15-1418 Amending Landscaping,Buffer Screening and Open Space

Home Browse Search

Invasive Plant List" shall be used. C. Required coverage. All landscape open area, including landscape strips and islands required by this Article, and ground not covered by building, paving, or other structures, shall be covered by a living plant material such as grass, ground cover, shrubs, and other living planted landscaping materials, excepting a mulched area having a radius no larger than three feet from the outside diameter of the fill. D. Structures. Landscaping shall be placed around all structures so as to enhance the appearance of the structure and to screen any unsightly features. E. Grass. Grass areas shall be planted in species normally grown as permanent lawns in the vicinity of the City of Casselberry, Florida. Grass areas shall be sodded. Seed shall only be allowed within retention areas. F. Synthetic or artificial material. Synthetic or artificial material in the form of trees, shrubs, grass, ground covers or vines shall not be used in lieu of plant requirements in this Section. G. Mulches. Organic mulches, e.g. pine and cypress; and inorganic mulches e.g. rock, stone and gravel shall be required in planting beds to a minimum depth of two (2) inches. Mulches will help in holding moisture, cooling the surface, reducing weed growth, slowing erosion, and, in the case of organic mulches, even improve the soil quality as they decompose. H. Open Space. Table 2 -5.4, Size and Dimension Regulations, cites the maximum allowable impervious surface ratio within each district. Open space shall be comprised of permeable surfaces, excluding principal structures, parking or paved areas and any other impermeable surfaces. Areas used to filtrate stormwater such as stormwater ponds, rain gardens and swales shall not be counted as open space, except as may be allowed in Section I below. I. Drainage Systems. In order to maximize the developable area of a site, innovative designs for landscape areas may be considered by creating rain gardens, bioswales, and /or bioretention areas that emulate natural hydrology. Such systems may be provided within any of the required landscape areas where appropriate design is provided. Appropriate design is a retention/drainage area as well as an improvement to the aesthetics of the site. For wet detention or dry retention pond systems, up to 50% may be counted as open space if the pond is natively landscaped in such a manner to emulate a natural wetland or lake system, generally consisting of both significant upland and emergent species. Appropriate maintenance criteria will be imposed to ensure all such systems in this Section are properly maintained in perpetuity. J. Landscape strips. All landscape strips shall be six (6) feet in diameter with concrete curbing along the outer perimeter where they meet a parking area or drive aisle. All landscape strips required by this Article shall be protected from vehicular encroachment by raised curbing. K. Berms, walls and fences. Berms, walls and fences are encouraged to reduce the impacts upon a surrounding land use or roadway. 1. Where a berm, wall or a fence is constructed within the required landscape strip, plant requirements for landscape strips may be reduced by 50 percent. 2. Berms. a. Berms must be covered with live vegetation and be at least 18 inches in height Ordinance 15 -1418 Page 4