§ 701. Landscaping and Screening Standards.

701.1.   Purpose and Intent.

The requirements established herein for the installation and maintenance of landscaping and screening are deemed necessary by Manatee County to protect and enhance the community's environmental, economic and aesthetic quality, thereby contributing to the overall objective of promoting the public health, safety and general welfare. More specifically, it is the purpose of this Section:

A.

To promote the conservation of potable and non-potable water;

B.

To aid in stabilizing the environment's ecological balance;

C.

To reduce noise, glare, heat and dust;

D.

To protect, conserve and improve the appearance of property;

E.

To promote energy conservation and personal comfort;

F.

To enhance community appearance, identity and unique natural beauty;

G.

To create visual interest, variety and harmony, and provide contrast and relief from the built-up environment;

H.

To reduce visual and functional conflicts between land uses and activity areas; and

I.

To establish the minimum landscaping and screening standards and criteria that are necessary to achieve the desired quality of life described by the purposes set forth above.

701.2.   Exemptions.

These requirements shall apply to all new development or the expansion of existing development except for the following:

A.

Single-family and duplex dwellings on individual lots, except as provided in Section 701.3.D; and

B.

Developments having been issued a final development order prior to the effective date of this Ordinance.

701.3.   Minimum Required Landscaping.

A.

Vehicle Use Areas.  

1.

A vehicle use area is any portion of a development site used for circulation, parking and/or display of motorized vehicles, except junk or automobile salvage yards.

2.

All vehicle use areas containing more than one thousand (1,000) square feet shall be landscaped in accord with Figure 7-1, which requires three hundred and sixty (360) square feet of planting area, including four (4) canopy trees and twenty (20) shrubs per twenty (20) parking spaces. If one (1) gallon shrubs are used within the landscape islands, forty (40) shrubs shall be required. Tree and shrub sizes shall be in accordance with Section 701.4.B.

3.

For vehicle use areas serving large vehicles requiring additional maneuvering room, such as truck stops, and motor freight terminals, up to fifty (50) percent of required vehicle use area landscaping may be transferred and added to the perimeter buffer or roadway buffer.

4.

No more than ten (10) consecutive parking spaces shall be allowed without an interior landscape island.

5.

The front of a vehicle may encroach upon any interior landscaped area or walkway when said area is at least eight (8) feet in depth, not including curbing, per abutting parking space and protected by curbing. No tree or shrub of more than two (2) feet in height shall be located within two (2) feet of the edge of the landscape area.

6.

If a Sign View Area is shown on the landscape plan, the developer will have the choice of either replacing the canopy trees with understory trees within the View Area or moving the trees to another location within the parking lot. A Sign View Area shall be defined as those areas to be left within the sight lines of either free-standing or wall signs by the travelling public on adjacent streets. No more than thirty (30) percent of required trees may be switched to understory trees as a result of this provision. Understory trees must be provided at a ratio of 1.5 to 1 if used to replace canopy trees.

7.

Where vehicle use areas abut the roadway, the roadway buffer may serve as the perimeter parking lot buffer. However, where the vehicle use area does not abut a roadway, the perimeter landscaping requirements shall be a minimum width of eight (8) feet containing one (1) canopy tree meeting the minimum requirements of Section 701.4.B per forty (40) feet or substantial fraction thereof, and either shrubs, hedges, berming or fences or any combination thereof, to reach a height of forty-two (42) inches, two (2) years after installation, and being eighty (80) percent opaque.

Figure 7-1: Vehicle Use Area Landscaping

Both options utilize the same requirements

B.

Buffer Zones.  

1.

Buffer Zones are landscaped strips along parcel boundaries.

2.

Buffer Zones serve to separate incompatible uses and/or create attractive boundaries.

• Widths and degrees of vegetation depend on relationship between uses.

• Standards are per one hundred (100) linear feet.

• Plant materials are to be spread relatively evenly throughout the buffer.

• See Figure 7-3 for required amounts of landscaping.

• See Figure 7-3 for landscaping alternatives.

3.

Buffer zones for proposed industrial uses adjacent to residential uses/zoning shall use buffer option E, unless otherwise approved with Planned Development Specific Approval.

a.

Roadway Buffers. Required for multi-family and non-residential projects along all roadways. Required for single-family projects abutting thoroughfares only. See Section 902.7.C (Buffer Zones) for developments along urban corridors.

i.

Reverse frontage lots shall be provided adjacent to major thoroughfares. A twenty (20) foot wide buffer shall be provided along rear property lines abutting right-of-way. Additional lot depth of twenty (20) feet shall be provided to accommodate such buffer when adjacent to collectors, arterials or other thoroughfares.

