10-15-5 Landscaping Performance (Minimum Requirements)

Landscaping requirements are intended to establish a minimum standard by which a property owner may use to design a set of landscape drawings that can be approved and constructed through the city's development process. A. For Commercial and Residential Planned Unit developments: 1. At least forty percent (40%) of the required exterior open space of the project shall be planted landscape area. 2. Twenty (20) trees shall be required per one (1) acre of gross land. 3. Fifty (50) shrubs shall be required per one (1) acre of gross land. 4. Plant material shall be placed around the perimeter of the building footprint in a three (3) foot minimum planting strip with the exception of entrances, utilities and where setbacks are less than three feet. (6-2022, 6-21-22) B. Plant Selection: Plants selected for landscape areas shall be well suited for River Heights' climate and soil conditions at the project site. Plants with similar water needs shall be grouped together as much as possible. On slopes greater than thirty percent (30%) plant material shall be selected to reduce the risk of soil erosion. Native and drought tolerant plant material are encouraged and should be used whenever possible. Projects should have a diverse mix of plant species for disease resistance and visual interest. C. Mulch: Mulch is encouraged in non-turf areas to retain water, discourage weed growth and moderate soil temperatures. Weed barrier fabrics shall be a porous material to allow water and air to infiltrate the soils below. D. Use of Evergreen Trees and Shrubs: A minimum of twenty-five (25%) percent of the plant material used for the project shall be evergreen trees and shrubs to provide visual interest year-round and for dense landscape screening. E. Screening of Service Areas: Landscaping shall be used to provide visual and audio buffers between pedestrian and service areas. Use multiple planting layers and stagger plants to provide screening from various viewpoints. Loading docks, storage of material or vehicles, and other service areas shall be screened from public view as specified in the design review process. Acceptable screening may include plant material, fencing, walls, earth berm or a combination as approved by the city. 1. Waste disposal and recycling receptacles shall be screened from view on three sides by a fence or wall with a minimum height of six feet or one foot taller than the receptacle, whichever is greater. Waste disposal receptacles shall be located out of the public view insofar as is practical. 2. The enclosure shall be compatible in material and color with the primary structure on the lot if located within 20 feet of the building, if located beyond 20 feet from the structure the enclosure should be designed to minimize the visual impact and blend in with surrounding landscaping. 3. Waste disposal and recycling receptacles shall be consolidated to reasonably minimize the number of collection sites and to equalize the distance from the buildings they serve. F. Enhance or Develop Pedestrian-Oriented Spaces within a Project, such as Walkway Landscaping and Creation of Usable Outdoor Spaces: 1. Use vertical landscaping to break up long stretches of linear wall planes and to soften the hard edges of the built environment. 2. Provide a balance between the overall appearance of the landscaping as a part of a planned site and the buildings on the site. The city's objective is to ensure that the site has dense landscaping in terms of the land area dedicated to landscaping and that vertical landscaping is used. 3. Any flexibility to be applied by the city shall be based on achieving an attractive site with installations of landscaping that are designed to complement and enhance the site development. Required Number of Trees Minimum Number of Species 11-20 21-30 31-40 41+ Table 10-15-5: Species Diversity Requirements G. Submission of Landscape Plans 1. All commercial, industrial, mixed-use, and multi-family landscape plans shall be prepared and stamped by a licensed landscape architect registered with the State of Utah. 2. Landscape plans shall be submitted prior to or included with the submittal for a building permit. 3. Landscape plans shall be of adequate size and detail so the decisionmakers can see the land area to be planted and the appearance of plantings at seventy-five percent (75%) of mature growth. 4. Landscape plans and details shall be drawn in a professional manner with credible representations of plant sizes and site features. The Planning Commission may reject plans which do not accurately depict the site landscaping. 5. Landscape plans shall be accompanied by a planting schedule that identifies both the common and scientific name of each species. The schedule shall include the size and type of plant material to be installed. 6. Landscape plans shall be drawn to scale and have a north arrow. Site features including buildings, parking lots, streets, existing vegetation and utilities should be shown for reference and orientation. Planting details and irrigation specifications will generally not be included with the submitted performance landscape plan unless unique situations are associated with the project requiring further detail. H. Review of Landscape Plans: Landscape Plans may be approved upon finding that the plan meets or exceeds the purposes and objectives of this chapter through either: 1. Natural land characteristics or existing vegetation on the proposed development site; or 2. Innovative landscaping or architectural design. Figure 10-15-5: Example of a Landscape Plan