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A. General Requirement. All setbacks, buffers, open spaces, pervious surfaces, plazas, parks, site and building entrances, pedestrian walkways, service areas, and parking lots shall be landscaped with plant materials. Existing vegetation may be maintained and applied toward this standard if the existing vegetation meets the landscaping requirements of this section, is healthy, and is likely to survive development. The requirements specified in RZC 21.32, Landscaping, shall apply except to the extent that they conflict with landscaping practices appropriate to an urban center. In addition, supplemental landscaping requirements for Overlake Village are defined below.

B. Plantings Along Streets. At a minimum, planting strips along streets shall include street trees per the City’s standards for type and species. Where space allows, planting areas should include other vegetation suitable for an urban setting. Tree planting pits on streets that include Furniture Zones per RZC 21.12.150, OV Street Cross Sections, shall be covered with cast-iron tree grates of a type that meets ADA requirements.

C. Open Space and Plazas.

1. Plazas and common usable open spaces shall be landscaped to create visual interest by providing a variety of colors, heights, and forms of foliage; soften building edges; and reduce the impact of elements such as noise or wind.

2. The quantity of trees, shrubs, and other plant materials shall be designed to meet the size and function of the plaza or open space.

D. Zone 5 Buffers.

1. Properties in Zone 5 shall provide a landscape buffer at least 20 feet in width along street frontages where any portion of the street bordering the development site borders a residential zone within a neighboring jurisdiction.

2. The buffers shall be planted with the following materials:

a. Minimum of one tree per 200 square feet of buffer area. No more than 40 percent of trees may be deciduous.

b. Evergreen shrubs, a minimum of five gallon in size. The area covered by the shrubs shall equal at least one-third of the buffer frontage.

c. Groundcover plantings to cover the ground within three years.

d. Plant materials shall be drought tolerant and at least 50 percent native species by area.

e. Trees and other plant materials required by this section shall be located so that they effectively buffer the development from bordering residential properties. The buffer need not completely obscure the development; rather it should screen it.

3. Up to 20 percent of the buffer area may be used for streets, driveways, utility crossings, trails, or ground level features such as patios. Other structures may not be placed in required buffers.

4. Buffers may be counted towards required open space, required pervious surfaces, setbacks, and other requirements in the Use and Bulk Regulations that they meet.

5. Buffers may include landscaped on-site stormwater management BMPs such as bioretention or rain gardens. (Ord. 2858)

Effective on: 12/17/2016