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1 (A) Intent. The City of Ramsey recognizes the advantages that landscaping and screening can provide, <br />2 including enhanced health, safety, aesthetic, ecological and economic value. The intent of this <br />3 section is to: <br />4 (1) Enhance the quality of life within the city; <br />5 (2) Enhance aesthetic view of development(s) from public roads; <br />6 (3) Maintain and enhance property values; <br />7 {4) Aid in both physreal and mental human health; <br />8 (5) Improve air quality and buffer against noise, glare, and heat; <br />9 (6) Reduce the potential for crime and violence; <br />10 (7) Improve energy efficiency; <br />11 (8) Add visual interest to blank building facades and soften appearance of hardscaping and <br />12 buildings with accent plantings; <br />13 (9) Complement adjacent land uses; <br />14 (10) Improve the visual quality and continuity within and between developments; <br />15 (11) Reduce storm water runoff; <br />16 (12) Encourage the establishment and/or restoration of native landscapes. <br />17 (B) Goals and objectives. Landscaping for any project is intended to achieve the following goals and <br />18 objectives: <br />19 (1) Provide immediate aesthetic enhancements to a development site while also considering <br />20 space and input needs of plantings well into the future; <br />21 (2) Encourage a healthy environment and landscape in the future; <br />22 (3) Ensure a diverse mixture of species to protect against future pests and pathogens; <br />23 (4) Encourage native landscapes in suitable locations with appropriate management plans. <br />24 (c) Ramsey Tree Book. The city has developed the Ramsey Tree Book, which includes landscape design <br />25 and maintenance principles and promotes the use of appropriate plant materials° <br />26 {1) The -Ramey Trcc Book will bc available for reference and guidelines regarding principles for <br />27 trcc preservation in the --cry. The book is to bc offered, upon request, to thc citizens of thc <br />28 city as well as thc development eommunity and other interested parties. Copics will bc <br />29 -available at city hall. <br />30 (21) The Ramsey Tree Book will aloe includes lists of preferred, acceptable, and prohibited <br />31 desirable and undesirable trees; and shrubs; a-td natural vegetation for the-ei-ty. Thc Ramey <br />32 Trcc Book shall maintain an extensive list of recommended vegetation for planting. Thc intent <br />33 is -to maintain diversity in the -total tree-populatie-n-within they. The list of recommended <br />34 species shall be updated periodically to reflect new developments or species that will aff <br />35 thc population of thc community forest. <br />36 (D) Landscaping requirements. <br />37 (1) Topsoil and ground cover. All exposed ground areas, including boulevards and areas not <br />38 devoted to off-street parking, driveways, sidewalks, trails, patios or other such impervious <br />39 improvements, shall be landscaped with turf, shrubs, trees, native grasses and wildflowers <br />40 and/or other ornamental landscape materials within six months of the date of issuance of the <br />41 certificate of occupancy. <br />42 a. Topsoil. In all zoning districts, a minimum of four inches of topsoil shall be applied across <br />43 all exposed ground areas to the edge of improved streets, sidewalks, driveways and <br />44 other impervious surfaces, excluding natural areas that are left undisturbed, whenever <br />45 a building permit is issued for the construction of a principal building. <br />46 1. The depth of topsoil at the time of inspection shall be not less than four inches. <br />47 2. Alternatives to the import of topsoil, such as compost or other soil amendments <br />48 known to improve soil water holding capacity may be permitted, but only with <br />49 the prior approval of the city engineer. <br />Page 85 of 160 <br />