City Code

Section 850.10 - Landscaping and Screening.

850.10 Landscaping and Screening.

Subd. 1     Landscaping.

A.     Application of Requirements. All properties shall comply with the requirements of this Section except for single dwelling unit or double dwelling unit lots, public parks, playgrounds and athletic facilities, and public and private golf courses, except that club houses, parking areas and other structures accessory to the golf courses shall comply.

B.     Landscape Plan Requirements. Landscape plans shall be prepared by a landscape architect or other qualified individual acceptable to the Planner. Landscape plans shall be drawn to a scale of not smaller than one inch equals 30 feet and shall include the following information:

1.      Boundary lines of the property with accurate dimensions.

2.      Locations of existing and proposed buildings, parking lots, roads and other improvements.

3.      Proposed grading plan with two foot contour intervals.

4.      Location, approximate size and common name of existing trees and shrubs.

5.      Planting schedule containing (i) symbols; (ii) quantities; (iii) common names and botanical names; (iv) size of plant materials, (v) root condition, and (vi) special planting instructions.

6.      Planting details illustrating proposed locations of all new plant material.

7.      Locations and details of other landscape features including berms, fences and planter boxes.

8.      Details of restoration of disturbed areas including areas to be sodded or seeded.

9.      Location and details of irrigation systems.

10.  Details and cross sections of all required screening.

C.     Minimum Requirements. All open areas of a lot which are not used and improved for required parking areas, drives or storage shall be landscaped with a combination of overstory trees, understory trees, shrubs, flowers and ground cover materials.

1.      Minimum Number of Overstory Trees. The number of overstory trees on the lot or tract shall be not less than the perimeter of the lot or tract as measured in feet divided by 40.

2.      Understory Trees and Shrubs. In addition to the required number of overstory trees, a full complement of understory trees and shrubs shall be provided to complete a quality landscape treatment of the site.

3.      Minimum Size and Root Condition of Required Overstory Trees.

Calculations to determine minimum number of trees are always rounded up. Tree size, as to deciduous, is the diameter of the tree measured 6 inches above the ground. Tree size, as to coniferous, is measured in height.

All new overstory trees shall be balled and burlapped or moved from the growing site by tree spade.

4.      Species.

a.       all required overstory trees shall be composed of species which are classified as overstory trees by the American Nurseryman’s Association. Trees which are considered as half trees, shrubs, understory trees or ornamental trees shall not be included in the count of required overstory trees;

b.      not more than 50 percent of the required number of overstory trees shall be composed of one species;

c.       no required overstory trees shall include (i) all species of the genus Ulmus (elm); (ii) box elder; (iii) all species of the genus Populous (poplar), or (iv) ginkgo - female only; and

d.      all plant materials shall be indigenous to the hardiness zone of the area in which the City is located.

5.      Credit for Existing Trees. The total number of required new overstory trees may be offset by the retention of existing overstory trees on the lot provided that the trees satisfy the requirements of this Subdivision 850.10 as to size and species. The Planner shall determine the amount of the credit for existing trees based upon their location and distribution on the lot.

6.      Ground Cover. All unimproved portions of the lot or tract shall be sodded. Provided, however:

a.       areas reserved for future approved building expansions may be seeded;

b.      undisturbed areas containing existing viable natural vegetation which can be maintained free of weeds may be left undisturbed; and

c.       slopes steeper than 3:1 may be seeded.

D.     Landscaping Inspection Fee. A landscaping inspection fee in the amount set out in Section 185 of this Code shall be paid to the City at the time a building or other permit is issued for work to be done on the same property as the landscaping work, and as a condition to the issuance of the permit.

Subd. 2     Screening.

A.     Screening Required. The following uses shall be screened in accordance with the requirements of this Subdivision 850.10:

1.      Non-residential principal buildings or structures, and any building or structure accessory thereto, shall be screened from lots in the R-1 District which are used for single dwelling unit buildings and which are located within 200 feet of the non-residential use. The distance shall be the shortest distance between the non-residential building or structure to be screened and the nearest lot line of the R-1 District lot, but shall not extend across a street;

2.      Principal buildings or structures, or any building or structure accessory thereto, located in the Planned Industrial District or Planned Commercial District shall be screened from lots used for any residential purpose which are located within 200 feet. The distance shall be the shortest distance between the PID or PCD building or structure to be screened and the nearest lot line of the residential lot, but shall not extend across a street;

3.      Off-street parking facilities containing six or more spaces and all loading facilities shall be screened from streets located within 50 feet, and from lots which are used for any residential purpose which are located within 50 feet. Said distance shall be the shortest distance between the parking facility or loading facility and the nearest part of the street or the nearest lot line of the residential lot;

4.      Trash storage facilities including recycling storage facilities shall be screened from all lot lines and public road rights-of-way; and

5.      All mechanical equipment accessory to any building, except single dwelling unit and double dwelling unit buildings, shall be screened from all lot lines and streets.

B.     Responsibility. The owner of the principal or accessory building or structure to be screened shall install and maintain all screening required without cost to the City.

C.     Materials. Required screening may be achieved with fences, walls, earth berms, hedges and other landscape materials. All walls and fences shall be architecturally harmonious with the principal building. Earth berms shall not be steeper than 3:1. All materials, including landscaping, shall have a minimum opacity of 90 percent year round.

D.     Location. All required screening shall be located on the lot occupied by the use, building, facility or structure to be screened. No screening shall be located upon any public road right-of-way, or within 20 feet of the traveled portion of a street.

E.      Height. The minimum height for screening required by this Section is as follows:

1.      Screening required by subparagraphs 1 and 2 of paragraph A. of Subd. 2 of Subsection 850.10: ten feet above property line;

2.      Screening required by subparagraph 3 of paragraph A. of Subd. 2 of Subsection 850.10: four feet above level of parking lot and ten feet above level of loading facility; and

3.      Screening required by subparagraphs 4 and 5 of paragraph A. of Subd. 2 of Subsection 850.10: high enough to completely screen from property lines, but not less than five feet or greater than ten feet in height.

Subd. 3     Maintenance.

A.     Responsibility. The owner of the lot upon which the required landscaping or screening is located shall maintain all materials in a sightly and healthy growing condition without cost to the City.

B.     Security. Security shall be filed with the Planner in accordance with Section 405 of this Code to guarantee the installation and vigorous growing condition of all landscape elements and required screening. The security shall remain in effect for two full growing seasons. Lots provided with an irrigation system covering 100 percent of the area improved with landscaping need provide security for only one growing season. The growing season guarantee period for plant material installed after June 1 shall begin the following year.