§ 98-1063. Landscaping of development sites.

(a)

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.

(b)

No zoning certificate 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)

If such plan cannot be implemented immediately because of seasonal conditions, the future fulfillment of the plan will be memorialized in a postponed improvement agreement between the developer and the county. This postponed improvement agreement shall be secured by a letter of credit, cash escrow, or other instrument acceptable to the zoning administrator 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.

(c)

All proposed new developments shall include landscape yards around the perimeter of the site and around the buildings erected on the site to facilitate adequate control and management of stormwater runoff along with non-point source pollution and to enhance the aesthetics of the project.

(d)

Unless a specific application or use elsewhere in this chapter requires a different requirement or standard, all landscaping required by this chapter shall meet the following requirements and standards (all fractional calculations of planting ratios shall be rounded up to the next highest whole number):

Landscape Yard and Planting Requirements
Location	Yard Width (feet)	Planting Ratios 1
		Trees	Shrubs
Front Yard	20	1 per 500 sq. ft.	1 per 500 sq. ft.
Side Yard	10	1 per 1,000 sq. ft.	1 per 1,000 sq. ft.
Rear Yard	10	0	0
Building Perimeter	10	0	1 per 100 sq. ft.
Parking Lots	N/A	2 per 10 spaces	4 per 10 spaces

 

Landscape Planting Size Standards
Plant Material	Minimum Size 2
	Height	Caliper	Spread
Trees
Deciduous	10 feet	2.25 inches	4 feet
Evergreen	8 feet	2.0 inches	4 feet
Flowering & Ornamental	8 feet	1.75 inches	4 feet
Shrubs
Deciduous	N/A	N/A	24 inches
Evergreen	N/A	N/A	18 inches
Flowering & Ornamental	N/A	N/A	18 inches

 

(e)

For purposes of calculating planting requirements based on square footage, use only the open space within landscape yards. The area contained in necessary entrances, pedestrian facilities, and similar impervious areas required for site development shall be excluded. Required plantings may be arranged within specified yards in any manner desired and the growth habits of landscape materials installed shall be considered in such decisions.

(f)

In designing the site landscaping the principles of Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) shall be considered. The goal is to provide as much visibility to and from the site as possible and avoid creating spaces that provide opportunities for concealment through the use of the following standards:

(1)

Natural surveillance. Provide natural surveillance throughout the site, especially to parking areas, buildings, building entrances, walkways, etc. Natural surveillance is the placement of physical features, activities and people in such a way as to maximize visibility.

(2)

Natural access control. Provide natural access control throughout the site. Natural access control is the physical guidance of people coming and going from a space by the judicial placement of entrances, exits, fencing, landscaping and lighting. The goal is to guide people where you want them to go and how you want them to get there.

(3)

Territorial reinforcement. Territorial reinforcement is the use of physical attributes that express ownership, such as fences, pavement treatments, art, signage and landscaping. The goal is to promote ownership and pride in where you live and work.

(4)

Maintenance. Allows for the continued use of space for its intended purpose. It also serves as an additional expression of ownership.

(g)

In general, the following CPTED provisions shall be utilized:

(1)

Trees located around buildings, walkways and parking areas should have a natural growth habit that is a tree-form, non-pyramidal shape tree or the canopy of the trees shall be kept at least four feet from the ground as they mature.

(2)

Shrubs located along rights-of-way should have a natural growth habit of no more than two feet in height.

(3)

Fencing shall be decorative in style, strong, while offering visibility to and from the site. Fencing shall be tied into any existing fence lines so that two separate fences do not create an "alleyway effect".

(h)

Landscape plant material proposed for installation on the site shall be certified as having been grown in conformance with the American Standard for Nursery Stock (American Nursery and Landscape Association, 1996 or as may be amended from time to time) or the nursery providing the stock has been inspected by the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, and therefore guaranteed for one year from the date of planting. Healthy landscaping material already growing may be transplanted, provided a performance agreement and surety covering the cost of replanting with nursery stock is provided and maintained through one full growing season.

(i)

The landscape material installed on site shall consist of native species as listed by the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) unless a certified landscape architect or horticulturalist specifies alternative species that have a rated hardiness and growth habit appropriate for the intended location in which case those alternative species may be used. Those species denoted as either "highly invasive" or "moderately invasive" in the DCR publication entitled Invasive Alien Plant Species of Virginia (September 2003 or as it may be amended from time to time) shall not be installed or transplanted on any site.

(j)

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.

(k)

The zoning administrator may reduce the planting ratios proportionately for the use of larger size nursery stock and for the preservation of healthy mature trees that are protected in accordance with the provisions of this chapter. The zoning administrator may approve other modifications of the layout and design standards contained herein for good cause shown. All modification requests shall be in writing, clearly explaining the reasons therefore.

(Ord. No. O-18-06, 2-5-2007; Ord. No. O-15-08(R2), 1-12-2009)

(Ord. No. O-18-06, 2-5-2007; Ord. No. O-15-08(R2), 1-12-2009)