§ 134-285. Landscape enhancement strip.

In all nonresidential zoning districts, no vehicular use areas shall be constructed adjacent to a public street, publicly approved street, or publicly maintained street without a landscape enhancement strip. For the purposes of this section, a vehicular use area shall be defined as a parking lot with more than five parking spaces, a vehicular drive running parallel to the street or a loading dock area.

The landscape enhancement strip will extend along the entire road frontage except for approved access drives and shall extend from the right-of-way line into the property a distance of eight feet.

The purpose of this strip is to enhance the landscape between the right-of-way and the vehicular use areas from the public streets. The strip may only include trees required to be planted to meet tree ordinance street yard requirements, evergreen shrubs, grasses, berms and the combination of such, except for the following exemptions:

(1)

Vehicular access drives placed approximately perpendicular to the right-of-way;

(2)

Foot and bicycle paths;

(3)

Walls and fences less than six feet in height;

(4)

Landscaping sculpture, lighting fixtures, trellises and arbors;

(5)

Utility transformers;

(6)

Signage;

(7)

Public utilities, including stormwater detention facilities, provided that they are placed approximately perpendicular to the right-of-way. After installation, the landscape enhancement strip shall be restored. Where existing lines or planned lines/utilities must run parallel to the right-of-way, an equivalent amount of landscape enhancement strip may be required beyond the eight feet. To the extent possible, such lines should be consolidated with vehicular access routes. If stormwater detention facilities must be located within the landscape enhancement strip, an equivalent amount of landscape enhancement strip may be required beyond the eight feet.

All plantings, berms and walls must meet Georgia and/or Cobb Department of Transportation standards for sight distances, irrigation and right-of-way obstructions. All standards for planting in a public easement apply as well. A corridor through the plantings must be incorporated in the design between a fire hydrant and the building.

The redevelopment of a site utilizing all or parts of an existing building shall not be required to meet the above landscape enhancement strip standards except as follows:

(1)

When the orientation of the building changes to face another street frontage.

(2)

When new loading docks are proposed.

(3)

When new parking or drives are proposed.

Existing vegetation which is preserved may be applied toward meeting the intent of this section with the approval of community development agency landscape plan review staff.

The landscape enhancement plan shall be included with the civil plans submitted for land disturbance permit review. The plan shall include the following:

(1)

The, type, surveyed location, trunk diameter and critical root zone (see Cobb County Development Standards section 416.01) of any existing trees and the type, location and crown diameter of any existing shrubs that are proposed to be preserved.

(2)

The type, location and size of all street yard trees to be planted per development standards section 416.02.03.

(3)

The type, location and size of all shrubs, grasses, berms, etc., to be planted.

The owner/developer of the property shall provide performance and/or maintenance surety for materials in this landscape enhancement strip in accordance with tree ordinance requirements (section 50-224). After the prescribed developer maintenance period, it shall be the responsibility of the landowner to maintain and replace as needed all plant materials in the street buffer. The landowner shall also keep the area free of trash and debris. If the owner/developer is unable to comply fully with this requirement he/she may pursue alternate compliance with this chapter (thru the Cobb County Community Development Agency) by making a donation to Cobb County for the sole purpose of planting landscaping and shrubbery on county property. The amounts shall be equal to the cost of materials only (no labor installation costs shall be required). The fund shall be administered as a part of the Cobb County Tree Replacement Fund, as specified in section 50-223 of the Cobb County Code.

(Amd. of 2-24-09; Amd. of 2-23-10)