§ 3-9-100.2. Landscaping.

(a)

Applicability.

(1)

The requirements of this section shall apply whenever parking area is constructed.

(2)

The provisions of this section do not apply to:

a.

Paved areas used for parking and other vehicular uses that serve single-family residences or two-family residences, or

b.

Paved areas associated with permitted principal uses within the agricultural and excavation and mining zoning districts (AG and EM).

(3)

The following improvements do not cause the property to be subject to the requirements of this section:

a.

Overflow grass parking.

b.

Existing parking areas that are re-striped.

c.

Buildings and structures for emergency and essential services as determined by the BCC at its discretion.

(4)

Parking lot screening shall be required whenever there is construction of paved parking areas abutting a public right-of-way.

a.

Paved parking areas are those areas used for parking, storage or display of vehicles, boats, construction equipment, or similar manufactured items, including those accessory areas, adjacent to parking, used for ingress, egress or traverse.

b.

A parking area is considered paved if it has been improved from the natural state by any hard surface including asphalt, concrete, gravel, marl, or shell.

c.

Existing parking areas that are scarified must comply with the provisions of this section.

(5)

Decorative perimeter landscaping shall be required wherever property improved by other than a paved parking areas abuts the public right-of-way.

(6)

Perimeter landscape strips and interior landscape areas required by this section shall be landscaped with grass, ground cover, or other approved permeable landscaping treatment in accordance with Florida-friendly design principles, provided:

a.

Pavement and sand are not considered approved landscape material.

b.

The use of sand, rock, and aggregate are appropriate only as part of a decorative design and is subject to approval by the department.

c.

The use of non-decorative rock and aggregate for drainage purposes is permitted, but does not count toward meeting the requirements of this section.

(b)

Perimeter landscaping.

(1)

In general.

a.

Areas abutting public rights-of-way shall be screened from public rights-of-way by a perimeter landscape strip at least eight (8) feet in width.

b.

For parcels smaller than twenty thousand (20,000) square feet, the perimeter landscape strip width may be reduced to five (5) feet provided there is a minimum of three (3) feet of pervious surface adjacent to the perimeter landscape strip.

c.

For the purposes of this section, ingress and egress lanes act to separate perimeter landscape strips, and the width of ingress and egress lanes is excluded when determining the length of perimeter landscape strips.

d.

One (1) tree is required for every thirty-five (35) feet, or fraction thereof, of perimeter landscape strip. Trees within a section of perimeter landscape strip may be grouped, but the distance between trees in a section shall not exceed fifty (50) feet.

(2)

Parking lot screening.

a.

In addition to the requirements of section 3-9-100.2(a), wherever parking areas abut public rights-of-way, a hedge or durable non-vegetative barrier, or combination thereof, at least three (3) feet in height shall be placed along the entire length of the perimeter landscape strip, except within sight triangles.

b.

Earthen berms may be used as non-vegetative barriers but shall not exceed a slope ratio of 3:1 (horizontal to vertical) and shall be stabilized with sold, landscaping, or other aesthetic treatment.

c.

Whenever non-vegetative barriers are employed, a minimum of one (1) shrub or vine shall be planted for every eight (8) linear feet, or fraction thereof. Plantings may be distributed evenly or in clusters.

d.

Shrubs must be a minimum of eighteen (18) inches in height.

e.

Vines shall be planted along the right-of-way side of the non-vegetative barrier unless of sufficient height at the time of planting to be visible from the right-of-way over the top of the non-vegetative barrier.

(3)

Decorative perimeter landscaping. In addition to the requirements of subsection (1) of this section, wherever improvements other than paved parking areas abut the public right-of-way, one (1) shrub or vine at least twelve (12) inches in height shall be planted in the perimeter landscape strip for every eight (8) linear feet, or fraction thereof.

(c)

Interior parking lot landscaping.

(1)

The purpose of interior landscaping is to lessen the undesired effects of large areas of impervious surface and pavement.

(2)

All off-street parking lots in excess of one thousand five hundred (1,500) square feet or five (5) spaces, whichever is less, shall comply with the following:

a.

All rows of parking shall have a terminal island placed at each end with a minimum of one (1) tree and shall be fully planted with shrubs, and groundcover. Each island shall be at least eight (8) feet wide as measured from back of curb to back of curb. Larger islands are recommended, especially where canopy trees are provided.

b.

The length of each planter island shall be the length of a parking space for single-row parking, or the length of two (2) car spaces for double-row parking. In the case of parallel parking, the length of a planter island shall be a minimum of ten (10) feet.

c.

No row of parking spaces shall contain more than ten (10) spaces uninterrupted by a required landscape island. No row of parallel parking shall contain more than five (5) spaces uninterrupted by a required landscape island.

d.

Each double-row terminal island shall include at least two (2) trees in addition to being fully planted with shrubs and groundcover.

e.

Planter islands shall be landscaped so as not to obstruct traffic sight lines. Shrubs shall be maintained at a height of twenty-four (24) inches; trees shall have a minimum of six (6) feet of clear trunk, as measured from the ground up.

f.

Configurations of planter islands not in strict conformity with this section may be approved if such configuration is necessary to preserve existing trees as determined by the zoning official or his/her designee.

g.

Sod is not permitted within any required landscape islands.

(3)

Specialized vehicular use areas, as defined in this section, are exempt from required parking islands.

(Ord. No. 2015-018, § 1(Exh. A), 4-28-15; Ord. No. 2015-055, § 1(Exh. A), 12-8-15)