a. Agricultural uses in the “A” Agriculture district.

b. Any development in the “D” Downtown district.

a. Landscape design and species must be used to create visual continuity throughout the development.

b. Landscape coordination must occur among all phases of the development area.

c. Trees, shrubs and other landscaping materials depicted on the approved final site development plans are considered site improvements in the same manner as parking, building materials and other details.

d. A variety of different species (including both deciduous and evergreen species) will be incorporated into the site design to provide visual interest, as well as disease and pest resistance.

e. At least one-third (⅓) of the plantings must be evergreen species.

f. Plant materials must be placed intermittently against long expanses of building walls, fences and other barriers to create a softening effect.

g. Earthen berms and existing topography will, whenever practical, be incorporated into the landscape treatment of a site.

h. Required landscape plantings must be coordinated with the location of utilities, driveways and traffic sight distance triangle areas.

i. Trees must not be placed within public utility easements, but within adjacent areas that do not conflict with such public easements and meet site landscaping requirements.

j. Planting design will coordinate the locations of trees to allow access to utilities with minimal disruption to the trees and their supporting root systems, while avoiding increased service costs to the utilities.

a. The species are comparable in appearance and durability to the approved species; and

b. Are normally grown in northeastern Kansas, or are adaptable to the climate and growing conditions of northeastern Kansas and are not invasive.

a. Turf will be used where necessary to provide coverage and soil stabilization.

b. Seeding may be approved in lieu of turf at the time of final site development plan approval by the Planning Commission, or, in the case of plats, by the Planning Official.

a. Native vegetation and drought resistant plant material will be used wherever possible.

b. If native vegetation or drought resistant plant materials are not used, then an irrigation system must be installed to provide water during a three (3) year establishment period.

c. Native vegetation and xeriscape plants may exceed the height limit for vegetation provided in Section 6.09.050 of the municipal code.

d. Xeriscape landscape practices are allowed as a way to minimize the need for supplemental watering. The following techniques must be used where possible:

a. After the landscape plan is approved and before planting occurs, the Planning Official may approve comparable substitute planting materials if:

b. If the substitute planting materials are on the approved species list, no new landscape plan is required.

c. A new landscape plan is required if the substitute planting materials are not on the approved species list. The applicant is not required to resubmit any other applications related to the landscaping plan (such as a site development plan or rezoning). The Planning Official may approve, approve with conditions, or deny the landscape plan. The applicant may appeal this decision to the City Manager.

a. Street trees are required in all residential and nonresidential districts along all local and collector streets.

b. Street trees are required along street right-of-way of public or private street frontage, excluding arterial and minor arterial streets where perimeter landscaping is required by this section.

a. Street trees must be spaced as uniformly as possible, with an average spacing of forty (40) linear feet between trees in all districts, resulting in at least one (1) tree per lot in residential districts.

b. A minimum of two (2) street trees are required on corner lots.

c. Street trees count toward the required number of trees within the interior of the lot only in residential districts for single-family and two-family dwellings.

d. Exceptions to the location and spacing of trees may be allowed to accommodate for the location of utilities, streetlights, driveways, storm drain structures, sidewalks and traffic sight distance triangle areas.

e. At least six (6) feet of space is required between the right-of-way or sidewalk and the back of curb for the planting of street trees.

f. The applicant will coordinate adequate clearance between street trees and other infrastructure to allow for the location of street trees within the right-of-way, wherever practical, and will promote the longevity of the street trees to avoid premature loss of the trees. The street tree plan will coordinate the locations of street trees to allow access to utilities with minimal disruption to the street trees and their supporting root systems while avoiding increased service costs to the utilities.

g. See Section 18.30.220.E, Sight Distance.

h. No tree, shrub, or woody vegetation will be planted within a distance of ten (10) feet from any fire hydrant or fire department connection (FDC) to the sprinkler system.

i. No trees will be planted within fifteen (15) feet of a street light.

