Grayson › Zoning Ordinance
Article 15 — Tree Preservation and Landscape
§ 1500
PURPOSE
The purpose of this article is to facilitate the preservation and/or replacement of trees as part of the land development process within Grayson and to provide minimum landscape standards for commercial developments in the city so as to enhance architectural features, improve control of soil erosion, aesthetics and scenic amenity within Grayson.
§ 1501
APPLICABILITY
The terms and provisions of this article shall apply to any activity on real property which requires the issuance of a Site Development Permit or a Substantial Building Permit within Grayson, but excluding the construction of individual single family detached and duplex dwellings. No Site Development Permit or Substantial Building Permit shall be issued by the City without it being determined that the proposed development is in conformance with the provisions of these regulations.
§ 1502
PERMIT PROCEDURE
A.All applications for a Site Development Permit or a Substantial Building Permit shall include the following:
1.Tree Protection and Landscape Plan: A tree protection plan stamped by a registered Landscape Architect shall be submitted with other permit drawings. This plan may either be a separate drawing, or part of the landscape plan, and shall include the following information:
a.Definition of Spatial Limits, including:
i.Limits of land disturbance, clearing, grading, and trenching;
ii.Tree protection zones;
iii.Specimen trees or stands of trees;
iv.Areas of revegetation;
v.Tree density calculations; and
vi.Critical root zone.
b.Detail drawings of tree protection measures (where applicable), including:
i.Protective tree fencing;
ii.Erosion control fencing;
iii.Tree protection signs;
iv.Transplanting specifications;
v.Tree wells, and aeration systems;
vi.Staking specifications; and
vii.Other applicable drawings.
c.Procedures and schedules of the implementation, installation, and maintenance of tree protection measures.
B.An on-site inspection will be made by the City Arborist.
C.All landscape plans and related documentation shall be reviewed by the City Arborist for conformance to the provisions of these regulations and either approved, returned for revisions, or denied within thirty (30) days of receipt. If denied, the reasons for denial shall be annotated on the landscape plan or otherwise stated in writing.
D.Issuance of the Site Development Permit or a Substantial Building Permit is contingent upon approval of the required Tree Protection and Landscape Plan.
§ 1503
TREE DENSITY REQUIREMENTS
One key in this chart is misprinted
- The Existing Trees to Remain chart prints a row reading 3.00 with 4.90 units, sitting between the 29.00 and 31.00 rows.
- Read literally, a 3-inch tree would earn 4.90 units — but the same chart already answers a 3-inch tree with its 1-4 band at 0.10 units, a 49-times disagreement inside one table.
- Read as 30.00 — the number the position implies — the column runs 4.60, 4.90, 5.20, the same steady step as every neighbouring row.
- The printed text below shows the row exactly as the city published it. The machine-readable chart leaves that one row out rather than guess, and says so.
- Confirm with the City of Grayson before relying on either reading.
A.Minimum standards. On each property for which a tree protection and landscape plan is required, existing trees may be retained and new trees planted so that the property shall attain according to their diameter at breast height (DBH). Add all numbers. This is the Trees to Remain Factor (TRF). Paragraph C below lists the Trees to Remain Factor for trees of varying DBH.
3.Calculate the Required Replacement Density (RRD) by subtracting TRF (step 2) from TDF (Step 1).
4.If the TRF is greater than the TDF, no additional planting is required. If TRF is less than TDF, replacement trees will have to be planted. Additional planting is based on the caliper of the tree. The chart under paragraph D below indicates trees' replacement values.
C.Existing trees to remain follow the chart below. The chart converts DBH to tree density units hundred (100) inches in caliper per acre.
2.Properties zoned R-100, R-100 Modified, and MH shall provide a minimum of fifty (50)
inches in caliper per acre.
3.Residential subdivisions:
a.R-100 properties: A minimum of three (3) canopy trees and two (2) understory trees shall be protected or planted per lot.
b.R-100 Modified and residential portion of PUD: A minimum of two (2) canopy trees and two (2) understory trees shall be protected or planted per lot.
