Item 4E AudiorITY Or
SOUTHLAKE
Proposed Landscape Ordinance Amendment
Background
• City Council approved the City's Ordinance and Project Priority
Schedule on October 5, 2010. Included on the schedule was an
amendment to the Landscape Ordinance, specifically to provide
provisions requiring bubbler systems for tree plantings.
• The revisions proposed include:
- Require bubbler or similar low -spray emission devices on
separate zone for all new trees, with few exceptions;
- Compliance with the Texas Commission on
Environmental Quality (TECQ);
-and applicable City's Plumbing Code related to Irrigation;
-Clarification regarding parking lot landscape
islands;
- New definitions related to proposed revisions;
Bubbler Requirement
Section 3.6 Irrigation Requirements:
c. Tree Irrigation Requirements: Trees shall be zoned separately and
bubblers or similar low -spray emission devices shall be utilized unless it is
determined that it would be detrimental to the sustainability of the tree,
cause erosion, or can be sufficiently irrigated by the proposed
surrounding irrigation method. +
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Compliance with TECQ &
Adopted City Plumbing Code
Section 3.6 Irrigation Requirements:
a. Minimum Standards for Irrigation Systems: All irrigation systems shall be
installed and maintained in accordance with the landscape irrigation
rules promulgated by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality
(TCEQ) or successor agency, as the same may be from time to time
amended, and any applicable adopted City Plumbing Codes.
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Clarifications Related to
Parking Lot Landscape Islands
3.4 PARKING LOT LANDSCAPE AREA REQUIREMENTS: The parking lot landscape area requirements shall be as follows based on
the percentage of parking located between the building facade and the R.O.W. Any new parking area added to an existing
site shall comp', with the requirements herein.
Less than 25% = 15 sq. ft. per parking stall
25 %- 75% = 20 sq. ft. per parking stall
Greater than 75% = 30 sq. ft. per parking stall
Each row of parking stalls shall provide the required landscape area, however, it shall be the applicant's right to place the
islands near the buildings, throughout the parking, or at the end of the rows away from the building. The Landscape
Administrator may modify the island requirement for each row in situations where it would appear beneficial to combine
an awkward or hazardous island into a larger island within the parking area. Planter islands shall have a minimum width of
12' back -to -back if curbed or 13' edge -to -edge if no curb is intended, and shall be equal to the length of the parking stall.
Parking lot landscape areas do count towards the total required interior landscape area.
a. Existing Trees: The Landscape Administrator may approve variations to the (delete - planter) parking lot landscape island
requirements in order to preserve existing trees in interior parking areas. For existing trees the minimum width of the
planter parking lot landscape island shall be as follows:
Tree Size Min. Island Width Min. Dist. Tree to Curb
6" - 12" DBH = 12' minimum width 4'
Greater than 12" DBH = 18' minimum width 8'
b. Planting Requirements: (delete -All planter islands in parking areas) Each individual parking lot landscape island shall
contain a minimum of one (1) canopy tree with the remaining area in shrubs, ground cover, ornamental grasses, or
seasonal color. (delete - Planter) Parking lot landscape islands which have light poles for lighting the parking areas may
substitute two (2) understory/accent trees for the required canopy tree. All required landscape areas shall be evenly
distributed throughout the entire required parking lot landscape areas.
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Definitions Added
Section 2.0 Definitions:
BUBBLER, IRRIGATION: Any irrigation emission device which provides a slow trickle or low
emission rate of water into the ground next to plant roots.
WATER CONSERVATION: The design, installation, service, and operation of an irrigation
system in a manner that prevents the waste of water, promotes the most efficient use of
water, and applies the least amount of water that is required to maintain healthy
individual plant material or turf, reduce dust and control erosion.
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V �'- - ITY OF
SOUTHLAKE
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