a. Timing

Street tree species and typical spacing requirements must be provided with all preliminary plats and site development plans. Trees must be planted prior to occupancy of the building.

a. The Planning Official will determine the botanical and common names of the street trees to be planted based on the requirements of this section.

b. Trees to be used to meet City street tree standards are as follows:

c. The Planning Official may approve other species that are similar in quality, durability, and appearance, and that are suitable for the climate and rainfall conditions in Olathe.

a. If the street trees are located in the right-of-way, the adjoining property owner must maintain them as depicted on the subdivision(s) street tree plan.

b. The adjoining property owner must remove and replace street trees within the right-of-way (as depicted on the subdivision(s) street tree plan) that are dead, dying, diseased or otherwise unsafe at any time as depicted on the subdivision(s) street tree plan.

a. Landscape tracts must have a landscape area with a minimum width of twenty-five (25) feet along an arterial roadway and fifteen (15) feet along a collector roadway.

b. This landscape area is in addition to the minimum required lot width and yard setback requirements of the zoning district.

a. The Planning Official, or designee, must review the plans with regard to proper building and plant materials, setbacks, height, grading and their effectiveness in creating privacy and mitigating noise.

b. Improvements indicated on the master fence/screening plan are considered a private subdivision improvement.

c. The applicant may:

a. The approved master fence/screening plan must contain the following landscaping materials as a minimum for each one hundred (100) linear feet, or portion thereof, of arterial street frontage. Minimum size requirements must be as stated in subsection D.7, above.

b. The landscape area must not impair drainage and utility placements.

c. The required minimum landscape area must not be located within a utility easement.

d. For each tree preserved within the landscape tract which meets or exceeds the minimum size requirements outlined in subsection D.7, above, a one (1) to one (1) credit will be given against the minimum tree requirements of this section.

e. The above landscaping materials may be deviated from if an alternative list of materials is approved by the City Planner which achieves comparable screening and buffering.

a. Fences or walls are not required as part of the master landscape/screening plan.

b. In cases where the developer of the subdivision chooses to install a fence or wall, all types of fences installed by the developer, except wrought iron, split rail or similar see-through fence/wall types, must be located one (1) foot inside the boundaries of the landscape tract along the residential side of the tract. Wrought iron or similar see-through fences may be installed by the developer anywhere within the landscape tract, except they may be no closer than five (5) feet from the right-of-way line of the abutting arterial street.

a. Berms are not required as part of the master fence/screening plan. In cases when the developer chooses to install a berm, the following standards apply:

a. Maintenance

The final plat and deed restrictions must contain language as approved by the City Planner which identifies the organization (e.g., a homes association) that will be the entity having permanent responsibility and authority to enter upon the said landscape tract to maintain, plant, replant, replace, mow, clip, trim, spray, chemically treat, repair, and otherwise maintain any and all grass, trees, shrubs, flowers, plants, fences, and walls. Said deed restrictions will be recorded with the Register of Deeds of Johnson County concurrently with the recording of the final plat.

b. Irrigation

Landscape areas must be irrigated as necessary to maintain required plant materials in good and healthy condition. Irrigation systems must comply with the following standards:

a. All applications for preliminary or final development plan approval must include information regarding anticipated rooftop equipment and building-mounted equipment, including mechanical units, vents, pipes, and other appurtenances. Such equipment must be indicated on building elevations where the size and location of such equipment is known, and any anticipated equipment or equipment locations not yet determined must be described in the notes on the building elevations along with the estimated maximum dimensions of such equipment and the intended methods of screening.

b. All rooftop equipment must be screened from public view with an architectural treatment which is compatible with the building architecture and integral to the overall appearance of the building. An example includes a parapet wall that includes the same building materials as the lower levels of the building façade.

c. For purposes of this chapter, the phrase “architectural treatment compatible with the building architecture” does not include painted or prefinished rooftop equipment.

d. For rooftop equipment not adequately screened by the parapet, a supplementary screen will be provided by the use of prefinished architectural metal panels, stucco panels, masonry walls, or similar building materials.

