§ 155.125 Landscaping
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§ 155.125 LANDSCAPING. (A) Application. (1) This subchapter shall apply to all development within the city and shall be instituted at such time that a development permit is issued which alters the pervious area of any given plot. (2) Only single family residential plots shall be exempt from the vehicular use area and buffer requirements sections of this subchapter. (3) No Certificate of Occupancy, permanent or temporary, shall be issued by the city unless the landscaping requirements are met as evidenced by Certificate of Completion. (B) Purpose and Intent. (1) To establish minimum standards for the development, installation and maintenance of landscaping and landscaped open green space, including specific water conservation measures that will encourage resourceful planning and promote the public health, safety and general welfare in the areas of water conservation and preservation; (2) Promote cleaner air and energy conservation through the creation of shade and the reduction of heat gain by buildings and paved surfaces; (3) To preserve and encourage open space; (4) To require the proper placement and maintenance of landscaping necessary for public safety and to prevent interruption of electrical service; (5) To maintain, preserve, and improve the existing tree canopy of the city, because tree leaf surfaces trap and filter out ash, dust, and pollution; that tree root systems hold and consolidate soil and other loose earthen materials, thereby helping prevent erosion, reducing water pollution and maintaining the continued vitality of natural habitats for the propagation and protection of wildlife, birds, game, fish and other aquatic life; (6) To improve environmental quality and to protect the natural environment and aesthetic appearance of public, commercial, industrial and residential areas of the city by regulating the unnecessary destruction, removal, damaging or cutting down of desirable trees and plant life; and (7) To establish procedures and standards for the administration and enforcement of this section; (C) Authorization. To insure that the minimum standards for landscape design, installation and maintenance, in all instances, shall comply with the provisions of this subchapter, the following authorizations and certifications are required: (1) The landscape plans for all development, other than for single-family and duplex residential plots, shall be prepared by and bear the seal of a registered landscape architect in the State of Florida. (2) All persons providing for hire landscape services such as inspection, installation, maintenance, pruning and removal within the city shall be required to have a business tax receipt. A photocopy of such business tax receipt shall be made available for examination at each job site. Vehicles used by tree arborists shall be marked in accordance with code requirements. (D) Any landscape plan review being submitted for approval shall be accompanied by the appropriate fee as set forth in Chapter 157, “Development of Land.” (E) Documents Incorporated by Reference. The following documents, as they currently appear as or may be amended, and the standards contained therein, are adopted as standards and are incorporated in this section by reference: The American National Standards Institute A-300, Tree, Shrub and Other Woody Plant Maintenance - Standard Practices, and Z-133.1, Pruning, Repairing, Maintaining and Removing Trees and Cutting Brush - Safety Requirements; Florida Department of Agriculture Division of Plant Industry, Grades and Standards for Nursery Plants; Jim Clark and Nelda Matheny, Trees and Development; Council of Tree and Landscape Appraisers, Guide for Plant Appraisal, Ninth Edition, 2000; Richard Harris, Arboriculture Integrated Management of Landscape Trees, Shrubs and Vines, Second Edition; Gary W. Watson and E.B. Homelike, Principals and Practices of Planting Trees and Shrubs; Florida Urban Forestry Council, Selecting and Planting Trees for the South Florida Urban Forest; Florida Power and Light's Plant the Right Tree in the Right Place brochure; Bedrock Information Systems, Inc. Plant Finder, current edition; Florida Exotic Pest Plant Council list of invasive species; and South Florida Water Management District's Xeriscape. Plant It Smart brochure. (Ord. 90-28, passed 2-6-90; Am. Ord. 94-16, passed 2-1-94; Am. Ord. 98-37, passed 3-24-98; Am. Ord. 2002- 42, passed 3-12-02; Am. Ord. 2004-36, passed 4-27-04; Am. Ord. 2007-58, passed 7-24-07) § 155.126 DEFINITIONS. The following terms, phrases, and words shall have the meaning herein prescribed where applicable any term or word not specifically defined shall have the meaning as provided for in § 155.125(E) and by the following articles incorporated by reference, unless the contents clearly indicate otherwise: Tomlinson, Trees Native to Tropical Florida, the latest edition, Julia Morton, 500 Plants of South Florida; State of Florida Dig Manual, and the previously listed documents as referenced in § 155.125(E). ACCESSWAY. A paved area intended to provide ingress and egress of vehicular