Item 4E
Item 4E - Ordinance No. 544-B Proposed Amendments to the City of Southlake Landscape Ordinance
September 6, 2011
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 (TCEQ) and applicable City’s
Plumbing Code related to Irrigation;
- Clarification regarding parking lot landscape islands; and
- 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.
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.
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 façade and
the R.O.W.. Any new parking area added to an existing site shall comply 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.
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.
QUESTIONS?