§ 6.06.03. Landscape design and materials.

(a)

Design principles. Designs should coordinate structural elements with landscaping to achieve a pleasing overall site design. Landscaping can achieve other design objectives such as breaking up mass and bulk, and protecting privacy, but such use of landscaping should not substitute for good building design in conformance with all design objectives. The following principles of xeriscape landscaping shall be used in new developments or for new houses in older portion's of the town:

(1)

Appropriate planning and design;

(2)

Use of soil amendments;

(3)

Efficient irrigation;

(4)

Practical turf areas;

(5)

Use of drought tolerant plants;

(6)

Use of mulches;

(7)

Appropriate maintenance.

Any required landscape plan for a single-family residence may be drawn by the owner or his agent, all others shall bear the seal of a landscape architect or person authorized in F.S. ch. 481, part II.

(b)

Conformance to principles. All landscaped areas required by this Land Development Code should conform to the following general design principles:

(1)

Landscaping should integrate the proposed development into existing site features through consideration of existing topography, hydrology, soils and vegetation.

(2)

The functional elements of the development plan, particularly the drainage systems and internal circulation systems for vehicles and pedestrians, should be integrated in the landscaping plan.

(3)

Landscaping should be used to minimize potential erosion through the use of ground covers or any other type of landscape material that aids in soil stabilization.

(4)

Existing native vegetation and on site natural areas should be preserved and used to meet landscaping requirements. (See division 5.01.00 of article V of this Land Development Code for tree protection requirements.)

(5)

Landscaping should enhance the visual environment through the use of materials that achieve variety with respect to seasonal changes, species of living material selected, textures, colors and size at maturity.

(6)

Landscaping design should consider the aesthetic and functional aspects of vegetation, both when initially installed and when the vegetation has reached maturity. Newly installed plants should be placed at intervals appropriate to the size of the plant at maturity, and the design should use short- and long-term elements to satisfy the general design principles of this section over time.

(7)

Landscaping should enhance public safety and minimize nuisances.

(8)

Landscaping should be used to provide windbreaks, channel wind and increase ventilation.

(9)

Landscaping should maximize the shading of streets, vehicle use areas and buildings.

(10)

The selection and placement of landscaping materials should consider the effect on existing or future solar access, of enhancing the use of solar radiation and of conserving the maximum amount of energy.

(11)

Vegetative buffer strips and/or landscaped berms shall be installed so as to reduce the potential for automotive emission pollution.

(12)

Where potable water is proposed for landscape irrigation, native vegetation or drought resistant plants shall be used.

(c)

Installation of plants.

(1)

All plants shall be healthy and free of diseases and pests, and shall be selected from the list of approved species in subsection (e) of this section. The town manager may authorize the use of an appropriate species not shown on the lists. The manager should take steps to have the substituted species added to the lists.

(2)

Plants shall be installed during the period of the year most appropriate for planting the particular species. If compliance with this subsection requires that some or all of the landscaping be planted at a time after the issuance of a certificate of occupancy, the developer shall post a performance bond sufficient to pay the costs of the required, but not yet installed, landscaping before the certificate shall be issued.

(3)

Landscaping shall be protected from vehicular and pedestrian encroachment by means of raised planting surfaces, depressed walks, curbs, edges and the like.

(4)

The landscaping shall not interfere, at or before maturity, with power, cable television, or telephone lines, sewer or water pipes, or any other existing or proposed overhead or underground utility service.

(5)

All plants shall be installed according to standards adopted by the town manager.

(6)

The developer shall provide sufficient soil and water to sustain healthy growth of all plants.

(7)

All landscaping shall be installed according to accepted commercial planting procedures. Soil, free of limerock, pebbles or other construction debris shall be provided. If curbing is used abutting landscaped areas, it shall be perforated to permit drainage from the paved ground surface area onto the landscaped areas.

(d)

Use of native plants. Forty percent of the total number of individual plants selected from each of the categories of the list of approved species in subsection (e) of this section (canopy, understory, shrub, groundcover) and used to satisfy the requirements of this Land Development Code shall be selected from the list of native species in the category. (See division 5.01.00 of article V of this Land Development Code for tree protection requirements.) All existing trees with a DBH of eight inches or larger shall be identified on the landscape plan and incorporated, where possible, into the overall landscape concept. Those trees which are proposed for removal should be identified. Preference shall be given to the preservation of existing trees over the strict interpretation of the minimum standards set forth herein, provided the proposed design will produce a more unique or aesthetically pleasing design.

(e)

Approved plants.