traffic from a public right- of-way to an off-street parking area. BERM. A natural or man-made earthen-mound strip used in landscape design. BUFFER. A continuous area of land along the perimeter of a plot in which landscaping is used to provide a transition between one type of land use and another. CALIPER. Trunk diameter measured six inches from the ground on trees up to and including four inches in caliper, and twelve inches above the ground for larger trees. CLEAR TRUNK. The lower portion of the trunk maintained free of any branches, measured from the soil line up to the first major branch. CORRECTIVE PRUNING. Pruning which removes one or more trunks to create a stronger, well-structured tree framework. CROWN. The branches, twigs and leaves that make up the foliage portion of the tree. CROWN SPREAD. The aerial extent of the branches within the drip line of the tree or shrub. DESTROY/EFFECTIVELY DESTROY. Pruning or other action that causes or results in the death of a tree, or,which causes irreparable damage and permanent disfigurement to the natural habit of growth of a tree such that, even with re-growth, the tree will never regain the original characteristics of its tree species. Acts which may effectively destroy a tree include, but are not limited to, damage inflicted upon the root system by heavy machinery, excessive trimming, changing the natural grade above the root system or around the trunk, damage inflicted on the tree permitting infection or pest infestation, application of herbicides or other chemical agents or intentional fire damage to the tree permitting infection or pest infestation, the infliction of a trunk wound that is 50% or greater to the circumference of the trunk, or the removal of sufficient canopy to cause the decline of the tree. DRIPLINE. The outside end of branches of a tree or shrub projected vertically to the ground. EQUIVALENT VALUE. An amount of money which reflects the estimated cost of replacing a tree as determined by the Zoning Director or designee. FLUSH CUT. A pruning cut made too close to, or flush with, the trunk of the tree. FROND. A large compound leaf of a palm. GROUND COVER. Plants, other than turfgrass, normally reaching an average maximum height of not more than 24 inches at maturity. HATRACKING. To sever the leader or leaders, or to prune a tree by stubbing of mature wood. HEDGE. A close planting of shrubs to form a compact, dense, visually opaque living barrier or screen. HISTORICAL TREE. A particular tree or group of trees which has historical value because of its unique relationship to the history of the region, state, nation, or world as designated by the Director of Zoning or designee. HORIZONTAL PLANE. An imaginary line that begins at the base of the live palm frond petioles. IRRIGATION. A permanent, man-made watering system designed to transport and distribute water to plant material. LANDSCAPED AREA. The entire parcel less the building, footprint, driveways, non-irrigated portions of parking lots, landscapes such as decks and patios, and other impervious areas. Water features are included in the calculation of the landscaped area. This landscaped area includes Xeriscape as defined in F.S. § 373.185(l)(b). LANDSCAPING. Living plant material such as grass, ground cover, shrubs, vines, trees, and palms; grading of land areas; irrigation; and non-living durable material commonly used in landscape design such as, but not limited to, rocks, crushed stone, mulch, sand, walls, fences, water features and pedestrian pavements which are used separately or in combination to meet the requirements of this section. LARGE PALMS. Palms that have a mature overall height and a mature overall spread greater than 20 feet. LAWN; GRASS; SOD. Upper layer of soil bound by grassy plant roots and covered by viable grass blades. MULCH. Non-living, organic or synthetic materials customarily used in landscape design to retard erosion and retain moisture. NATIVE SPECIES, NATIVE VEGETATION or NATURALLY OCCURRING EXISTING PLANT COMMUNITIES. Any plant species with a geographic distribution indigenous to South Florida and as set forth in the Xeriscape Plant Guide of South Florida Water Management District. OVERLIFT. The removal of the majority of the inner lateral branches and foliage thereby displacing weight and mass to the ends of the branches. The alteration of the tree's live crown ratio may be considered as evidence of overlifting. PERSON. Shall include, but not be limited to, any individual, firm, association, joint venture, partnership, estate, trust, business trust, syndicate, fiduciary, business, or similar entities. PERVIOUS; IMPERVIOUS AREA. The area of a plot remaining after the impervious areas are subtracted. The impervious area includes the areas covered by structure, vehicular use areas, storage areas or display areas, accessways, pedestrian pavement or wet retention areas. The impervious area does not include dry retention areas. PERVIOUS PAVING MATERIALS. A porous asphaltic or concrete surface and a high-void aggregate base which allows for rapid infiltration and temporary storage of rain on, or runoff delivered to, paved surfaces.