Sec. 24-518. Design standards.
(a) Generally. All purposed landscape materials should complement the form of existing trees and plantings. Light, water, soil conditions, and on-going maintenance requirements should be considered in selecting plant materials. Generally, design standards shall assure that the layout of the development harmonizes with existing plans affecting the development and its surrounding area and shall be in conformity with the comprehensive plan for the development of the entire area.
(b) Vehicle overhang. Parked vehicles may hang over the landscaped area up to two and one-half (2½) feet. In no instance shall this overhang be counted as part of the required parking space area.
(c) Groundcover. All areas not landscaped with hedges, walls, or trees shall be provided with grass or other acceptable vegetative ground cover. In no case shall any required landscaping area be covered with rock, mulch, or other non-living material. However, this provision shall not be interpreted to prohibit the placement of mulch around plantings.
(d) Street trees. Shade trees shall be planted along all streets within the rights-of-way, parallel to the street. Species, size, and installation shall be per the standards of the Town. Allowable species are listed in Appendix I, Tree Planting Species.
(e) Bicycle and pedestrian access. The development plan shall include specific provisions for incorporating pedestrian and bicycle access, circulation and amenities into the development. Such bicycle and pedestrian access considerations shall include linking pedestrian and bicycle facilities to adjacent development, the overall U.S. 41 corridor, and, the Town's overall system of bicycle and pedestrian trails and routes.
(f) Protection of existing tree. Sites with existing trees or stands of trees should make reasonable efforts to protect and incorporate them into the overall site design. The landscape plan must preserve not less than seventy (70) percent of all trees that are:
(1) Nine (9) inches diameter at breast height or larger; and
(2) Located within the greenbelt, planting strips, and perimeter buffering.
(g) Public art. Public art that is included as part of a development plan shall be displayed in a location that is visually accessible to the public and visible from public right-of-way.