or perpetuate demonstra­ble public health, safety, or welfare hazards.

   (5)       Impervious surface area should be limited to the minimum amount necessary to accommodate the desired development and ensure appropriate levels of parking, traffic safety, and on-site circulation. The zoning administrator may require plan modifications which reduce the amount of impervious surface area without inhibiting site development and operation.

     (6)       Modifications of the layout and design standards contained herein may be approved by the zoning administrator upon a determination that all of the following conditions exist.  

          a.         The proposed layout and design furthers a readily discernible theme or complements the architectural style of the structures on site.  The lining of an entrance road or driveway with trees of the same species in straight lines parallel to the road or driveway in an attempt to further a colonial or antebellum theme expressed in the architecture of the buildings or the use of massed ornamental plantings to highlight or complement a unique architectural or natural feature are examples.

          b.         The proposed layout and design provides landscaping which will have the same or similar screening impact, intensity, or variation throughout the year when viewed from adjacent properties or rights-of-way as that which would be required by strict interpretation of the standards contained in this subsection.

          c.         The proposed layout and design fully integrates and complements the existing trees to be preserved on the site.

    (7)       Any trees or shrubs installed or preserved on the site which exceed the minimum numerical requirements of this chapter shall not be subject to the species mixture, locational, maintenance or replacement requirements contained herein. 

(e)       Tree protection standards.

     (1)       Trees which are to be preserved on site shall be protected before, during and after the development process utilizing accepted practices.  At minimum, the tree protection practices set out in the Virginia Erosion and Sediment Control Handbook, Third Edition, 1992 shall be utilized.

     (2)       Trees selected for preservation in order to obtain landscaping credits shall be shown on the landscape plan and clearly marked in the field.  In woodland areas, groups of trees shall be selected for preservation rather than single trees wherever possible.

     (3)       Trees and groups of trees which are to be preserved shall be enclosed by a temporary fence or barrier to be located and maintained five feet (5') outside of their dripline during construction.  Such a fence or barrier shall be installed prior to clearing or construction, shall be sufficient to prevent intrusion into the fenced area during construction, and in no case shall materials, vehicles or equipment be stored or stockpiled within the enclosure.  Within the fenced area, the topsoil layer shall not be disturbed except in accordance with accepted tree protection practices.

     (4)       The developer shall be responsible for notifying all construction personnel of the presence and purpose of clearing limits and protective fences or barriers and for ensuring that they are observed.

     (5)       Where grade changes in excess of six inches (6") from the existing natural grade level are necessary, permanent protective structures such as tree wells or walls shall be properly installed.

(f)        Selection of trees for preservation. In determining which trees shall be preserved during the development process, consideration shall be given to preserving trees which:

      (1)       Are heritage, memorial, significant and specimen trees

    (2)       Complement the project design including the enhancement of the architecture and streetscape appearance

    (3)       Can tolerate environmental changes to be caused by development (i.e., increased sunlight, heat, wind and alteration of water regime)

      (4)       Have strong branching and rooting patterns

      (5)       Are disease and insect resistant

    (6)       Complement or do not conflict with stormwater management and Best Management Practice designs

      (7)       Are located in required buffer areas

      (8)       Exist in natural groupings, including islands of trees

    (9)       Do not conflict with necessary utility, structure, parking area, roadway or sidewalk placements

    (10)     Have been recommended by the Virginia Department of Forestry, the York County Cooperative Extension Service or a qualified arborist or urban forester for preservation.

(g)       Species standards.  All required landscape plant material proposed to be installed on the site shall be selected from the appropriate listing of recommended plant material contained in tables II-1 through II-7 in Appendix A and shall be of the minimum sizes noted provided, however, that alternative species may be used, upon certification by a certified landscape architect, landscape nurseryman or horticulturalist that said species have a rated hardiness and growth habit appropriate for the intended location.   Particular attention shall be given to selecting trees and shrubs based on the area in which they will be installed (e.g., landscaped yards, parking areas, adjacent to buildings, etc.) and the lists contained in Appendix A will assist in the selection and review of a landscaping design.  In addition, landscaping shall be selected and arranged with appropriate attention to future growth and maturity in order to accommodate visibility, safety and aesthetic considerations without need for future severe pruning or removal.

All landscaping required within this chapter shall conform with the following minimum size standards unless specifically modified by other provisions contained herein:

(h)      Numerical standards:

     (1)       Unless a greater or lesser number or ratio is specified elsewhere in this chapter as it pertains to specific development types and forms, the following planting ratios shall be required (all fractional calculations shall be rounded up to the next highest whole number).

In the case of front yards, side yards and parking lots, a minimum of 50% and a maximum of 75% of the landscaping credits must be earned from trees.  In the case of building perimeters, a minimum of 25% and a maximum of 50% of the landscaping credits must be earned from trees.  Ornamental grasses and perennials may be incorporated into the landscape design and shall be eligible for achieving up to 25% of the required/proposed shrubs credits.

     (2)       Landscaping credits shall be awarded/earned based on the values established in the following table:   

 (Ord. No. 03-42(R), 12/2/03);  Ord. No. 08-17(R), 03/17/09