(a)

See Figure 7-2 for requirements.

(b)

If fences are used, required landscaping shall be located on the exterior, facing the roadway, or adjacent property.

(c)

For hedges within roadway buffers, the shrubs shall reach a height of three (3) feet within two (2) years.

(d)

For roadway buffers that contain overhead power lines, the requirement for canopy trees may be reduced to allow understory trees as shown in Figure 7-2.

Figure 7-2: Roadway Buffer Options per 100 Feet

b.

Screening Buffers.

i.

Screening buffers are required between zoning district boundaries.

ii.

The width of the buffer shall be as defined in the Buffer Matrix, Figure 7-4.

iii.

Decorative, opaque fences shall be considered:

• Concrete Aggregate

• Stucco

• Finish (either colored or painted)

• Brick

• Stone

• Glass Block or

• Wood

iv.

No chain link shall be allowed. (The exception is chain link with slats shall be allowed for the gates of dumpster enclosures.)

v.

Concrete masonry shall be allowed only if split face design.

vi.

Structurally safe, durable and attractive.

vii.

A minimum of six (6) feet in height.

viii.

For hedges used within screening buffer zones, the plant materials used shall reach a minimum height of six (6) feet within three (3) years of planting.

c.

Residential Greenbelts.

i.

For all residential projects, a fifteen (15) foot wide perimeter greenbelt buffer shall be required. Streets and utilities providing interneighborhood ties may be permitted to pass through greenbelt buffer areas. Should such greenbelts be located adjacent to single family lots, such lots may not be platted through the greenbelt. In projects consisting entirely of fifteen (15) or less single family lots, greenbelt buffers shall be reduced in width to ten (10) feet.

Exemptions:

• For new residential subdivisions located in the A or A-1 zoning districts, no greenbelt shall be required.

• For lot splits inside or out of a subdivision, resulting in the creation of one (1) additional lot, no greenbelt shall be required.

• For replattinq of existing lots if the total number of lots either remains the same or is reduced, no greenbelt shall be required.

ii.

The greenbelt buffer shall be planted with a minimum of one (1) canopy tree planted every thirty (30) feet on center for the length of the perimeter of the project.

iii.

For new residential projects abutting non-recreational, non-residential uses, the greenbelt buffer shall also meet the screening buffer requirements that may include either a hedge, fence or wall.

iv.

All landscaping shall be installed prior to final plat approval, unless performance security is posted guaranteeing the landscaping will be installed prior to the first Certificate of Occupancy.

v.

Irrigation shall be provided as required pursuant to this Code and installed prior to issuance of the first Certificate of Occupancy of the project.

Figure 7-3: Screening Buffer Options per 100 Feet

Figure 7-4: Buffer Screening Matrix; Width of Buffer Required (In Feet)

	Abutting Use/or Zoning Width of Buffer Required (in Feet)
Proposed Use	Res. Excl. M.F.	Multi-Family	Res. Sup. Uses	Community Ser. Uses	Retail Commercial	Service Commercial	Misc. Service	Service	Industrial	Misc. Uses	Rec. Uses	Transp. Uses	Warehouse	Intensive Ag Uses*
Res. Excl. M.F.	0	10	10	10	15	10	15	15	20	15	10	20	20	15
Multi-Family	10	0	5	10	15	10	10	10	20	10	10	20	15	10
Res. Sup. Uses	10	5	0	5	10	5	5	5	10	10	5	15	15	10
Community Ser. Uses	10	10	5	0	5	5	5	5	10	5	5	10	10	10
Retail Commercial	15	15	10	5	0	5	5	5	10	5	5	10	5	5
Serv. Commercial	10	10	5	5	5	0	5	5	10	5	5	10	5	5
Misc. Service	15	10	5	5	5	5	0	5	10	5	5	10	5	5
Services	15	10	5	5	5	5	5	0	10	5	5	10	5	5
Industrial	20	20	10	10	5	5	5	5	0	10	10	5	5	0
Misc. Uses	15	10	10	5	5	5	5	5	10	0	5	10	10	10
Rec. Uses	10	10	5	5	5	5	5	5	10	5	0	10	10	10
Transp. Uses	20	20	15	10	10	10	10	10	5	10	10	0	5	5
Warehouse	20	15	15	10	5	5	5	5	5	10	10	5	0	5
Intensive Ag* Uses	15	10	10	10	5	5	5	5	0	10	10	5	5	0

 

*Intensive Ag Uses shall be defined for the purpose of this chart to include Agricultural Products Processing Plants, Animal Products Processing Facility, Animal Shelters, Farm Equipment and Supply Establishments, Kennels, Sawmills, Slaughterhouses, Stockyards/Feedlots, and Veterinary Hospitals.

