Applicability.
This section shall apply to all land area (public and private) within the zoning jurisdiction of the city and in areas where this section is in effect by contractual agreement.
The requirements of this section shall apply to:
A. All new development or construction on vacant or previously developed land, that requires site plan approval;
B. Any change of land use that results in redevelopment of a residential use to a nonresidential use;
C. Any change, conversion, or addition of commercial land uses that result in the requirement for additional parking to be constructed. In this case, the landscape requirements shall apply to only the newly proposed parking area and other areas of the site being modified by development activities; and
D. Detention ponds and water quality ponds that are part of any development including residential subdivisions. Common development that encompasses more than one lot shall be treated as one for the purposes of application of this section. Split ownership, planning in phases, construction in stages, or multiple building permits for a project shall not prevent it from being considered a common development, provided that a comprehensive site plan is submitted for all portions of the development being considered as a common development.
Native/Adapted Plants Requirement.
In order to encourage water conservation, any plants or trees used to meet the requirements of this section shall be included in either the Austin Grow Green Guide, the preferred plant list in
§ 6.06.18 Preferred Plant List., or the City of Liberty Hill’s preferred tree list in
§ 6.07.04 Preferred Tree List. Plants or trees not included in those two (2) resources may be used, but they will not count towards the required landscaping.
General Planting Requirements.
A. All trees shall be planted in a pervious area no less than three (3) feet wide in any direction measured from the center of the tree.
B. No more than fifty percent (50%) of the required trees and shrubs shall be of the same species.
C. All required large trees shall be a minimum caliper of three (3) inches at planting and all required small trees shall be a minimum caliper of one and a half (1.5) inches.
D. Improved soils shall be provided in all required landscape areas to a depth of at least three (3) inches.
E. All landscaping shall be separated from vehicular use areas by some form of barrier such as raised concrete curbing, bollards, curb stops, or other suitable permanent alternative.
F. All landscape beds shall be separated from sod areas by some form of barrier such as steel edging, masonry materials, or another equivalent durable material as approved by the City Manager or designee. No plastic materials shall be allowed. The barriers may be designed in such a way to capture, filter, reuse or infiltrate rainwater with the purpose of protecting and conserving water resources.
G. Landscaping shall not obstruct the corner lot view lines between access drives and parking aisles.
H. Nothing shall be erected, placed, allowed to grow, or planted so that it impedes vision between the height of three (3) feet and ten (10) feet above the curb within the corner lot view lines.
I. No artificial plant material may be used in any form to satisfy the requirements of this section.
J. Wherever sod or turf grass is used, such grass shall be of a drought-tolerant species from the Austin Grow Green Guide or the preferred plant list in
§ 6.06.18 Preferred Plant List.
K. No landscaping shall be within three feet (3') of any fire hydrant.
L. The tree canopy of any trees, planted and existing, shall not be lower than 14 feet (14') above all fire lanes and at no point shall it be allowed to encroach a fire hydrant or fire lane clear space.
Dumpster and trash receptacles.
All dumpsters, trash receptacles, and refuse storage containers shall be located within an enclosure that meets all dimensions required by the service operation and providing screening by means of both the following landscape elements:
1. A decorative masonry wall (minimum six (6) feet in height) on three (3) sides and a gate on the fourth side. The gate shall be constructed with an opaque, non-masonry material. The construction materials of the wall shall match material used on the principal building located on the same lot.
2. Small shrubs shall be arranged as foundation planting around the perimeter of the pad area except the side where the gate is located. One small shrub shall be planted every three (3) linear feet in a three-foot-wide landscape area. The landscape requirements of this subsection do not apply when the enclosure is an architectural extension of a principal building.
Ground-mounted equipment. All proposed ground-mounted equipment shall be screened by the planting of one large shrub every four (4) linear feet around the boundary of the equipment.
Substations, water/wastewater stations.
Proposed electric substations, water pump stations and wastewater lift stations shall be screened from public views by means of a six-foot decorative masonry wall on a minimum of three (3) sides. Standard concrete masonry units are prohibited. The following landscape elements shall be incorporated:
1. An eight-foot-wide landscape area with one small evergreen tree per twelve (12) linear feet; provided that said trees shall be planted no closer than eight (8) feet and no more than sixteen (16) feet apart; or
2. A five-foot-wide landscape area with one large shrub for every four (4) linear feet; provided that said shrubs shall be planted no closer than six (6) feet apart.
Outdoor storage.
In addition to any fencing requirements outdoor storage shall be screened as follows:
1. Limited outdoor storage.
An eight-foot-wide landscape area with one small evergreen tree per twelve (12) linear feet of wall constructed; provided that said trees shall be planted no closer than eight (8) feet and no farther than sixteen (16) feet apart; or a five-foot-wide landscape area with one large shrub for every four (4) linear feet; provided that said shrubs shall be planted no closer than six (6) feet apart.
2. General outdoor storage.
An eight-foot-wide landscape area with one small evergreen tree per fifteen (15) linear feet and one large evergreen tree per thirty (30) linear feet of wall constructed; provided that said trees shall be planted no more than fifteen (15) feet apart.
Loading areas.
All loading areas visible from public view shall be screened by means of the following screening and landscaping elements:
1. Decorative masonry wall (minimum six (6) feet in height). If the wall includes a gate, it shall be constructed with an opaque, non-masonry material. The construction materials of the wall shall match material used on the principal building located on the same lot;
2. One large tree per forty (40) linear feet of wall constructed (seventy-five percent (75%) of selected trees shall be of an evergreen species);
3. One small tree per fifteen (15) linear feet of wall constructed (seventy-five percent (75%) of selected trees shall be of an evergreen species); provided that said trees shall be planted no more than fifteen (15) feet apart; and
4. One large shrub per four (4) linear feet of wall constructed; provided that said shrubs shall be planted no more than six (6) feet apart.
Irrigation.
Underground automatic system. All required landscape areas shall be irrigated by an underground automatic system that may include a drip irrigation system. This system shall adhere to manufacturer specifications and the rules and regulations established by TCEQ or successor agency. In addition, an irrigation system must be designed by a landscape architect or irrigator licensed by the state.
Preferred Plant List. See
§ 6.06.18 Preferred Plant List for a complete list.