§ 11-33-1 — PURPOSE AND APPLICABILITY

11-33-1: - PURPOSE AND APPLICABILITY

A. Purpose. This Chapter establishes standards for Landscaping. The purpose of the Landscaping standards are to: 1. Improve the appearance of the community by requiring aesthetically pleasing Landscaping on public and private sites: 2. Soften the appearance of urban development; 3. Ensure appropriately designed and maintained Landscaping elements that allow natural surveillance; 4. Generate and preserve community identity to reinforce a sense of place that is unique to various neighborhoods throughout the City; 5. Encourage the use of native or adapted plant species and demonstrate appropriate design and maintenance techniques; and 6. Provide environmental improvements such as mitigating air and storm water pollution, providing shade and reducing the effects of the urban heat island. B. Applicability. The regulations of this Chapter shall apply to both new and existing development as outlined below: 1. Proposed Developments. The standards of this Chapter apply to all new development, redevelopment, and site improvements requiring a development plan, site plan, or building permit unless specified as exempt below. 2. Existing Properties. The standards of this Chapter shall apply to existing properties when: a. There is a change in land use that results in increased parking, loading and service areas, or open space requirements; b. A new building or addition increases the gross floor area by more than 10%; or c. There are site modifications, including but not limited to, alterations to parking layout, driveways, or other site circulation elements that impact existing landscaped areas. C. Exempt Projects. The requirements of this Chapter do not apply to the following types of development or activity: 1. Additions to existing buildings that increase the total gross floor area by less than 10%; 2. The establishment of an accessory use or structure on the same lot as an existing primary use, provided that there is no increase in total gross floor area or outdoor area utilized for the use; and 3. A change in occupancy of a building that does not result in a change in land use classification or an increase in parking, landscaping, or site improvement requirements under this Ordinance.

(Ord. No. 5544, § 13, 12-9-19; Ord. No. 5996, § 4, 3-9-26)