e. The height of the screen must be no lower than the height of the equipment.

f. Screening must not interfere with Fire Department access to the roof.

g. Building-mounted equipment will be screened with either landscaping or architecture screening which may also include painting as required by the Approving Authority.

h. The Approving Authority may waive or amend rooftop equipment or building-mounted equipment screening requirements as part of a preliminary or final site development plan if the applicant provides a sight line visibility study and alternative screening provisions are provided if needed, and the Approving Authority finds that:

i. In the event that rooftop equipment or building-mounted equipment location has not been determined at the time of final development plan approval, or changes are made to said equipment after the final development plan is approved, the applicant must provide suitable screening to meet the above criteria, subject to review and approval by the Planning Official.

a. On three (3) sides with a six (6) to eight (8) foot solid wall constructed of masonry of a color and form that is consistent and compatible with the principal building architecture of the site; and

b. On one (1) side with a gate; and

c. The container/compactor areas must be appropriately landscaped; and

d. Enclosures must be incorporated into and made part of the principal building when possible and must be located behind or to the rear of the principal building in areas less visible from public streets and adjoining properties.

a. Preferred locations for utility structures (cabinets), as listed in order of preference are: 1) nonresidential properties; 2) rear yards; 3) street side yards on a corner lot behind the front yard setback; 4) front yards within the required side yard setback; and 5) arterial or collector landscape easements.

b. Size and Height

Residential: maximum height is thirty-six (36) inches above grade. Office/Commercial: limited to six (6) feet in height.

c. Arterial or Collector Streets

d. Location in Public Right-of-Way

Utility structures must be located behind the sidewalk and are subject to approval by the City Engineer. When requested within public right-of-way a landscaping plan will be required with the right-of-way permit.

e. Landscaping

Landscaping selected for screening will be provided for on three (3) sides of the structure and shield the structure from public view.

f. Other Requirements

Utility structures located within public right-of-way (in front of sidewalk) require approval of an administrative review application.

a. Generally

This section applies to any activity subject to this section (see subsection A, above).

b. Exemptions

This section does not apply to:

a. Table 18.30.130-1 shows when a buffer is required between an adjoining zoning district. Uses in the “adjoining zoning district” are not required to provide the same buffer, but may be subject to a separate additional buffer requirement as shown in Table 18.30.130-1. The applicant must install the type of buffer as indicated in the table.

b. In order to encourage the preservation of natural vegetation, the applicant may substitute a type “N” buffer consistent with subsection J.4, below, Table 18.30.130-2 for any category of required buffer.

a. There are nine (9) types of buffers. Table 18.30.130-2 shows the minimum width and number of trees and/or plants required for each one hundred (100) linear feet for each buffer.

b. Each buffer type provides several plant material options. The applicant may either plant new trees or plants, or preserve existing trees or plants, within the required buffer which meet the requirements of this subsection.

c. Plant materials are required in both the 4B and 5B buffer types below. The applicant may request both the number of plantings and type (mix) of planting for the development during the plan review process for approval by the Approving Authority.

a. A buffer required by this section must be provided along the side lot line of abutting uses.

b. The required perimeter landscape area must be located outside of the fenced area of the development between the fence and the street, unless this requirement is otherwise modified with final site development plan approval.

c. Buffers are not required along the front property line.

a. The buffer may be included in the required yard or building setback.

b. No active recreation area, storage of materials, parking, or structures, except for necessary utility boxes and equipment, will be located within the buffer.

c. Parking is permitted within the building setback, but not within the minimum width of the buffer.

d. Buffers may be used as part of a greenway as defined in the parks/open space standards.

a. Along street rights-of-way, parking areas must be screened from public view in one (1) of the methods described below:

a. The interior dimensions of any planting area or landscape islands must be at least one hundred sixty-five (165) square feet in area. Landscape islands must be at least nine (9) feet wide, as measured from back of curb to back of curb, and constructed at a ratio of one (1) per each twenty (20) parking spaces. Each area must be protected by vertical curbs or similar structures, and be designed and grouped into a parking and vehicular use area to create defined aisles and entrances for on-site traffic circulation.

