Title 17C Land Use Standards
Chapter 17C.200 Landscaping and Screening
Section 17C.200.030 Landscape Types
The applicant is encouraged to utilize plant materials which complement the natural character of the Spokane region and which are adaptable to the climatic, topographic and hydrologic characteristics of the site. In selecting species, the applicant is encouraged to utilize plant materials, which reduce or eliminate the need for fertilizers, herbicides, or other chemical controls.
General Requirements:
Plantings shall consist of a mix of evergreen and deciduous species including living trees, shrubs and ground covers (with bark, gravel and river rock as an accent only). Shrubs and ground covers shall be chosen, arranged and of suitable size at planting to result in covering the entire length and width of the planting strip within three years of planting.
Deciduous trees shall meet the most recent ANSI standards for a two-inch caliper tree at the time of planting. Evergreen trees shall be a minimum of eight feet tall at the time of planting.
Trees to be located in the vicinity of overhead power lines shall be limited to a mature height of twenty-five feet in order to avoid conflict with utility lines and maintenance crews.
Plants used in the various situations shall be as follows (existing vegetation may be incorporated into the landscape design and be considered acceptable in lieu of new plantings so long as it contributes to achieving the intent of this chapter):
- L1: Visual Screen.
L1 plantings are intended to provide a continuous visual screen between different types of uses. Plantings shall be selected to ensure residential privacy and screen views such as, but not limited to, area lighting, headlights, traffic and service areas. The planting strip shall include shrubs that will provide a continuous screen at a minimum height of six feet within three years of planting. Trees shall be included as necessary to provide continuous canopy and shall be spaced at intervals resulting in touching of branches after ten years of normal growth.
- L2: See-Through Buffer.
L2 plantings are intended to provide a continuous three- to four-foot tall screen (the plants shall be evergreen when adjacent to parking areas in order to block headlights), while maintaining buffered views into and out of the site. Shrubs of a species that will achieve a minimum approximate height of three feet and maximum approximate height of four feet shall be included for the entire length of the planting area. Groundcovers shall be included as necessary to fill in the width of the planting area. Trees shall cover the length of the planting strip and be spaced at intervals resulting in touching of branches after ten years of normal growth.
- L3: Open Area Landscaping.
L3 plantings are required for the purpose of meeting the objectives as stated in SMC 17C.200.010. Shrubs and/or groundcover plants shall be species that will achieve a maximum approximate height of three feet. Trees shall be included throughout the planting area.
Date Passed: Tuesday, May 31, 2005
Effective Date: Wednesday, July 6, 2005
ORD C33636 Section 4
