Chapter 15.50
LANDSCAPE STANDARDS
Sections:
15.50.040 Landscape categories.
15.50.045 Landscape requirements.
15.50.055 Alternative landscaping.
15.50.010 Purpose.
This chapter provides for the inclusion of landscaping enhancements, in limited locations, to help mitigate the impacts associated with more intense development. Chelan County recognizes the aesthetic and economic value of landscaping, which provides visual barriers and enhances the appearance by providing guidelines for the placement of landscaping. Additionally, landscaping may be used to reduce the impacts to stormwater runoff, dust and pollutants, heat accumulation, glare and noise. (Res. 2014-38 (Atts. A, B) (part), 4/15/14: Res. 2000-127 (part), 10/17/00).
15.50.020 Applicability.
(1) Landscaping Required. The requirements of this chapter shall apply to the uses outlined below:
(A) All new commercial, industrial, public facilities and private institutional development including retail and wholesale outlets, manufacturing facilities, professional offices, service, communications, religious, fraternal, medical, civic and governmental development of similar intensity as determined by the administrator in all zoning districts.
(B) All parking lots, outdoor automobile sales areas and parking structures in all zoning districts developed with twenty parking spaces or more in a single parking lot, except the interior portion of parking located within a parking structure or parking areas under a building or within an enclosed garage.
(2) This chapter does not apply to:
(A) Agricultural activities.
(B) Agricultural support activities and/or uses.
(C) Roadside stands equal to or less than one thousand five hundred square feet of retail space.
(D) Wineries equal to or less than one thousand five hundred square feet of retail space.
(E) Single-family residential dwellings, duplexes and their accessory uses.
(F) Any remodel of commercial, industrial, public facilities and private institutional development adding twenty percent or less of the gross floor area (GFA).
(G) Parking lots of less than twenty spaces.
(H) Communication/radio towers.
(I) Low-impact utilities and low-impact facilities. (Res. 2014-38 (Atts. A, B) (part), 4/15/14: Res. 2007-101 (part), 7/2/07: Res. 2002-109 (part), 7/16/02; Res. 2000-127 (part), 10/17/00).
15.50.030 Plan requirements.
(1) Landscape Plans Required. Landscape plans, when required per Section 15.50.020(1), shall be submitted with development permit applications. At a minimum, the landscape plan shall contain:
(A) A plant schedule showing all plant materials keyed to the plans and identified by name, quantities, condition, type and size of plant materials to be used;
(B) Natural features including but not limited to water bodies or vegetation to be left in its natural state;
(C) The name and address of the project;
(D) The scale of the drawing, a north arrow, and the date of the plan;
(E) All property lines, abutting streets and alleys properly labeled;
(F) The location of all existing and proposed planting areas on the site;
(G) All existing and proposed structures, fences, curbing, parking lots, walkways, driveways, drainfield(s) and all impervious surfaces;
(H) The locations of existing and proposed features and plantings shown to scale at mature size;
(I) The name and address of the person, firm or organization that prepared the landscape plan;
(J) A description of how survival of the plantings will be accomplished shall be included with the landscape plan. An irrigation plan shall be submitted if an irrigation system is proposed for maintaining the project. (Res. 2014-38 (Atts. A, B) (part), 4/15/14: Res. 2007-101 (part), 7/2/07: Res. 2000-127 (part), 10/17/00).
15.50.040 Landscape categories.
Landscape Screening. The three types of landscaping screens are described and applied as follows. In all cases, water conserving techniques (xeriscape) are encouraged, particularly in those areas with limited water resources, and where utilized should be incorporated into the landscape design and included on the submitted plans.
(1) “Screen-A” landscaping is a “full screen” that functions as a visual barrier and shall at a minimum consist of a mix of primarily evergreen trees and shrubs generally interspersed to form a continuous year-round screen that grows to at least six feet in height within two growing seasons.
