Copyrighted by SPRINGDALE CODE & Municipal Code Corporation, 1998.
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Sec. 56-31. Street frontage, interior, and perimeter.
Each development is required to address all three areas in the landscaping plan as it pertains to the particular site. The landscaping plan must include plantings and green space along all street right-of-ways, between lots with adjacent parking lots and also within the interior of the parking areas as the requirements apply to the individual site. The text and diagrams below explain the options that the applicant has for the site. Exemptions from these requirements are addressed in section 56-29.
(1) Landscaped street frontage buffer.
a. The landscaped street buffer serves two primary purposes: when a parking lot is located adjacent to a public right-of-way, a strip of landscaping helps shield projecting headlights that may impair the vision of passing motorist or pedestrians therefore creating a safer environment; it also provides an aesthetically pleasing transition from the public right of way to private property.
b. The site plan for any development, other than those exempt in section 56-29 must show a landscaped street buffer along all public rights-of-way. The applicant may choose among five options illustrated below, choosing one or a combination of several to meet the particular site constraints of the development.
Option 1: A minimum buffer of ten feet in width, planted with a minimum of one shade tree and seven shrubs per 25 linear feet of street frontage.
Option 2: Earth berms, at least two and one-half feet higher than the finished elevation of the parking lot, planted with a minimum of one shade tree and three shrubs per 25 linear feet of street frontage, with no set dimension.
Option 3: A six-foot landscaped street buffer with three feet of fall that includes a minimum of one shade tree and three shrubs per 25 linear feet of street frontage.
Option 4: A three-foot high wall made of brick, stone, or finished concrete along with five-foot buffer area including one shade tree per 25 linear feet along street frontage.
Option 5: A landscaped buffer area with existing woodlands maintained in 25-foot strip along the street frontage.
(2) Interior parking lot landscaping requirements.
a. The parking lot landscaping requirement serves several purposes: it provides necessary green space to give relief to expansive parking areas with nothing but asphalt, and the trees provide shade and serve as windbreaks. Planting islands assist with vehicular circulation.
b. The site plan for any development, other than those exempt in section 56-29 must show interior parking lot landscaping. A sliding scale to determine the amount of green area per lot has been included in order for the applicant to include these landscaping requirements as an integral part of the site development. c. The diagram in subsection (d) illustrates what areas of the vehicle accommodation area are considered when determining the total area of the parking lot. The square footage of all areas within the parking lot's perimeter are counted, including the planting islands required, curbed areas, corner lots, parking spaces and all interior driveways and aisles except those with no parking spaces located on either side. Landscaped areas outside the parking lot may not be used to meet the interior planting requirement. The total amount of green space for the interior lot is determined by figuring eight percent, ten percent, or 15 percent of the total parking lot area as explained above.
d. Planting islands are required as a part of the green space percentage in the interior parking lot area. The diagram below illustrates the parking island dimensions. The dimensions of a parking island must be a minimum of nine feet by 19 feet, the same as a parking space, and must be curbed to protect the landscaping and trees. One parking island required for every 15 parking spaces determined for that use group from the minimum parking standard identified in the use unit section of the zoning ordinance. If 13 or more spaces remain, an additional parking island is required. The planting islands must be evenly spaced among the parking spaces in the lot and serve as vehicular delineators whenever possible. In parking lots over 150,000 square feet, the number of parking islands can be reduced but the total square footage of green space must remain according to the requirements.
e. Trees are required to be planted in the interior parking area to offer shading from the heat and sun. One tree per planting island is required for the interior parking area with the balance planted in grass or other vegetation. These trees must be planted within the island and a four-foot clearance should be left for car doors to open from adjacent parking spaces.
f. Plant materials at vehicular entrances should be located so as to maintain safe sight distances and protect from vehicular lubricants or fuels.
(3) Perimeter landscaping other than street frontage. Perimeter landscaping requirements define parking areas and prevent two adjacent lots from becoming one large expanse of paving. When perimeter landscaping is require, the diagram below illustrates this concept. At minimum, a five-foot landscaped strip is required along the side and rear lot lines of a development with one tree per 25 linear feet required along lot lines.
a. The perimeter landscaping requirement does not preclude the need for vehicular access to be provided between lots.
b. The ten-foot perimeter strip is required for each development regardless if one is already in place from an adjacent, developed lot.
c. No pavement may extend within five feet of the property line on any lot unless it is included with an ingress/egress location.
(Ord. No. 3306, 3-25-03)
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Total Area of Parking Lot Area % Total Area of Lot for Interior Planting (excluding building and interior planting islands)(including the street frontage buffer, perimeter strip and the travel lanes) 3,000--49,999 sq. ft. 8 50,000--149,000 sq. ft. 10 150,000 sq. ft. or larger 15