18.40.110 Landscaping – Additional standards for required landscape areas.
In addition to the general standards of CMC 18.40.100, landscape areas required pursuant to CMC 18.40.050 through 18.40.090 shall conform to the following standards:
(1) All plants shall conform to American Association of Nurserymen (AAN) grades and standards as published in the “American Standard for Nursery Stock” manual; provided, that existing healthy vegetation used to augment new plantings shall not be required to meet the standards of this manual;
(2) Single-stemmed trees required pursuant to this chapter shall at the time of planting conform to the following standards:
(a) In parking area landscaping and in street rights-of-way:
(i) Deciduous trees shall have a minimum caliper of 1.75 inches and a height of 10 feet; and
(ii) Coniferous and broadleaf evergreens shall be at least five feet in height;
(b) In all other required landscape areas:
(i) Deciduous trees shall have a minimum caliper of 1.75 inches and a height of 10 feet; and
(ii) Coniferous and broadleaf evergreen trees shall be at least five feet in height.
(c) All trees shall have watering tubes installed per the approved City detail or be watered by an approved irrigation system;
(3) Multiple-stemmed trees shall be permitted as an option to single-stemmed trees; provided, that such multiple-stemmed trees are:
(a) At least six feet in height; and
(b) Not allowed within street rights-of-way;
(4) When the width of any landscape strip is 20 feet or greater, the required trees shall be staggered in two or more rows;
(5) Shrubs shall be:
(a) At least an AAN Container Class No. 2 size at time of planting in Type II, III and parking area landscaping;
(b) At least 24 inches in height at the time of planting for Type I landscaping; and
(c) Maintained at a height not exceeding 42 inches when located in Type III or parking area landscaping;
(6) Ground covers shall be planted and spaced to result in total coverage of the majority of the required landscape area within three years;
(7) All fences shall be placed on the inward side of any required perimeter landscaping along the street frontage;
(8) Required street landscaping may be placed within City of Covington street rights-of-way subject to the City road design standards, provided adequate space is maintained along the street line to replant the required landscaping should subsequent street improvements require the removal of landscaping within the rights-of-way;
(9) Required street landscaping may be placed within Washington State rights-of-way subject to permission of the Washington State Department of Transportation;
(10) New landscape material provided within areas of undisturbed vegetation or within the protected area of significant trees shall give preference to utilizing indigenous plant species. (Ord. 42-02 § 2 (21A.16.090))