17.19.040 Landscape design standards.
1. Plant Selection. Plants shall be well-suited to the microclimate and soil conditions at the project site. Both native and locally adapted plants are acceptable. Plants with similar water needs should be grouped together as much as possible.
2. Areas with slopes greater than twenty-five percent (25%), or 4:1 grade, shall be landscaped with deep-rooting, water-conserving plants, that do not include lawn.
3. Park strips and other landscaped areas less than eight feet (8') in width shall be landscaped with water-conserving plants, that do not include lawn. Lawn areas shall not be less than eight feet (8') wide at their narrowest point.
4. Mulch. After completion of all plantings, all irrigated non-lawn areas shall be covered with a minimum three-inch (3") layer of mulch that is permeable to air and water and shall be used in planting areas to retain water, inhibit weed growth and improve the appearance of landscaping. Nonporous material shall not be placed under the mulch.
5. Tree Selection. Tree species shall be selected based on growth characteristics and site conditions, including available space, overhead clearance, soil conditions, exposure, and desired color and appearance. Trees shall be selected from the Lindon City Tree Planting Guide and meet the spacing requirements of the applicable land use district:
a. Broad canopy trees shall be selected where shade or screening of tall objects or residential is desired;
b. Street trees shall be planted within existing and proposed landscape strips, park strips, along the street and in sidewalk tree wells where identified in the land use districts and master plans. Tree placement shall provide canopy cover (shade) and avoid conflicts with existing trees, retaining walls, above and below ground utilities, lighting, and other obstructions.
c. Trees planted for commercial, industrial, institutional, multifamily and public agency developments shall be a minimum two-inch (2") caliper in size at planting.
6. Irrigation.
a. An irrigation system shall be installed for all required landscaped areas.
b. For effective water efficiency, all irrigation shall be appropriately designed for the designated plant material and landscaped areas.
7. Landscapes in New Single-Family Residential Developments.
a. Lawn areas in the front and side yards shall not exceed thirty-five percent (35%) of the total landscaped area, outside of active recreation areas. Nonlawn planting areas shall include a minimum of seventy percent (70%) water-efficient vegetative plant coverage. Plant vegetative coverage shall be based off full maturity growing cycle at the ground plane.
b. Small residential lots, which have no backyards, in which the total landscaped area is less than two hundred and fifty (250) square feet, and in which the front yard dimensions cannot accommodate the minimum eight feet (8') wide lawn area requirement of the landscape requirements in Subsection 17.19.040(3) above, are exempt from the eight-foot (8') minimum width lawn area requirement and maximum of thirty-five percent (35%) lawn requirement.
8. Landscapes in Commercial, Industrial, Institutional, Multifamily, and Public Agency Developments.
a. Lawn areas shall not exceed twenty percent (20%) of the total landscaped area, outside of active recreation areas.
b. Required nonlawn landscape area shall include a minimum seventy percent (70%) water efficient vegetative coverage. Plant vegetative coverage shall be based off full maturity growing cycle at the ground plane.
9. Landscape Installation.
a. Residential front and side yard landscaping shall be installed within one (1) year of the certificate of occupancy. The city may grant an additional six (6) month extension upon request. (Ord. 2023-1 §1, adopted, 2023)