§ 94-113. Landscape and streetscape requirements.

(a)

Intent . Streetscape requirements provide specific design standards for all public streets to enhance the quality of the public realm and develop a system of pedestrian-oriented streets, walkways, and open spaces.

(b)

Exterior lighting . All buildings shall provide exterior lighting every night from dusk to dawn to illuminate building entrances, adjacent sidewalks, and paths, at a minimum of 0.6 footcandles as measured at the back edge of the curb and one foot above the sidewalk. This measurement shall include light emanating from public and private sources. Unshielded light fixtures shall be prohibited. The maximum measure shall be no more than 1.0 footcandle.

(c)

Site visibility triangle requirements. Landscaping shall be installed in accordance with the clear vision requirements of subsection 94-305(e). However, for downtown master plan purposes, the setback measurement shall be from the back of curb, except in R subdistricts, where it shall be measured from the property line.

(d)

Streetscape requirements . Streetscapes shall be designed to provide consistency for each corridor, as established by the street hierarchy and district character. Required building setbacks shall be designed to include features such as, but not limited to, sidewalks, street trees, tree grates, landscape buffers, and lighting as approved by the city to support the particular district character. All portions of private development improvements located within the minimum required setback including private property and/or the right-of-way shall comply with the following:

(1)

Sidewalks . A sidewalk with a minimum of eight feet clear width shall be provided along the building frontage. Sidewalk width may be reduced to five feet within the residential districts. Private sidewalks which serve as an extension of the public sidewalk shall comply with the streetscape requirements, shall match the public sidewalk in design and material, and shall provide a seamless transition between the two.

(2)

Street trees . Street trees shall be installed adjacent to the curb at 30 feet on center along all streets. Tree species shall be approved by the city's landscape planner, and shade trees shall be preferred. Trees shall be a minimum of 20 feet in height, and have a minimum of eight feet clear trunk, or as approved by the city. Structural soil shall be installed meeting the city approved standards.

(3)

Tree grates . Trees shall be placed in tree grates and shall be located adjacent to the back of curb. Tree grate specifications shall meet the city approved standard. Base planting may be considered as an alternative to tree grates, as approved by the city, as appropriate to the street character.

(4)

Street lights . Street lighting shall be provided to attain the appropriate footcandle measurement necessary for safe pedestrian and vehicular movement. Light fixture and poles shall meet the city approved standard.

(5)

Other street furniture . Additional street furniture, as approved by the city, shall comply with city approved standards.

(6)

Irrigation . All street trees and landscaped areas within minimum required setback and the right-of-way shall have irrigation provided from the adjacent property, as provided in the approved site plan or approved landscape plan.

(7)

Maintenance . The property owner and their successors or assigns shall be responsible for the installation and maintenance of landscaping, tree grates, structural soil and irrigation, as provided in the approved site plan or approved landscape plan. A maintenance agreement with the city shall be required.

(8)

Transit amenities . Existing transit stops shall be maintained and improved to meet city approved standards.

(9)

Bicycle parking . Bicycle parking shall be provided at a minimum of one space per every 100 feet of street frontage. Specifications shall meet city approved standards and may be waived if similar facilities are already provided within the same block.

(10)

Driveways and curb cuts . Driveways and curb cuts shall be designed to minimize the negative impact in the pedestrian path of travel. Driveways shall maintain the sidewalk elevation when possible, and meet city approved standards.

(e)

General landscape requirements . The intent of this section is to provide standards for landscaping open space areas when required by this chapter. All open space, excluding vehicular and pedestrian circulation features and surface parking, shall be covered with grass, ground cover, shrubbery, or other suitable plant material, or may have paved active recreation areas, patios, terraces, pedestrian circulation areas, swimming pools, water features, and similar site components incorporated in the open space designs. All open space shall comply with requirements of section 94-109 and shall be subject to the following requirements:

(1)

[Landscape plans.] Landscape plans shall be prepared by, and bear the seal of, a landscape architect licensed to practice in the State of Florida, or by persons authorized by F.S. ch. 481, pt. II regarding landscape architecture. Residential landscape improvements for single-family dwelling units or for multifamily units up to ten units, with estimated permit value of less than $2,500.00, shall be exempt from this requirement.