b. One (1) shade tree must be provided for every parking and vehicular use landscape island. Areas where utility conflicts restrict tree plantings, other landscape plantings such as shrubs and ornamental grasses may be approved by the City.

c. Landscape aisles and strips between parallel parking rows must be a minimum of ten (10) feet in width. When incorporating pedestrian walkways, the aisles and strips must be a minimum of twenty (20) feet in width to accommodate vehicular overhangs, walks, lights, posts and other appurtenances. Landscape aisles and strips must include medium to large deciduous trees at a minimum of one (1) tree every thirty (30) linear feet, in addition to other parking lot landscape requirements.

d. Primary landscape materials must be trees which provide shade or are capable of providing shade at maturity. Ornamental trees, evergreen trees, shrubbery, hedges and other planting materials may be used to complement the landscaping, but not be the sole means of landscaping. Earth berms, existing topography and decorative walls must be integrated with the landscape plan where feasible.

e. No landscaping tree, shrub, fence, wall, or similar item will be placed in traffic zones of ingress or egress at street corners, or in the intersection of public right-of-way, which the City Engineer determines is an obstruction to visibility, or extends into a sight-distance triangle as set forth in Section 18.30.220, or is otherwise a traffic hazard.

f.  Landscape islands in parking lots may alternatively be designed and planted to serve as dual-purpose and stormwater treatment areas. When landscaping islands are designed as a stormwater treatment area, trees are not required as the primary landscaping material if the City determines that trees are incompatible with native plantings proposed for use as a means of stormwater treatment.

g. Islands must be designed in locations based on the following priorities: defining major drives and vehicle lanes, delineating the end of parking rows and at aisle intersections and internal to the parking rows.

h. Plantings must anticipate foot traffic patterns, discourage foot traffic where dictated by safety concerns, and must provide adequate visibility for the safety of pedestrians and vehicles.

i. If earthen berms are constructed they must be at least to a height of two and one-half (2½) feet above the adjacent elevation of the street or parking/loading area, whichever is highest, not to exceed a slope of three to one (3:1) and must have a crown of at least two (2) feet. The berm will be planted in ground covers and other plant materials to achieve a decorative effect.

a. This subsection applies to nonresidential developments, unless modifications to these standards are otherwise approved as part of final site development plan approval.

b. This subsection does not apply to building façades that abut a sidewalk or the rear yard.

a. Along any building façade or foundation that fronts upon a public right-of-way or a parking lot provided for the building, landscape areas must be provided equivalent to a minimum of twenty-five (25) percent of each building façade or foundation. The landscape area may be a continuous area or comprised of several areas.

b. Building façades along service areas are excluded, unless the service area fronts upon a public right-of-way or common access drive.

c. Landscape areas may be placed adjacent to the building wall or adjacent to the curb, with walkways, overhangs or canopies between the landscape area and building wall. Landscape areas must generally not be placed under overhangs and canopies.

a. Each landscape area must be planted with shrubs capable of reaching three (3) feet in height above the adjacent parking area or drive, covering a minimum of seventy-five (75) percent of the length of the landscape area.

b. A mixture of evergreen and deciduous shrubs must be used to maintain seasonal interest.

c. Ornamental trees (where appropriate), or shade trees should be included in the landscape design to further buffer the building façade from the drives and parking lot areas. In areas where pedestrian circulation is anticipated, trees with a branching habit conducive to walking under must be used. For example, Pin Oaks are not acceptable due to their descending branching habit.

d. Appropriate plant species should be installed so that mature tree limbs can be maintained at a minimum eight (8) foot clearance from ground level and so that shrubs do not exceed two and one-half (2½) feet in height for areas where it is important to maintain visibility for security and safety purposes.

e. Berms may be incorporated in the landscape areas if positive drainage from the building is provided.