Page 217 - Des Moines - Zoning, Planning and Design Ch 134, 135

DRAFT 135-5. lANDScAPe AND StreetScAPe

Ground Vegetation

135-5.3 Ground Vegetation 135-5.4 Site trees
All unpaved areas of the site shall be covered by one of
the following. 5.4.1 reQUireD QUANtitY OF treeS
A. intent. Sufficient trees shall be retained or planted
5.3.1 PlANtiNG BeDS on a lot so that the square footage of vegetative
A. Planting beds may include shrubs, ornamental canopy of such trees, when mature, creates a
grasses, ground cover, vines, annuals, or perennials. significant canopy over the city.
B. A minimum of 60 percent of the bed area shall be B. Quantity of trees by canopy coverage. The
covered in plant material at maturity. The remaining percentage of canopy coverage required for each
portion of the bed shall be covered with non-living zoning district is as follows:
permeable materials, such as mulch. 1. RX, CX, EX, and I Districts. For RX, CX and EX
c. Annual beds shall be maintained seasonally, districts, a minimum of 1 medium or large tree or
replanting as necessary. 15% of the square footage of the lot, whichever
is greater, is required.
5.3.2 GrASS
Seeded, plugged, or sodded grass may be planted 2. NX Districts. For lots zoned NX that are greater
throughout landscaped areas. Grass shall be than 10,000 square feet, a minimum of 1
established within 90 days of planting or the area shall medium or large tree, or 15% of the square
be reseeded, replugged, or resodded. footage of the lot, whichever is greater, is
required.

c. Measurement. The total canopy coverage for a
lot is the sum of the canopy, at maturity, of the
individual trees located on the lot. Refer to Table
5.4.2.
1. Street trees located in the public right-of-way
directly adjacent to the property line of the lot
may be counted toward the canopy coverage for
Table 5.4.2. cANOPY cOVerAGe BY tree the lot.
SiZe At MAtUritY 2. For developments that encompass more than
Tree Size Canopy Size one lot, the percentage shall be calculated for
Shade/Overstory 1,000 square feet the total canopy for the total area of all of the
lots.
Ornamental/ 700 square feet
undestory Tree 3. For developments that span multiple blocks,
the percentage required shall be calculated
Evergreen/ Coniferous 300 square feet
Tree separately for each contiguous area of the
development within a block.
D. credit for existing trees. Additional credit for
Table 5.4.3. eXiStiNG tree cANOPY creDitS canopy coverage may be granted for retaining
Tree Diameter at 4.5 Additional Canopy Credit healthy trees of appropriate species and location,
Feet subject to the approval of the city forester, as shown
≥ 10 inches 300 square feet in Table 5.4.3.
≥ 20 inches 700 square feet e. Alternative compliance. Where existing
≥ 30 inches 1,000 square feet conditions or other provisions of this section make
it impracticable to meet the canopy coverage
requirement on or adjacent to the site, the applicant
shall plant sufficient trees to make up the shortfall
with the location to be determined by the city
forester.
5.4.2 tree tYPeS

A. Permitted tree list. A list of permitted tree types

CITY OF DES MOINES CHAPTER 135: PLANNING AND DESIGN DRAFT 135-5-5