C.

Foundation Landscaping. The amount of twenty (20) square feet per one thousand (1,000) square feet of proposed gross floor area, located contiguous to the building.

D.

Residential Street Trees.  

1.

One (1) canopy tree shall be planted within twenty-five (25) feet of the right-of-way of each local street within a residential development for every fifty (50) linear feet, or substantial fraction thereof, of right-of-way when proposed lots have a minimum of one hundred (100) feet of frontage or greater. When proposed lots have less than one hundred (100) feet of frontage, street trees shall be limited to (1) canopy tree per frontage. None of these required trees shall be planted within a public or private utilities easement. Palm trees may not be utilized to meet this requirement, unless they are grouped with a minimum of two (2) used for each canopy tree. A maximum of twenty-five (25) per cent of all proposed residential street trees may be palm trees.

2.

For proposed lots with less than sixty (60) feet of frontage smaller maturing canopy trees or understory trees may be utilized.

3.

The trees shall be spaced no closer together than twenty-five (25) feet, unless a decorative grouping or alternative method is chosen by the developer. Existing native trees should be used to fulfill these requirements wherever they meet the spacing and size requirements and are adequately protected during construction.

4.

Installation and initial maintenance of landscaping on all common areas within the project is the developer's responsibility. A notice of responsibility for the property owner's installation and maintenance of the trees shall be drafted in a notice recorded in the public records governing the development.

E.

Redevelopment Standards.  

1.

These redevelopment landscape standards apply to approval requests with existing building when:

a.

A "change of use" that requires a plan approval per Chapter 3;

b.

Establishing a new use that requires administrative approval; or

c.

Increasing the Gross Floor Area or the Vehicle Use Area that requires a plan approval per Chapter 3 or Section 1005.8.

2.

Exceptions:

a.

Vehicle Use Areas (parking space) increases due solely to the restriping of existing surfaces are not included within the percentage increase calculation.

b.

All Special Permit Uses shall be required to meet all of the requirements for landscaping and screening for new development contained in Section 701 without modifications.

3.

Any project which results in more than a fifty (50) percent increase in gross floor area or the number of parking spaces shall be required to meet all of the requirements for landscaping and screening for new development contained in Section 701.

4.

Any project that proposes an increase in Gross Floor Area (GFA) and/or Vehicle Use Area (parking spaces) exceeding twenty-five (25) percent but less than fifty (50) percent is required to provide landscaping per Section 701 for the area of the increase (new work), and shall upgrade the following existing landscape components to the current Code requirements:

a.

Roadway buffer,

b.

Terminal islands,

c.

Internal islands,

d.

Foundation landscaping,

e.

Irrigation,

f.

Perimeter landscaping, and

g.

Screening.

5.

The above landscaping components shall be installed to meet this code. The following modifications are allowed:

a.

The clustering of required plant materials is allowed to reduce the removal of existing site improvements if the required plant count is maintained.

b.

When necessary to maintain Code dimensions for parking space depth and drive aisle width, the roadway buffer width may be reduced to a minimum of five (5) feet.

c.

Flexibility in the location of new foundation landscaping is allowed to minimize the removal of existing site improvements and maintain the required parking space and drive aisle dimensions. Foundation landscaping may be located around the existing building and is encouraged to be located around building entrances.

d.

The number of internal islands may be reduced by one-half (½) in the existing parking area.

6.

Any project that proposes an increase in Gross Floor Area (GFA), and/or Vehicle Use Area, of between zero (0) and twenty-five (25) percent of the existing (includes new Administrative Permits with no GFA increase), is required to provide landscaping per Section 701 for the area of the increase (new work).

7.

All projects shall be required to replace, previously planted, required landscaping that has died or is not fulfilling its intended purpose (screening, height after two (2) years, hedges with gaps, etc.) to meet the standards in effect at the time of the original approvals, unless such landscaping is no longer required by this code.

8.

Incremental increases in either gross floor area or vehicle use area spaces that cumulatively exceed the fifty (50) percent threshold over a three (3) year period shall require the project to meet the standards for new development as shown in Section 701.

( Ord. No. 15-05, § 4(Exh. B), 1-8-15 ; Ord. No. 15-29, § 3(Exh. A), 12-3-15 ; Ord. No. 16-06 , § 3(Exh. A-5), 11-15-16; Ord. No. 16-24 , § 3(Exh. A-7), 11-15-16)

701.4.   Specifications.

A.

General.  

1.

Drought tolerant species.

2.

Minimum Florida Number One Grade.

3.

Appropriate to soil and climate.

4.