F.Trees generally acceptable for credit in Tree Density Calculation include:
1.Canopy trees.
a.American Beech
b.American Hornbeam
c.American Yellowwood
d.Bald Cypress
e.Black Locust
f.Blackgum, Black Tupelo
g.Chinese Elm
h.Dawn Redwood
i.Florida or Southern Sugar Maple
j.Ginkgo (Male)
k.Green Ash
l.Hackenberry
m.Hickories
n.Japanese Padogatree
o.Japanese Zelkova
p.Katsura Tree
q.Leyland Cypress
r.Loblolly Pine
s.Oaks, except Live Oak
t.Pecan
u.Red Maple
v.River Birch
w.Southern Magnolia
x.Shortleaf Pine
y.Sugar Maple
z.Sweetgum aa. Sycamore bb. Tulip Poplar
cc.Virginia Pine
dd.White Ash
2.Understory trees.
a.Dogwood
b.Sourwood
c.Red Bud
d.Trident Maple
e.Crape Myrtle
f.Wax Myrtle
g.Japanese Maple
h.Little Gem Magnolia
3.Other trees may be approved on a case by case basis. The general criteria for
Replacement Trees — conversion from caliper (inches) to tree density units (§ 1503(D); here a 3.00-inch caliper legitimately exists — the chart runs 1.00 to 14.00)
| District | Tree density units |
|---|---|
| 1.00 | 0.40 |
| 2.00 | 0.50 |
| 3.00 | 0.60 |
| 4.00 | 0.70 |
| 5.00 | 0.90 |
| 6.00 | 1.00 |
| 7.00 | 1.20 |
| 8.00 | 1.30 |
| 9.00 | 1.50 |
| 10.00 | 1.70 |
| 11.00 | 1.90 |
| 12.00 | 2.10 |
| 13.00 | 2.30 |
| 14.00 | 2.50 |
feet tall or greater), and ecologically compatible with the site. All planting and replanting plans are subject to City Arborist's approval.
G.Specimen trees.
1.Specimen trees and stands of trees must be replaced by species with potentials for comparable size and quality.
2.Trees greater than thirty (30) inches in caliper shall be defined as specimen trees.
3.No more than fifty (50%) percent of specimen trees shall be permitted to be removed.
4.Specimen tree replacement shall equal one and one half (1½) times the specimen tree size.
H.Species selection and replacement densities are subject to approval by the City Arborist.
Existing Trees to Remain — conversion from DBH (inches) to tree density units for the Trees to Remain Factor (§ 1503(C); an omitted mid-chart key is a printed misprint — see the section note)
| District | Tree density units |
|---|---|
| 1-4 | 0.10 |
| 5-7 | 0.30 |
| 8-9 | 0.50 |
| 10.00 | 0.60 |
| 11.00 | 0.70 |
| 12.00 | 0.80 |
| 13.00 | 0.90 |
| 14.00 | 1.10 |
| 15.00 | 1.20 |
| 16.00 | 1.40 |
| 17.00 | 1.60 |
| 18.00 | 1.80 |
| 19.00 | 2.00 |
| 20.00 | 2.20 |
| 21.00 | 2.40 |
| 22.00 | 2.60 |
| 23.00 | 2.90 |
| 24.00 | 3.10 |
| 25.00 | 3.40 |
| 26.00 | 3.70 |
| 27.00 | 4.00 |
| 28.00 | 4.30 |
| 29.00 | 4.60 |
| 31.00 | 5.20 |
| 32.00 | 5.60 |
| 33.00 | 5.90 |
| 34.00 | 6.30 |
| 35.00 | 6.70 |
| 36.00 | 7.10 |
| 37.00 | 7.50 |
| 38.00 | 7.90 |
| 39.00 | 8.30 |
| 40.00 | 8.70 |
| 41.00 | 9.20 |
| 42.00 | 9.60 |
| 43.00 | 10.10 |
| 44.00 | 10.60 |
| 45.00 | 11.00 |
| 46.00 | 11.50 |
| 47.00 | 12.00 |
| 48.00 | 12.60 |
| 49.00 | 13.10 |
| 50.00 | 13.60 |
Grid rebuilt from the published table · verbatim source (p. 125) ↗
§ 1504
LANDSCAPE STRIPS
A.Minimum landscape strip dimensions for front yards and street side corner yards along the street frontage for each lot in any zoning district shall be ten (10) linear feet. A fifteen (15) foot Bermed Landscape Zone, as indicated in Section 910 shall act as the landscape strip for properties adjoining Grayson Hwy/SR 20. The landscape strip shall start at the inner edge of the Sidewalk Clear Zone (See Section 903) and shall continue for ten feet into the interior lot.
B.No permanent structures are permitted within landscape strips (buildings, parking spaces, dumpsters, drainage structures, detention facilities, etc.). Exceptions include driveways, sidewalks foot paths, necessary retaining walls, signs, and the deposition of storm water runoff or drainage swales through landscape strips perpendicular to the strip.
