Page 219 - Des Moines - Zoning, Planning and Design Ch 134, 135

DRAFT 135-5. lANDScAPe AND StreetScAPe

Street Trees

135-5.5 Street trees there is no combination of public and/or private
A street tree is any tree lining a street to achieve the land sufficient to provide the following:
purpose described in the following intent and which a. In the DX districts, a minimum 6-foot
otherwise meets the requirements of this section. sidewalk with a minimum 4-foot furnishings

5.5.1 iNteNt zone.
To line all streets with a consistent and appropriate b. In all districts except the DX districts, a
planting of trees to establish tree canopy for minimum 5-foot sidewalk with a minimum
environmental and aesthetic benefits for all streets. 4-foot parkway or furnishings zone.
5.5.2 APPlicABilitY D. Permeable Surface and Modular Pavement
The requirements of this section apply to tree planting Support System. The permeable surface and
along all new streets, realignments of existing streets, modular pavement support system requirements in
major renovations of sidewalks, any new construction subsections 135-5.4.5 and 135-5.4.6 shall be met for
of principal structures, and any redevelopment or all street trees.
expansion requiring siteplan review.
5.5.3 MiNiMUM Street tree reQUireMeNtS
The following standards apply to the installation of
street trees.
A. clear Branch Height. The clear branch height of a
tree is the distance between the ground plane and
the lowest branch of the tree at maturity. Minimum
clear branch height is 8 feet for the portion of trees
overhanging sidewalks and 15 feet for the portions
of trees overhanging streets.
B. Street tree type. All street tree types shall
conform to the city’s approved tree species list and
shall be single trunk.
c. Street tree locations and Spacing. Street trees
shall be planted as follows.
1. Minimum per Street Frontage. Each lot is
required to have one tree for every 30 feet of
street frontage with a minimum of one street
tree per street frontage.
2. Location. Street trees shall be located within
the planted parkway or furnishings zone of
the street type. Refer to the city’s most recent
Transportation Master Plan.
3. Intersections. Street trees shall be located a
minimum distance from the intersection of two
streets per 114.14 of the municipal code. 2
4. Proximity to Paving. Street trees shall be located
a minimum of 2 feet from any permanently
paved edge or surface in any district.
5. Limited Space. The requirement to provide
street trees may be waived by the community
development director for existing streets, where

2 See previous footnote. TMP to address. Distance is 70’
back along most main street corridors...prefer 45 feet at
intersections with required stop.

CITY OF DES MOINES CHAPTER 135: PLANNING AND DESIGN DRAFT 135-5-7