§ 113-10. Canopy cover.

(a)

Minimum tree canopy cover required. A minimum amount of healthy tree canopy cover, measured in square feet of projection of the canopy onto the ground, shall be conserved and/or established within the net area of each parcel. The required amount of tree canopy cover shall be maintained throughout the life of the development. Tree canopy cover requirements shall be: 70 percent for residential zones, 40 percent for commercial zones, 40 percent for office zones, 30 percent for industrial zones. Trees in poor or declining condition, as determined by the Community Development Director, shall not be credited toward the required tree canopy coverage.

(b)

Parking areas. Within parking areas at least one overstory tree shall be planted or conserved within the interior of the parking lot for each seven parking spaces. In no case shall a parking space be greater than 40 feet from a tree. Trees planted or conserved to meet this requirement shall be counted toward the overall tree canopy cover requirement.

(c)

Buffers, open areas, and recreation areas. Where buffers, open areas, and recreation areas are required, the required canopy cover percentage shall apply to the net area.

(d)

Canopy cover calculations. In order to encourage the preservation of specimen trees and the incorporation of these trees into the design of projects, specimen trees shall be credited the diameter of the dripline times 2.5 toward canopy coverage. Other existing trees shall be credited the diameter of the dripline times 1.5 toward canopy coverage. In order to qualify for this credit 80 percent of the dripline or critical root zone, whichever is greater, must be protected by a tree save fence.

(1)

Existing conifers may be used in calculating the canopy cover, however only trees from the tree species list may be used in replanting. Conifers may be used for screening in required buffers where allowed by the zoning chapter.

(2)

New trees must be a minimum of two inches caliper and the canopy provided shall be calculated as listed below:

a.

Large trees: 1,600 square feet.

b.

Medium trees: 900 square feet.

c.

Small trees: 400 square feet.

(3)

When calculating the number of trees required, any fraction below one-half shall be rounded down to the next lower whole number, and any fraction equal to or greater than one-half shall be rounded up to the next highest whole number.

(4)

For existing trees, overlapping canopies may be calculated individually. This recognizes the benefits of trees to the environment other than shade.

(Ord. No. 21-2012, pt. 1, 8-6-2012; Ord. No. 12-2018 , § I, 10-1-2018)