Ground Cover May Be Required By Property Owner

Here is a sample of rules that are required by some property owners when it comes to ground cover and trees. Required landscaping of front yard setbacks: At least 90 percent of the required front yard setback in any zoning district shall be landscaped and maintained with living ground cover. The required setback may include necessary hard surfacing of driveways to reach allowable parking, loading, or stacking areas. Poured or laid asphalt, concrete, or similar hard surfacing shall not be used as allowable landscape material. Landscape areas must be capable of providing a substantially full expanse of foliage within three years after planting.

Trees: Valuing the benefits provided from the use of trees in reducing heat, pollution, and the loss of habitat resulting from the use of expansive areas of hard surfacing for parking purposes, the following standards regarding trees shall be met and maintained.

Total number of trees required: Trees shall be required at the rate of one tree per 50 feet of frontage or one tree per six parking, loading and stacking spaces provided on the site, whichever is greater. Where fractional trees result, the number of required trees shall be rounded to the nearest whole number.

Exception: If parking facilities or buildings can utilize zero setbacks, one tree per 50 feet of frontage shall be provided within the right-of-way subject to approval by the property owner.

Deciduous shade tree may be utilized for 100 percent of the total tree requirement. Only deciduous shade trees may be utilized. No more than 20 percent of the total tree requirement may be planted in the right-of-way area. Deciduous ornamental and evergreen or coniferous trees—up to 25 percent of the required trees may be deciduous ornamental, evergreen, or coniferous trees; however, they shall not be planted in a driveway or intersection safety zone nor utilized for parking lot interior trees or right-of-way plantings.

Interior tree requirements: When unenclosed interior parking spaces are provided on the site, one tree shall be required for every 18 interior parking spaces. Every interior tree shall be located in a planting island within the hard-surfaced area utilized for parking and maneuvering purposes. Said islands shall have dimensions of at least 5 feet wide and contain a minimum of 36 square feet per tree. Planting islands shall utilize raised curbs or wheelstops necessary to prevent damage from vehicles.

Let us help you deal with complex and confusing landscape issues. It doesn’t matter to us whether you want commercial desert landscaping, lush lawns or some type of landscaping in between, we can help.  We serve businesses like yours all over the Phoenix Metro Area. To find out how give us a call at 623-848-8277.

Presented By:

Greens Keeper Landscape Maintenance, LLC

623-848-8277

http://www.commerciallandscapecare.com

greenskeeperllc@cox.net