17-7-9.12.3.10 Commercial and mixed-use landscaping.
The following landscaping standards apply to all new development in the commercial land use areas:
A. Required Landscaping. The applicant shall professionally landscape the lot, according to an approved landscape plan, as a condition precedent to receiving a certificate of occupancy for all commercial uses. The community development director shall evaluate landscape plans for all permitted uses. The planning commission shall evaluate landscape plans for conditional uses. Landscape plan approval is a condition precedent to issuance of a building permit for the parcel. All landscaping shall be in place prior to issuance of a certificate of occupancy, unless seasonal conditions make installation unfeasible, in which case the applicant shall provide cash security or its approved alternative for all landscaping yet to be completed, which landscaping shall be installed by the following May 31st.
1. Physical Connections. Each lot shall have a system of pedestrian walkways and sidewalks that provide connections between the building entrances, neighboring building entrances, sidewalks, parking areas, open space and public trails.
2. Minimum Landscaped Area. Thirteen percent of the interior area of each commercial or mixed-use lot shall be developed as landscaped setbacks, courtyards, plazas, open space or walkways.
3. Landscaped Setback from Edge of Public Right-of-Way. The minimum landscaped setback from the edge of 7800 South, Holden Street and other interior roads shall be thirty feet from the back of the curb. All setbacks that incorporate linear trails and amenities as part of an overall trails plan shall be provided with an easement for public use to be recorded against the property.
4. Screening. Maintenance buildings, trash collection and recycling areas, storage and service areas, mechanical equipment and off-street loading areas shall not be permitted in the front setback of any building and shall be located behind the main building structure, or completely screened from public view.
5. Building Foundation Landscaping. The ground adjacent to the building foundation must be landscaped if it is visible from public vantage points.
6. Residential Buffer. A landscaped buffer shall be required to separate residential uses from commercial uses as follows:
a. Single Family Detached Landscaped Buffer Area. The landscape buffer area must be a minimum of thirty feet wide to provide adequate screening, buffering, and separation of these uses from single family detached residential uses. The landscape treatment should use a combination of distance and low level screening to separate the uses to soften the visual impact of the commercial or industrial use. The thirty-foot buffer area may be shared between adjoining properties, upon adequate proof of reciprocal easements to preserve and maintain the buffer area. The landscaped buffer area shall include a minimum of one tree for every two hundred fifty square feet.
b. Medium Density Residential Buffer Area. When a medium density residential structure is located adjacent to a single-use commercial structure/use and an aspect of the commercial use has a negative visual impact (i.e., outdoor storage, loading bays, etc.) on the residential structure, the planning commission shall require the developer to create a screening plan for their approval that mitigates the visual impact(s) in question.
c. Fully Sight-Obscuring Fence. The planning commission may require complete visual separation from residential uses if it determines that complete screening is necessary to protect abutting uses, and the required landscaped buffer is not practical. In such instances, the planning commission shall determine the appropriate width and type of landscaping to be used in conjunction with a completely sight-obscuring fence at least six feet high (up to eight feet if warranted and approved by the planning commission). Fences may be of wood, metal, bricks, masonry or other permanent materials.
7. Plant Materials. Areas requiring landscaping shall be planted with substantial live plant material including: plants, shrubs, trees, sod, etc., for the purpose of buffering, screening, and improving the visual quality of the site.
a. Types of Vegetation. At least twenty-five percent of trees and shrubs must be evergreen. Up to twenty-five percent of the landscape area can include specialty paving, street furniture, and outdoor seating areas. Trees that are planted in the park strip shall meet the specifications described in the street tree selection guide of Midvale City.
b. Minimum Number of Trees. A minimum of one tree for every four hundred square feet of landscaping is required for all landscaped areas for which street tree requirements do not apply.
c. Size of Trees. The following standards apply to the use of plant and tree material:
i. Deciduous Trees. All deciduous trees shall have a minimum caliper size of two inches.
ii. Ornamental Trees. All ornamental trees shall have a minimum caliper size of one and one-half inches.
iii. Evergreen Trees. All evergreen trees shall have a minimum height of six feet.
8. See Section 17-7-9.5 for further landscaping standards. (Ord. 2022-01 § 1 (Att. D); Ord. 2016-15 § 1 (Att. A (part)); Ord. 2013-04 § 1 (Att. A (part)))