Minimum thirty (30) percent native species.

5.

Low maintenance.

6.

Irrigation shall be zonally designed.

7.

Xeriscape-type landscaping is required whenever feasible.

8.

Must meet the standards of Section 1002, Visibility Triangles.

9.

No synthetic/artificial lawns or plants.

10.

All landscaped areas shall be protected by wheel stops or curbing.

11.

Areas with planted trees shall be a minimum eight (8) feet wide (inside curb measurement).

12.

Existing plant communities designated to remain must be intact and undisturbed; noxious and exotic plants must be removed.

13.

Preserving native plant communities is encouraged and may be required, as appropriate.

14.

Native plant communities shall be counted at 1.5 ratio for meeting open space requirements (minimum 1/8 acre in size).

15.

No parking, loading areas, or buildings shall be placed within any landscape buffers.

16.

Trees and shrubs shall not be placed within the middle two-thirds (2/3) of any drainage swale or within three (3) feet measured horizontally from the centerline of the drainage swale; whichever is greater. Swales must allow the positive flow of water without any obstruction.

17.

A maximum of forty (40) percent of all required trees may be palm trees. When palm trees are utilized as canopy trees, a minimum of two (2) palms must be grouped to serve as a canopy tree. Each palm tree group will count as one (1) canopy tree.

B.

Trees. Trees required under Section 701 shall be in accordance with the following:

MINIMUM SIZE AT PLANTING	CANOPY	UNDERSTORY	PALM
Height	10 Feet	6 Feet	15 Feet
Caliper	2½ Inches	1½ Inches
Spread	4 Feet

 

C.

Shrubs. Shrubs required under Section 701 shall be in accordance with the following:

MINIMUM SIZE AT PLANTING	HEDGE	VEHICLE USE AREA ISLANDS
Height	24 Inches	8 Inches
Gallons	3 Gallons	1 Gallon

 

D.

Prohibited Species. Prohibited Plant Species. The following plant species shall not be planted in Manatee County:

1.

Melaleuca quinquenervia (commonly known as Punk tree, Cajeput, paper bark, malaleuca);

2.

Schinus terebinthefolius (commonly known as Brazilian Pepper or Florida Holly);

3.

Casuarina species (commonly known as Australian Pine);

4.

Rhodomyrtus tomentosa (commonly known as Downy Rose Myrtle);

5.

Mimosa pigra (commonly known as the Catclaw Mimosa);

6.

Dalbergia sissoo (commonly known as the Indian Rosewood); and

7.

Cupaniopsis anacardioides (commonly known as the Carrotwood).

E.

Nuisance, Exotic Plant Species Management. All nuisance, exotic plant species shall be removed from upland portions of land development sites during construction unless Special Approval is granted. An Exotic Plant Species Management Plan shall be approved by the Department Director of Environmental Management prior to or concurrent with Final Site Plan or Construction Plan approval. The management plan shall provide for the continued, phased, removal of nuisance, exotic plant species that become reestablished within common areas of a residential development and open spaces within non-residential projects, for the life of the project.

F.

Special Approval. Nuisance, exotic plant species removal may be modified by the Department Director, provided that an Exotic Species Management Plan is approved to minimize the expansion and establishment of exotic plant species outside of the approved post-development configuration. Special approval may be approved as follows:

1.

Specific locations of redevelopment projects, where existing nuisance, exotic vegetation is acting as a screen to assure compatibility or protection of the existing land use.

2.

Development sites where removal of nuisance, exotic vegetation cannot be phased, or will result in costly and extreme soil stabilization measures.

701.5.   Modifications.

Department Director may approve alternative screening/landscaping upon determining the plan meets the intent of the standards and meets or exceeds a plan in strict compliance.

701.6.   Landscape plan required.

A landscape plan shall be submitted, reviewed and approved by the Department Director at the Preliminary and final site plan stages, or prior to the issuance of a building or access and drainage permits. These plans should be integrated into the site plans/plats submitted, and shall be prepared by a landscape architect or other persons as authorized under F.S. ch. 481, Part II. The landscape plan shall consist of:

A.

Date, scale, north arrow, and the names, addresses, and telephone numbers of both the property owner and the person preparing the plan;

B.

Location of existing boundary lines and dimensions of the site, the zoning classification of the site, and the zoning classification of adjacent properties, A vicinity map should also be attached to or made a part of the plan;

C.

Approximate centerlines of existing water courses and the location of the twenty-five (25) year and one hundred (100) year floodplain, if applicable; the approximate location of significant drainage features; and the location and size of existing and proposed buildings, streets, utility easements, driveways, parking, sidewalks, and similar features;

D.

