Ordinance - #23-14 - 11/14/2023 - Laserfiche WebLink

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1 (A) Intent. The City of Ramsey recognizes the advantages that landscaping and screening can provide, 2 including enhanced health, safety, aesthetic, ecological and economic value. The intent of this section 3 is to: 4 (1) Enhance the quality of life within the city; 5 (2) Enhance aesthetic view of development(s) from public roads; 6 (3) Maintain and enhance property values; 7 (4) Improve air quality and buffer against noise, glare, and heat; 8 (5) Reduce the potential for crime and violence; 9 (6) Improve energy efficiency; 10 (7) Add visual interest to blank building facades and soften appearance of hardscaping and 11 buildings with accent plantings; 12 (8) Complement adjacent land uses; 13 (9) Improve the visual quality and continuity within and between developments; 14 (10) Reduce storm water runoff; 15 (11) Encourage the establishment and/or restoration of native landscapes. 16 (B) Goals and objectives. Landscaping for any project is intended to achieve the following goals and 17 objectives: 18 (1) Provide immediate aesthetic enhancements to a development site while also considering space 19 and input needs of plantings well into the future; 20 (2) Encourage a healthy environment and landscape in the future; 21 (3) Ensure a diverse mixture of species to protect against future pests and pathogens; 22 (4) Encourage native landscapes in suitable locations with appropriate management plans. 23 (c) Ramsey Tree Book. The city has developed the Ramsey Tree Book, which includes landscape design 24 and maintenance principles and promotes the use of appropriate plant materials. 25 (1) The Ramsey Tree Book includes lists of preferred, acceptable, and prohibited trees and shrubs. 26 (D) Landscaping requirements. 27 (1) Topsoil and ground cover. All exposed ground areas, including boulevards and areas not 28 devoted to off-street parking, driveways, sidewalks, trails, patios or other such impervious 29 improvements, shall be landscaped with turf, shrubs, trees, native grasses and wildflowers 30 and/or other ornamental landscape materials within six months of the date of issuance of the 31 certificate of occupancy. 32 a. Topsoil. In all zoning districts, a minimum of four inches of topsoil shall be applied 33 across all exposed ground areas to the edge of improved streets, sidewalks, driveways 34 and other impervious surfaces, excluding natural areas that are left undisturbed, 35 whenever a building permit is issued for the construction of a principal building. 36 1. The depth of topsoil at the time of inspection shall be not less than four inches. 37 2. Alternatives to the import of topsoil, such as compost or other soil amendments 38 known to improve soil water holding capacity may be permitted, but only with the 39 prior approval of the city engineer. 40 b. Required ground cover. In all zoning districts, all portions of a site not covered by 41 structures, concrete, or asphalt, but excluding natural areas that are left undisturbed, shall 42 be finished with sod and plantings, up to the edge of improved streets and other 43 impervious surfaces. Any alternative to the sod requirement shall require City Council 44 approval. 45 (2) Irrigation. If a landscape irrigation system is provided, the system shall be equipped with the 46 following: 47 a. Technology that inhibits or interrupts operation of the irrigation system during periods 48 of sufficient moisture (rain sensor). 49 b. One or more water efficient technologies. This could include, but is not limited to, 50 WaterSense labeled weather -based irrigation controllers, soil moisture sensors, and/or 51 evapotranspiration (ET) sensors. Attachment A — Ordinance #23-14 Page 74 of 141