§ 27-455. Minimum landscape requirements.

(a)

Requirements of these sections do not exempt property owners from compliance with any other section of this article.

(b)

Minimum percentage of developed area devoted to landscaping. Property shall be designed, constructed and used so that the total of the areas devoted to landscape materials of any site is at least twenty (20) percent of the gross area of each parcel.

(c)

For property within the central business district, all portions of a site that are not otherwise covered by structures or pavement shall be landscaped. Because the landscaped areas are minimal within the CBD, the use of more dense plant materials is required. Landscape materials for sites within the CBD shall include trees, shrubs, vines and groundcovers. Therefore, sod shall not be used as a landscape material in the CBD.

(d)

Landscape and/or planting plans for all nonresidential developments shall be prepared by a landscape architect registered in the State of Florida.

(e)

Minimum requirements for landscaped areas. All development except individual, single-family and duplex residential lots shall meet the requirements of these sections. See section 27-458 for specific requirements for individual, single-family and duplex residential lots. However, all other development shall comply with the following:

(1)

An automatic irrigation system shall be supplied for all newly landscaped areas. System shall include a pressure vacuum breaker-type backflow preventer, rain sensor, electric timer and valves, and sprinkler heads, and all pipe and materials necessary for a fully functioning system. The design of the irrigation system shall promote water conservation through methods such as efficient zoning of heads and/or micro-irrigation. The irrigation system shall be designed and located to minimize the watering of impervious surfaces. Irrigation shall not be required for existing natural vegetation areas.

(2)

Plants shall be sized such that, within three (3) years of the time of planting, at least half of the required landscaped development shall be devoted to living plants. Remaining landscape areas shall be mulched with organic materials.

(3)

When a landscaped area is adjacent to or within a vehicular use area, curbing shall be used to protect landscaped areas from encroachment. Parking spaces shall be designed to provide pervious surface for the vehicle overhang area.

(4)

Shrubs and trees shall be placed away from the wheel stop, so that they will not be encroached upon by vehicles. In lieu of curbing, the alternative means of preventing encroachment shall be shown on the site plan.

(5)

All required trees shall be selected from the shade tree section of the city tree list in section 27-450. In order to encourage plant diversity, no more than fifty (50) percent of the selected trees for one (1) plan shall be from the same genus.

(6)

Any landscaped area adjacent to an intersection or driveway shall conform to the requirements for the vision triangle, as defined in article I.

(f)

Ocean-front lots. Oceanfront lots of any type shall be landscaped with salt-tolerant plant material only.

(g)

Exemptions.

(1)

All parking garages shall be exempt from this section, pertaining to landscaping requirements for vehicular use areas; however, vehicles shall be screened from adjacent properties and public rights-of-way through the use of opaque materials at ground level.

(2)

Parking lots under lease. The area of any lot under lease which contains required parking spaces for any use shall comply with the provisions of this section as a precondition to the issuance of any development order issued in connection with such lot for such use.

(h)

Minimum submittal criteria.

(1)

All planting plans shall be drawn to scale and have a north arrow, and shall accurately depict all buildings, pavement, on-site facilities, utilities and lighting systems. The landscape drawing or accompanying development plan must give the permitted use of adjacent parcels and the total square footage of all pavement on-site.

(2)

A plant schedule shall be provided showing the botanical name, size, spacing and number of all required plant materials. During construction, any tree or shrub may be substituted for the identified plant, provided that the shrub is adaptable to the amount of sun/shade, wet/dry and size conditions where it will be planted, and insofar as the provisions for diversity described in this article are met. The use of additional plant material beyond the minimum required is strongly encouraged. However, plant materials shown that are additional to the required materials shall not be subject to inspection, and should be identified on the planting plans as "supplementary."

(i)

Design principles and standards. All landscaped areas required by this article shall conform to the following general guidelines:

(1)

The preservation of native trees and shrubs is strongly encouraged to maintain healthy, varied and energy-efficient vegetation throughout the city, and to maintain habitat for native wildlife species.

(2)

The planting plans should integrate the elements of the proposed development with existing topography, hydrology and soils in order to prevent adverse impacts such as sedimentation of surface waters, erosion and dust.

(3)

The functional elements of the development plan, particularly the drainage systems and internal circulation systems for vehicles and pedestrians, should be integrated into the planting plan. The landscaped areas should be integrated, to promote the continuity of on-site and off-site open space and greenway systems, and to enhance environmental features.

(4)

The selection and placement of landscaping materials should maximize the conservation of energy through shading of buildings, streets, pedestrian ways, bikeways and parking areas. The use of wind for ventilation and the effect on existing or future solar access shall be considered.

(5)

Landscaping design should consider the aesthetic and functional aspects of vegetation, both when initially installed and when the vegetation has reached maturity. Newly installed plants should be placed at intervals appropriate to the size of the plant at maturity, and the design should use short-term and long-term elements to satisfy the general design principles of this section over time.

(6)

The natural and visual environment should be enhanced through the use of materials which achieve a variety with respect to seasonal changes, species of living material selected, textures, colors and size at maturity.

(7)

The placement of trees around buildings should permit access to the building by emergency vehicles.

(j)

The installation of invasive nonnative category 1 species as defined by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) and Florida Exotic Pest Plan Council (FLEPPC) is prohibited.

(Ord. No. 2004-10, § 1, 10-4-04; Ord. No. 2006-02, § 6, 3-6-06; Ord. No. 2011-19, § 1, 10-10-11)