(1)

The documents set forth in this subsection and on file at the town hall, or available from the county extension office provide lists of plants suggested for use in the town. Plants shown as "very drought tolerant" should be given first priority with those as "moderately drought tolerant" as the secondary consideration. Those not designated are not recommended for use.

a.

Xeriscape Plant Guide II, South Florida Water Management District.

b.

Basic List of Ornamental Plants from Landscaping Florida Homes.

c.

Recommended Trees for Central Florida, Greater Orlando Chamber of Commerce, 1984.

d.

Florida Horticulture Pamphlets by Department of Ornamental Horticulture.

1.

OH25, Native Florida Plants.

2.

OH28, Ornamental Trees for Central Florida.

3.

OH30, Ground Covers for Florida Homes.

4.

OH60, Ornamental Palms for Central Florida.

e.

Selected shrubs for Central Florida, Circular 499, Florida Cooperative Extension Service.

(2)

The following are designated canopy trees:

a.

Cherry laurel.

b.

Chinese tallow.

c.

Laurel oak.

d.

Live oak.

e.

Southern magnolia.

f.

Red maple.

g.

Slash pine.

h.

Sweet gum.

i.

Sycamore.

j.

Water oak.

k.

Bold cypress.

l.

Chinese elm.

m.

Pine.

(3)

The following are designated understory trees:

a.

Orchid tree.

b.

Butia palm.

c.

Fishtail palm.

d.

Redbud.

e.

Loquat.

f.

Goldenrain tree.

g.

Chinese fan palm.

h.

Wax myrtle.

i.

Sour cabbage palmetto.

j.

Jerusalem thorn.

k.

Senegal date palm.

l.

Sweet viburnum.

(4)

Approved shrubs are listed in subsection (e)(1)e of this section, shown proper for Central Florida.

(5)

Ground covers, which are plants, other than turfgrass which at maturity normally reach an average maximum height of 24 inches are listed in subsection (e)(1)d.3 of this section, shown proper for Central Florida.

(6)

Plant material specifications. The following specifications shall be utilized for all landscape materials on the project site: The quality of plant materials used shall meet or exceed grade 1, as established in "Grades and Standards For Nursery Plants," part I, 1963, State of Florida, Department of Agriculture, Tallahassee, Florida, and amendments thereto.

(f)

Prohibited plants. Plants listed in section 5.01.02(b) shall not be installed as landscape material.

(g)

Irrigation. All landscaped areas shall be provided with an appropriate irrigation system to be provided by the developer. Said system shall provide at least one outlet for irrigation water within 150 feet of the plant material. If a landscaped area contains primarily species native to the immediate region, or plants acceptable for xeric landscaping, the town manager or development review board, as applicable, may waive or modify the requirement for installation of an irrigation system. Consideration of a waiver of the irrigation requirement shall include, in addition to the area covered by native vegetation, such local conditions as sun or shade, use of fill soil, and depth to water table.

(1)

Any restrictions shall not apply to handwatering using a self-canceling nozzle or low volume irrigation systems.

(2)

Any restrictions shall not apply to irrigation systems for which the sole source is treated wastewater effluent.

(3)

Any person, resident or developer who purchases or installs an automatic lawn sprinkler system shall install a rain sensor device or switch which will override the irrigation cycle of the sprinkler system when adequate rainfall has occurred. Enforcement of this section is covered in F.S. § 166.048.

(4)

The operation of any irrigation system or device in a manner causing water to be wasted is prohibited.

(5)

Irrigation systems can be operated outside any restricted hours for the purpose of system repair and maintenance as well as landscape maintenance activities. Such operations shall be limited to the minimum amount necessary.

(6)

The town manager may issue temporary verbal waivers or permanent written waivers.

(h)

Nonliving materials. Mulches shall be a minimum depth of two inches and plastic surface covers shall not be used.

(i)

Maintenance and replacement of plants.

(1)

All required plants shall be maintained in a healthy, pest-free condition.

(2)

Within six months of a determination by the town manager that a plant is dead or severely damaged or diseased, the plant shall be replaced by the developer in accordance with the standards specified in this Land Development Code.

(3)

The owner of any property shall be responsible for the maintenance of all landscaping in good condition so as to present a neat, healthy, and orderly appearance free of refuse and debris.

Periodic inspections shall be conducted by the town manager or his representative to ensure compliance with this section. Notice of noncompliance may be given by the town manager by certified mail and a reinspection will be made 30 days after the first notice. Continued violation after 30 days will be referred to the special magistrate. Deteriorated and destroyed materials must be replaced with plant material consistent as to quantity and quality of other material on the property or with any original landscape plan for the property or as approved by the town manager.

(Ord. No. 91-6, § 3(6.06.03), 2-11-1992)