19.06.05 Completion of Landscape Improvements; Adequate Assurances

All required landscaping improvements shall be completed in accordance with the approved Site Plan, subdivision plat, landscaping plan, irrigation plan, or other approval and public landscaping improvements shall be bonded for in accordance with Section 19.12.05. 19.06.06. Planting Standards and Design Requirements for Nonresidential and Common Open Space. 1. These planting standards are the minimum standards of landscaping that the City will accept towards meeting the landscaping required in this Chapter for nonresidential development, and open spaces that are held in common or in Homeowner’s Association ownership in residential developments. Design requirements identify specific standards as they pertain to landscaping. The planting standards and design requirements shall be used in evaluation of any landscaping plan by the City. 2. The following are planting standards for required landscaping that shall be followed for all new development, with all caliper sizes measured no less than 12 inches above the root ball: a. Required Trees. Required trees are subject to the following standards: i. Deciduous Trees. All deciduous trees shall have a minimum trunk size of two (2) inches in caliper. ii. Evergreen Trees. All evergreen trees shall have a minimum size of 6 feet in height. iii. Tree base clearance. An area at the base of the tree a minimum of three feet in diameter shall be kept free of rock and turf. In parking lot islands and other narrow strips of landscaping where strips of turf two feet or less in width would otherwise occur, this clear area may be reduced to two feet in diameter. b. Shrubs. At least 25 percent of the required shrubs shall be a minimum of 5 gallons in size at time of installation; all other required shrubs shall be a minimum of 1 gallon in size. c. Turf. No landscaping shall be comprised of more than seventy percent turf, except within landscaped parks. d. Drought Tolerant Plants. Fifty percent of all trees and shrubs shall be required to be drought tolerant species. e. Rock: rock may be utilized up to the maximum percentage specified in Section 19.06.07, subject to the following requirements: i. a minimum of two separate colors, and a minimum of two different sizes shall be used; ii. rock shall provide contrasting color to pavement and other hard surfaces within the property, and all colors used shall be earth tones. f. Planting and Shrub Beds. Planting and shrub beds may be used to satisfy up to the percentage of the total required landscaping as specified in the Section 19.06.07. In addition to the required plants in the chart, planting and shrub beds must meet the following requirements: i. high-quality weed barrier and/or pre-emergent is used; ii. high quality materials such as wood chips, wood mulch, ground cover, decorative rock, landscaping rocks, or similar materials are used, and materials must be heavy enough to not blow away in the wind; iii. edging is used to separate lawns from beds, and all areas except residential must use concrete edging for durability; iv. drip lines are used for irrigation. g. Artificial Turf. Artificial turf is not permitted. 3. The following design requirements will be used when reviewing landscaping plans in the City of Saratoga Springs: a. Evergreens. Evergreens shall be incorporated into landscaped treatment of sites where screening and buffering are required. b. Softening of Walls and Fences. Plants shall be placed intermittently against long expanses of building walls, fences, and barriers to create a softening effect. c. Planting and Shrub Beds. Planting and shrub beds are encouraged to be used in order to conserve water. Planting and shrub beds shall meet the requirements in subsection 19.06.06(2) above. d. Automated water-conserving irrigation systems, including water-conserving sprinkler heads and rain sensors, shall be required for all new landscaping in nonresidential developments as well as for all irrigated open spaces that are held in common or in Homeowner’s Association ownership in residential developments. While irrigation systems are required for all landscaped areas, all systems shall be efficient in the use of water such as the installation of drip lines for shrubs and trees. e. Energy Conservation. Placement of plants shall be designed to reduce energy consumption. Deciduous trees are encouraged to be planted on the south and west sides of structures to provide shade over the structures in the summer months. Evergreens trees are encouraged to be planted on the north side of structures when feasible to dissipate the effects of winter winds. f. Preservation of Existing Vegetation. Where possible and appropriate, existing native vegetation must be incorporated into the landscape treatment of the proposed site. g. Tree Preservation. Existing mature evergreen trees of 16 feet in height or greater, and existing mature deciduous or decorative trees of more than four inches (4”) in caliper, shall be identified on the landscape plan and preserved if possible. If a mature tree is preserved, an area around the roots as wide as the existing canopy shall not be disturbed. i. If preservation is not possible, the required number of trees shall be increased by double the number of such trees removed. ii. The replacement trees for evergreen trees shall be evergreens, and for deciduous shall be deciduous. iii. Deciduous trees smaller than four inches in caliper, or mature ornamental trees, that are removed shall be replaced on a one to one ratio. iv. Replacement trees shall be in addition to the minimum tree requirements of this Chapter, and shall comply with minimum sizes as outlined in the Chapter. h. Placement. Whenever possible, landscaping shall be placed immediately adjacent to structures, particularly where proposed structures have large empty walls. 4. No trees shall be planted directly under or within ten feet of power lines, poles, or utility structures unless: a. the Land Use Authority gives its approval; b. the power company or owner of the power line gives written consent; and c. the maximum height or width at maturity of the tree species planted is less than 5 feet to any pole, line, or structure. 5. Parking Lots. a. Parking areas have additional landscaping standards outlined in Chapter 19.09.