(2)

Exemptions . These general landscape requirements will not be applicable to proposed renovations, repair, or alteration to a structure when such improvements will not exceed 50 percent of the value of the structure and significant landscape improvements are not proposed.

(3)

Amount of plant material required . The total open space area provided shall determine the number of trees and shrubs to be planted. The total amount of plant material required shall not be affected by that portion of the open space area devoted to active recreation purposes, patios, terraces, pedestrian circulation, and similar amenities.

(4)

Curbs and wheel stops . All landscaped areas and plant materials within or adjacent to vehicular use areas shall be protected from vehicular encroachment by wheel stops, curbs, or other similar devices. This requirement, however, shall not apply to single-family units within the R subdistricts.

(5)

Landscaping of private land and public rights-of-way . Private land and public rights-of-way between street or sidewalk surfaces and required buffer strips and landscaped open space areas shall be planted with grass or other plant materials. Grass areas, when provided, shall be sodded. The planting of trees and shrubs within public rights-of-way is subject to the approval of the city.

(6)

Subdistrict landscape requirements . Open spaces provided in all subdistricts shall comply with the open space standards of Table IV-7. Front yard setbacks for properties within the R-subdistricts shall comply with section 94-482. Landscaping for properties within the R- subdistricts shall comply with the requirements of article XIV of this chapter.

(7)

Maintenance . The property owner shall be required to maintain all landscaping as provided in the approved site plan or approved landscape plan.

(f)

Surface parking lots. All off-street surface parking lots shall meet the following landscaping requirements:

(1)

Setbacks and landscape buffer . Surface parking lots shall meet the minimum ground floor setback requirements as provided in the subdistrict building requirements table. A five-foot landscape buffer shall be provided in addition to the ground floor setback to visually screen parking areas. The landscape buffer shall be comprised of a hedge planted at two-foot to three-foot intervals and maintained at a maximum height of 36 inches at maturity. Shade trees shall be planted at 30-foot intervals. A five-foot landscape buffer shall also be provided meeting these requirements for the entire perimeter of the surface lot. Surface parking areas located behind buildings are exempt from the front setback landscape requirements.

(2)

Terminal islands. Each row of parking spaces shall be terminated by landscaped islands of not less than five feet in width and not less than the length of the adjacent parking stall. The landscaped island shall have a minimum radius of two and one-half feet at its end so as to allow car maneuvering. The landscaped island shall contain at least one shade or flowering tree.

(3)

Interior islands. One interior landscape island shall be provided for every ten parking spaces or fraction thereof. Interior landscape islands shall be at least five feet wide and shall contain at least one shade or flowering tree.

(4)

Divider medians. Divider medians may be provided within the parking area. If divider medians are used, they shall form a continuous landscaped strip between abutting rows of parking spaces. The minimum width of such a divider median shall be five feet. Shade or flowering trees within a divider median shall be planted at 30-foot intervals.

(g)

Buffering of nonresidential uses adjoining residential property . The owner of property used for nonresidential purposes adjoining an R subdistrict shall install and maintain along the entire property line a protective screen wall and a landscaped buffer. For the purposes of this provision, nonresidential uses does not include park uses. Protective screen walls and buffers are required to meet the following requirements:

(1)

Landscape buffer. A minimum five-foot landscape buffer shall be provided adjacent to the property line abutting any R subdistrict. The landscape buffer shall be comprised of a hedge planted at two-foot to three-foot intervals and maintained at a maximum height of four feet at maturity. Shade trees shall be planted at 30-foot intervals.

(2)

Screen wall. A minimum four-foot high wall shall be provided adjacent to the property line abutting any R subdistrict. The screen wall shall be solid, and composed of brick, block, wood, or similarly durable material. Chainlink fences with slats shall not be permitted.

(h)

Outdoor mechanical equipment and disposal facilities . Outdoor mechanical equipment such as but not limited to, incinerators, fuel or propane tanks, chiller plants, and garbage or trash receptacles shall comply with subsection 94-315(a).

(Ord. No. 4213-09, § 1, 9-8-2009; Ord. No. 4690-16, § 4, 3-27-2017)