19.35.050 Landscaping type definitions and requirements (Types I—IV).
A. Type I: Visual Screen. Type I landscaping is intended to provide a very dense sight barrier to significantly separate uses and zoning districts. It shall generally consist of a mix of predominantly evergreen plantings including living trees, shrubs and ground covers. The choice and spacing of plantings shall be such that they will form a dense hedge sufficient to obscure sight through the screen within three years after planting. Where a sight obscuring fence is required, chain-link fencing with slats shall not be considered to be sight-obscuring. Type I landscaping shall consist of the following:
1. Evergreen trees planted along the entire length of the required buffer at intervals no greater than twenty feet on center. Trees shall be chosen and spaced so as to form an effective visual screen which creates a solid sight-obscuring barrier within three years of planting. Trees shall be a minimum of six feet high at the time of planting.
2. Type I landscaping shall include a solid wood fence or masonry wall, or combination of wood and masonry, six feet in height and located along the property line between the residential and nonresidential use.
3. The entire width of the required buffer shall be landscaped. The remaining area which is not planted with the sight-obscuring barrier shall be planted with shrubs and ground cover. Shrubs shall be at least two-gallon size and a minimum of eighteen inches high at the time of planting. Shrubs and ground cover shall be planted to attain a coverage of ninety percent of the planting area within three years.
4. Lawns and other ground covers may be used to cover up to seventy-five percent of the landscape area which is not used for the sight-obscuring barrier.
B. Type II: See-Through Buffer. Type II landscaping is intended to create a visual separation between uses and zones. Type II landscaping shall consist of:
1. A mix of evergreen and deciduous trees, with no more than thirty percent being deciduous, and planted at intervals no greater than twenty feet on center. Required deciduous trees shall be at least two inches caliper at the time of planting. Evergreen trees shall be at least six feet tall at time of planting.
2. A mix of evergreen and deciduous shrubs, with not more than thirty percent being deciduous, at least two-gallon size and a minimum of eighteen inches high at the time of planting, planted at a density of five per one hundred square feet of planting area, together with other living ground cover planted to attain a coverage of ninety percent within three years of planting.
Trees to be planted under overhead electric power lines shall be species recommended in Snohomish County PUD No. l’s Tree Book, Puget Sound Energy’s Energy Landscaping or an alternative approved by the planning director. If the species planted is expected to be less than twenty feet high at maturity, the planning director may require that additional trees be planted.
C. Type III: Ornamental Effects Landscaping. Type III landscaping is intended to provide a visual separation of uses from streets, and visual separation of compatible uses so as to soften the appearance of the development from public streets and soften the appearance of parking areas, buildings, and other improvements. Type III landscaping shall consist of:
1. Canopy-type broadleaf deciduous trees or spreading evergreen trees planted in wells or strips with a mix of living evergreen and deciduous ground covers and low shrubs. Up to one hundred percent of the trees may be deciduous. Deciduous trees shall have a minimum caliper of two inches at the time of planting. Evergreen trees shall have a minimum height of six feet at time of planting. Trees shall be spaced at intervals no greater than thirty feet on center.
Trees planted in Type III landscaped areas along street frontages must have a minimum spread of ten feet and a minimum height of twenty feet at maturity, unless a lower height is required under power lines.
2. Shrubs and living ground cover shall be chosen and planted to attain a coverage of ninety percent within three years of planting. Shrubs shall be a minimum of eighteen inches high at the time of planting and shall be planted at a density of five shrubs per one hundred square feet of that portion of the landscape area which is not planted in ground cover. Ground cover may be used for up to seventy-five percent of the required ninety percent coverage.
3. Along interior lot lines where buildings on both sides of an interior lot line are five feet or less from the property line, one of the following screening methods may be used rather than the standards in subsections (C)(1) and (2) of this section:
a. Provide a low landscaped hedge at least three feet wide between the building and the property line. The hedge shall include at least one three-gallon shrub for every three lineal feet.
b. Provide a solid wood fence or masonry wall, or combination of wood and masonry, six feet in height and located along the property line.
c. Other treatments that meet the intent of the standards as approved by the planning director.
Figure 35-1: Side Yard Options
D. Type IV: Soil Stabilizing Vegetation/Landscaping. Type IV landscaping is intended to provide soil stability, prevent erosion and prevent sedimentation to off-site properties and improvements. Type IV landscaping shall consist of lawn, other living ground cover, shrubs and trees with a root structure which stabilizes soil where necessary to prevent erosion and sedimentation. Type IV landscaping may include other organic and/or inorganic soil-stabilizing materials such as rockeries, retaining walls or other similar slope and soil stabilization devices. A minimum of sixty percent of the required front setback fronting a public street and a required street side setback shall be landscaped exclusive of any type of impervious surface or gravel or any other similar material. If a permitted driveway or off-street parking area is within the setback, the required landscaped area can be reduced to forty percent. Landscaping shall consist primarily of grass or other living ground cover, shrubs, and/or trees. (Ord. 3774-20 § 9 (Exh. 7), 2020; Ord. 3322-13 § 5, 2013; Ord. 1849-92 §§ 26, 27, 1992; Ord. 1729-90 § 19, 1990; Ord. 1671-89, 1989.)