(2) “Screen-B” landscaping is a “filtered screen” that functions as a visual separator and shall at a minimum consist of a mix of evergreen and deciduous trees and shrubs generally interspersed to create a filtered screen that grows to at least six feet in height within two growing seasons.
(3) “Screen-C” landscaping is a “see-through screen” that functions as a partial visual separator to soften the appearance of parking areas and building elevations and shall at a minimum consist of a mix of evergreen and deciduous trees or shrubs generally interspersed to create a continuous canopy. (Res. 2014-38 (Atts. A, B) (part), 4/15/14: Res. 2000-127 (part), 10/17/00).
15.50.045 Landscape requirements.
(1) Landscaping Road Frontages. In all cases, landscaping shall at a minimum be the length of the building rather than the length of the property boundary. The average depth of perimeter landscaping along road frontages and required locations on private property shall be provided as follows:
(A) An average of ten feet of Screen-B landscaping shall be provided for industrial development, at a minimum for the length of the structure(s).
(B) An average of ten feet of Screen-B landscaping shall be provided for all above-ground high impact utility, high impact facilities or development, excluding distribution and transmission corridors.
(C) An average of ten feet of Screen-C landscaping shall be provided for commercial or multiple-family residential development, at a minimum for the length of the commercial or multiple-family structure(s). Spacing may be permitted for signs and clear view triangle.
(2) Landscaping for side and rear lot lines or building. In all cases, landscaping shall at a minimum be the length of the building rather than the length of the property boundary. These standards may be placed adjacent to the building. The average depth of perimeter landscaping along lot lines or buildings shall be provided as follows:
(A) An average of ten feet of Screen-A landscaping shall be included in all commercial, industrial, or small-scale recreational and tourist development along any portion adjacent to a residential district.
(B) An average of ten feet of Screen-B landscaping shall be included in all multiple-family dwelling along any portion adjacent to a single-family residential use.
(C) An average of ten feet of Screen-B landscaping shall be included for industrial development along any portion adjacent to a commercial development.
(3) Landscaping of Parking Lots. In all cases, landscaping shall at a minimum be the length of the parking area rather than the length of the property boundary. The average depth of perimeter landscaping shall be provided as follows:
(A) An average of ten feet of Screen-A landscaping shall be placed adjacent to a residential district.
(B) An average of ten feet of Screen-C landscaping shall be placed adjacent to road frontages. (Res. 2015-73 (Atts. A, B) (part), 8/4/15; Res. 2014-38 (Atts. A, B) (part), 4/15/14).
15.50.050 Variations.
The following variations to the landscaping/screening requirements are permitted:
(1) To allow for the use of fencing for part or as a replacement for required landscaping area.
(2) Variation of landscaping plants and reduced screening may be permitted to conserve water through the concept of xeriscaping.
(3) Reduce or remove landscaping requirements which impact the clear view triangle or utility locations.
(4) If the adjoining property(s) is under the same ownership no landscaping is required for that portion of the development.
(5) If existing or adjoining agricultural activities make landscaping unnecessary no landscaping is required for that portion of the development. (Res. 2015-73 (Atts. A, B) (part), 8/4/15; Res. 2014-38 (Atts. A, B) (part), 4/15/14: Res. 2002-11 (part), 1/15/02; Res. 2000-127 (part), 10/17/00).
15.50.055 Alternative landscaping.
The administrator may waive all or part of the landscaping requirements under any the following conditions:
(1) Conditions on or adjacent to the site such as topography, soils, vegetation or existing structures or utilities are such that compliance is impossible or impractical.
(2) Provide consideration to site location in relation to adjacent and surrounding uses.
(3) When the inclusion of significant existing vegetation located on the site would result in as good as or better satisfaction of the purposes of this section.
(4) Allow alternative plant mixes, berming or other methods that accomplish the purposes of the type of landscape screening required.
(5) Provide for safety considerations.
(6) Provide flexibility in the size of plantings. (Res. 2014-38 (Atts. A, B) (part), 4/15/14).