§ 27-442. Purpose and intent.

The purpose of this article is to preserve and protect trees within the city; to provide minimum landscaping criteria; to ensure preservation of the existing native landscape; and to ensure quality landscape design, installation, and maintenance of new landscaping that will enhance the city's natural landscape. To this end, the subsequent sections are provided to achieve the following goals:

(1)

Improve the appearance of commercial, governmental, industrial and residential areas through incorporation of landscaping into development in ways that harmonize and enhance the natural and manmade environment;

(2)

Preserve existing natural trees and vegetation. Discourage removal of any healthy, noninvasive trees and clear-cutting of wooded land;

(3)

Incorporate native plants, plant communities and ecosystems into landscape design where possible;

(4)

Maintain the existing natural character of the city through preservation of existing trees and vegetation;

(5)

Balance the existing landscape with new landscape additions that are complementary;

(6)

Provide landscape buffers to enhance transportation corridors, abate noise, minimize adverse impacts of adjacent differing land uses, and reduce surface heat of impervious surfaces;

(7)

Promote water and energy conservation through Xeriscape principles;

(8)

Reduce maintenance costs through preservation of existing landscape, and through appropriate and proper use of plant materials; and

(9)

Promote and support city-wide tree planting to enhance the city's designation as a Tree City U.S.A.

(Ord. No. 2004-10, § 1, 10-4-04)