§ 190-96. Landscaping.

A. 

Intent. It is the purpose and intent of this section to:

(1) 

Establish minimum standards and criteria for the landscaping of all multifamily residences and all nonresidential developments, to dissuade the unnecessary clearing and disturbing of land so as to preserve the natural and existing growth of flora and to replace removed flora or plant new flora indigenous to the Western New York region.

(2) 

Reduce the effects of wind and air turbulence, heat and noise and the glare of automobile lights.

(3) 

Provide unpaved areas for the absorption of surface waters.

(4) 

Reduce the level of carbon dioxide and return pure oxygen to the atmosphere.

(5) 

Prevent soil erosion.

(6) 

Provide shade.

(7) 

Conserve and stabilize property values and to otherwise facilitate the creation of a convenient, attractive and harmonious community.

(8) 

Relieve the blighted appearance of parking areas.

B. 

General provisions.

(1) 

Developments of attached dwelling units in R-3 Residential Districts and all nonresidential developments shall meet the requirements of this section. A landscape plan shall be submitted and approved as a part of this review procedure.

(2) 

The landscape plan shall be drawn to scale, including dimensions and distances, and shall clearly delineate existing and proposed structures, uses, parking areas, access aisles, drainage patterns and the location, size and description of all landscape materials existing and proposed, including all trees and shrubs, including those existing plant materials that are to be removed and such other information as may be required by the Chief Building Inspector.

C. 

Standards and criteria.

(1) 

A minimum ground area of not less than 12% of the total lot area shall be landscaped and shall be the landscaped area required.

(2) 

The arrangement and location of a landscaped area shall be dispersed through the development site so as to prevent unsightliness and monotony of parked cars.

(3) 

Not less than 5% of the interior of a parking area designed for 10 or more cars shall be devoted to the required landscape area. As to parking areas designed for 25 cars or fewer, where the configuration of the development site permits, yard area at least five feet wide in excess of the minimum required for parking area in the district shall be credited to the interior landscaping requirement.

	Parking Area (spaces)	Minimum Interior Greenspace (percent)
	1 to 10	0
	10 to 25	5*
	26 or more	5

* NOTE: where the configuration of the site will permit additional greenspace at least five feet wide, in addition to the required yard along the perimeter of a parking area, this additional area shall be considered as greenspace.

(4) 

Landscaping shall provide privacy and screening for adjacent land uses with visual, noise and air quality factors considered.

(5) 

Landscape treatments shall be designed as an integral part of the entire development.

(6) 

Vegetation shall be compatible with soil conditions on the development site and the regional climate.

(7) 

Existing natural features and vegetation shall be preserved and incorporated in the landscaped area wherever possible.

(8) 

The primary emphasis of the landscape treatment shall be on the trees and efforts shall be made to preserve trees. Shrubbery, hedges, grass and other vegetation may be used to compliment the use of trees but shall not be the sole contribution to the landscape treatment.

(9) 

The interior dimensions of any area or median shall protect the plant materials planted therein and ensure proper growth.

(10) 

All deciduous trees planted shall have a minimum caliper of 2 1/2 inches, measured six inches above the ground. All conifer trees shall have a minimum height of five feet above finished grade.

(11) 

Plastic or other types of artificial plantings or vegetation shall not be permitted.

(12) 

Maintenance and enforcement. All landscaped areas required and/or permitted by this section shall be maintained and preserved according to the plan as originally approved. Flora which dies shall be replaced within the next planting season by plantings of a similar nature.

Amended 5-4-1988