Project name, street address, and legal description;

E.

Location, height, and material of proposed screening and fencing (with berms to be delineated by one (1) foot contours);

F.

Locations and dimensions of proposed landscape buffers, areas, and cross section;

G.

Complete description of plant materials shown on the plan, including names (common and botanical name), locations, quantities, container or diameter breast height sizes at installation, heights, spread, method of irrigation (as shown in Section 701.7) and spacing. The location and type of all existing trees on the lot over four (4) inches in caliper or greater must be specifically indicated;

H.

Calculations as to the amount (in square feet) of vehicle use and foundation landscape areas required and provided;

I.

An indication of how existing healthy trees proposed to be retained will be protected from damage during construction;

J.

Size, height, location and material of proposed seating, lighting, planters, sculptures, and water features;

K.

A plan drawn to scale showing in addition to the above items the location of roads, sidewalks, buildings, landscape areas and buffers, planters, drainage facilities, easements, property lines and fences;

L.

Location of visibility triangles on the site (if applicable), including visibility triangle within parking areas;

M.

Other information as may be required by the Department Director to determine whether the landscape plan meets the requirements of this Code; and

N.

Preliminary Site Plan Requirements. Items to be included within a landscape plan submitted in conjunction with a preliminary site plan are: proposed general types of plant materials, general location of landscaping in vehicle use areas, foundation landscaping areas, screening buffers and roadways buffers. One hundred (100) percent automatic irrigation shall be noted.

701.7.   Irrigation.

A.

Irrigation Design Standards. One hundred (100) percent automatic irrigation systems shall be required for all projects. The following standards shall apply to the design, installation and maintenance of the irrigation systems. Single-family and duplex dwellings, if an automatic irrigation is installed, shall provide rain or moisture sensing shut-off devices.

1.

Existing plant communities and ecosystems maintained in a natural state do not generally require supplemental irrigation.

2.

Rain or moisture sensing shut-off devices shall be installed with any irrigation system. Drip or microjet irrigation shall be used where possible. Low trajectory spray nozzles are encouraged.

3.

All irrigation systems shall use the lowest quality water available which adequately and safely meets the water needs of the system. Stormwater reuse, reclaimed water use and grey water irrigation systems shall be used where feasible. Shallow wells and wet retention/detention ponds shall also be in used as an alternative to potable water.

4.

The applicant shall provide an irrigation plan that shall show the location of the water source and size of well (if applicable), backflow preventer (if applicable), the location of irrigation heads, drip lines, water lines or other items that will show that one hundred (100) percent automatic irrigation is serving all required landscape areas on the plan.

B.

Irrigation Within the Right-of-Way. Property owners wishing to maintain landscaped areas in the rights-of-way contiguous with their property and adjacent to the paved road or sidewalk may, with the following stipulations, install underground irrigation lines and sprinkler heads within these areas:

1.

When the County or any other utility with legal easements, needs to cut or remove parts of said irrigation system, or damages same as a result of work within the rights-of-way, it shall be the property owner's responsibility to repair and/or replace those damaged areas of the system, and all costs shall be borne by the property owner.

2.

No portion of any irrigation system shall be installed within the right-of-way without a Right-of-Way Use Permit. Any spray heads or nozzles located adjacent to the rights-of-way shall be directed away from all travel lanes and sidewalks. All such systems shall be designed so that water being applied to impervious surfaces is reduced or eliminated.

3.

The irrigation system shall be properly maintained and operated consistent with County-wide watering schedules.

4.

For public health, safety and welfare reasons, the County may rescind any approval and cause removal of any irrigation line within the rights-of-way, without notice, cause or reimbursement, to the property owner.

701.8.   Installation and Maintenance of Landscape and Irrigation.

A.

Installation shall be complete at the time of final inspection, except as provided otherwise.

B.

Property owner shall maintain landscaping and screening for the life of project.

C.

Required plant materials which are removed or die shall be replaced within thirty (30) days.

D.

Understory growth and the natural function of the area shall be maintained.

E.

Installation shall be in a sound, professional manner.

F.

Required landscaping shall be maintained and pruned in a manner that preserves the natural shape and growth characteristics of the species. Pruning that "hatracks" or "lollipops" canopy trees is prohibited without prior approval of the Department Director or Board.

701.9.   Certification Required.

Prior to issuance of a Certificate of Occupancy or approval of a final plat, (as applicable), the landscape professional responsible for the project shall provide written, sealed or notarized, certification to the Engineer of Record that the installation of irrigation and landscaping has been completed in accordance with the approved plan or plat. The Engineer of Record shall provide a copy of the landscape professional's certification with submittal of his/her certification.