D.Signs within landscape strips may only be located in areas of turf or ground cover and must not conflict with the growth potential of trees and shrubs.
E.Design standards: All required landscape strips must be designed with at least sixty (60%)
percent coverage in trees and shrubs, and no more than forty (40%) percent coverage in grass and ground cover. Landscape strip coverage will be calculated as follows:
1.Calculate the total spatial area of the landscape strip.
2.Count the number of trees within the landscape strip and multiply by fifty (50) square feet for trees less than six (6) inch caliper and one hundred and fifty (150) square feet for trees greater than six (6) caliper. (This will allow some credit for the spatial coverage of the tree canopy).
3.Measure the spatial coverage of the proposed shrub beds and add to the tree coverage.
a.Twelve (12) square feet for each five (5) Gallon plant;
b.Nine (9) square feet for each three (3) Gallon plant;
c.Six (6) square feet for each two (2) Gallon plant; or
d.Three (3) square feet for each one (1) Gallon plant.
e.This total area shall be greater than or equal to sixty (60%) percent of the total area of the strip.
4.The required trees within the front landscaping areas shall be a minimum of two (2) inch caliper or six (6) feet to eight (8) feet tall at the time of planting.
5.Any exposed ground should be planted with a ground cover or an appropriate mulching material.
6.All trees and landscape materials should be planted at the proper planting times, preferably in the fall, winter or spring and maintained in perpetuity. The City may require performance bonds be posted if planting is delayed due to seasonality.
7.Trees within required landscape strips shall be provided as follows:
a.Landscape strips shall have a minimum of one tree for every thirty (30) linear feet of a landscape strip to the nearest whole number. Trees within landscape strips count toward Tree Density Unit requirements of Section 1505.
b.Clumping is permitted provided that adequate spacing is allowed for future growth.
8.Where desirable, the landscape strip need not be a strip per se.
a.The minimum area (square feet) to be landscaped shall be calculated by multiplying the width of the lot by the linear foot requirements provided in Section 1504(A).
b.Said landscape strip shall not be less than five (5) feet wide at any point.
§ 1505
PARKING AREAS
Parking lots designed with twenty (20) or more parking spaces shall be designed as follows:
A.Where parking bays exceed twenty (20) continuous spaces, a planter island meeting the following criteria is required. The planting islands shall be located no farther apart than every twenty (20) parking spaces and at the terminus of all rows of parking.
B.Each separated planter island shall contain a minimum of one hundred and fifty (150) square feet.
C.The area shall include at least one (1) shade tree. The remaining area may be planted with shrubs, ground cover not to exceed three (3) feet in height or pine straw, bark, wood chips, turf grass, rocks and the like.
D.All planter islands must be curbed to prevent vehicular encroachment.
E.To promote better growth of trees and shrubs and to encourage flexibility in parking design, the area of not more than four (4) planter island may be combined into one large island.
F.Shall provide a minimum ten (10) foot wide landscape strip between all road rights-of-way and the back-of-curb of abutting off-street paved parking lots. Landscaped strips between road rights-of-way and the edge of abutting off-street grassed parking areas shall be a minimum of five (5) feet in width per Section 1504(D)(8)(b).
§ 1506
INSTALLATION AND MAINTENANCE
A.Installation. All landscaping shall be installed in a sound workmanlike manner and according to accepted good planting procedures. The Administrative Officer shall inspect all landscaping and no Certificate of Occupancy or similar authorization will be issued unless the landscaping meets the requirements provided in this ordinance.
B.Maintenance. The owner, occupant, tenant and respective agent of each, if any, shall be jointly and severally responsible for the maintenance and protection of all required landscaping in perpetuity, in accordance with the following standards:
1.Keep landscaping reasonably free of visible signs of insects and disease and appropriately irrigated to enable landscaping to exist in a healthy growing condition;
2.Mow or trim landscaping in a manner and at a frequency appropriate to the use made of the material and species on the site so as not to detract from the appearance of the general area. Growth of plant material at maturity shall be considered where future conflicts such as view, signage, street lighting, utilities and circulation might arise;
3.Maintain all landscaping to minimize property damage and public safety hazards, including removal of dead or decaying plant material, and removal of low hanging branches next to sidewalks and walkways obstructing street lighting; and
4.Pruning is to be performed to maintaining healthy plant matter in accordance with the specifications set forth by the American Forestry Association, the National Arborist Association, or other professional arboricultural organizations.