§605 Landscaping Standards City of Frederick

Land Management Code

2(c) Property Landscaping Requirements

(1) In addition to the minimum standards set forth in subsection (b)
above, zone-specific landscaping requirements are set forth in this
subsection (c).

(2) In all R districts, RC, MU, and PB districts, at least one tree of any
type shall be planted on the property for each 3,000 square feet of
lot or part in excess of 1,000 square feet.

(3) In the DB and DBO districts, one (1) percent of the total project cost
for new buildings shall be devoted to landscaping or other public art
or amenities, such as landscaped plazas, fountains, etc. The
applicant shall submit construction cost estimates, along with a
detailed breakdown of landscaping/ public art/ amenities to the
Planning Department for confirmation of the one (1) percent
contribution at the building permit stage. No building permit will
be issued until the City has reviewed and approved the one (1)
percent contribution. This subsection does not apply to properties
within the Carroll Creek Overlay.

(4) In all NC, GC, MXE, MO, and IST districts, at least one tree of any
type shall be planted on the property for each 6,000 square feet of
lot or part in excess of 3,000 square feet.

(5) In the M1 and M2 districts, at least one tree of any type shall be
planted on the lot for each 8,000 square feet of lot or part in excess
of 4,000 square feet.

(6) Properties that are located in any overlay or floating zone shall be
required to follow the more stringent landscape requirements
located in the specific sections of this code for the base zone that is
on the property and additional requirements for the overlay or
floating zone.

(d) Screening
3
(1) Screening Levels Established; General Standards
A. Any use permitted as a Conditional Use shall follow the more
stringent landscape requirements between § 308, Article8,
and this section.

B. Trees (evergreen or deciduous) shall be spaced twenty (20)

feet on center. Shrubs shall be spaced ten (10) feet on center.

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C. Openings are permitted where needed for access or

permitted signs.

D. Any existing screening on the subject site that complies with

standards set forth in this subsection may be used to satisfy
requirements of this Code.

E. Fences shall be composed of stockade or board-on-board

design, unless the proposed development is located in the
Historic District Overlay. In the HDO, fences shall comply
with the regulations established in § 423 (Historic District
Overlay). A fence shall be constructed so that the finished
side of the fence faces the adjacent properties with the
unfinished side interior.

F. Walls shall be composed of brick or masonry.

G. Berms shall not exceed a slope of 3:1, and shall be planted

with turf or ground cover materials. The survival of any
shrubs or trees that are placed on a berm shall be noted on
the landscape plan and be certified by a landscape architect.
The composition of the fill must be noted on the landscape
plan. A bond for a two (2) year period should be required for
any shrubs or trees placed on a berm.

(2) Screening Specifications, Generally

The specifications for each screening category are as follows:

Table 605-1 Buffer Categories and Specifications

Level Buffer Planting units per 100 lineal Structures
width feet
(feet)
I 6 5 Evergreen or Deciduous --
trees
II 10 5 evergreens or deciduous 6 feet minimum high wall or
hedge
III 20 1 Canopy tree 6 feet minimum high stockade
4 Understory trees fence or masonry wall
6 Shrubs
10 Evergreen trees
IV 50 7 Canopy trees 6 feet minimum high stockade
10 Understory trees fence or masonry wall, or
40 Shrubs 4 feet minimum high berm
15 Evergreen trees

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Land Management Code

(3) Minimum Planting Specifications

Planting shall conform to the Approved Plant List and the
following:
Table 605-2 Minimum Planting Specifications
Species type Minimum height at planting Minimum caliper at
planting
Evergreen 4 feet --
Deciduous 6 feet 2 inches
Shrub 4 feet --

(4) Level III Screening.

A. Level III screening shall consist of a twenty (20) feet wide
buffer yard to contain a six (6) feet high wall plus a planting
strip on the inside of the wall. The wall shall be composed of
brick or stone, and shall comply with §605(d)(2). The
planting strip shall contain trees specified in subsection
(d)(2) of this Section, with a minimum height of four (4) feet
at planting and spaced fifteen (15) feet on center.

B. The Planning Commission may increase any fence or wall up

to ten (10) feet in height at their discretion based on the
impact of a particular use on adjacent residential
property(ies).

(5) Level IV screening

Level IV screening shall consist of a fifty (50) feet wide buffer area,
which may contain an earth berm, wall, or natural vegetative
screening, or a combination thereof. Species, which would be
placed in the fifty (50) feet wide buffer, will be deciduous and
coniferous trees and shrubs and shall be developed at the time of
appropriate plan submissions and approvals. The Level IV
screening area may be used for forest conservation plantings. The
planting numbers, spacing and survival of plantings in forest
conservation area plantings shall conform to the Maryland
Department of Natural Resources, Forest Conservation Technical
Manual (1997), which document is hereby incorporated by
reference.

[Cross-reference: landscaping requirements for the MO, M1, and M2 districts,

see § 406(d)]

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(e) Landscape Buffers and Berms

Buffer and screening requirements by district or use categories is as
follows:

4, 13, 19 Table 605-3 Buffer and Screening by District or Use

Situation

Subject property Adjacent zoning district Screening

Distance
zoning district or uses or use level

R4, R6, R8, R12, R16, R20, RC, R4, R6, R8, R12, R16, R20, Abutting Level I
RO, PB, MO, NC, MU, IST or RO, PB, MO, IST, PRK, NC, or
GC** GC
M1, M2, MXE RC, R4, R6, R8, R12, R16, R20, Abutting Level III or IV
Lot lines

PRK, DR, MO, or residential

areas of MU or IST
Rear of through lots and in the Any Abutting Level I
front of panhandle lots if
adjoining the rear of another
lot
10 or more spaces in R4, R6, Any Level II
R8, R12, R16, R20, RO, DR,
PB, MO, MU, IST or NC
Parking lots

10 or more spaces in GC RC, R4, R6, R8, R12, R16, R20, < 25 feet Level II
RO, DR, MU, IST, PB, PRK, MO
or NC
10 or more spaces in RC, R4, R6, R8, R12, R16, R20, < 25 feet Level III
M1, M2, or MXE RO, PB, MO, MU, IST, PRK, or
NC
10 or more spaces in RC, R4, R6, R8, R12, R16, R20, < 50 feet Levels III or
M1, M2, or MXE RO, PB, MO, MU, IST, PRK, DR IV
NC Street or right of way < 50 feet Level II
NC Street or right of way < 100 feet Level I
Outdoor Storage

M1, M2, MXE or GC RC, R4, R6, R8, R12, R16, R20, < 50 feet Level III
RO, DR, MU, IST, PB, PRK, MO
or NC
M1, M2, MXE or GC M1, M2, GC, MXE < 50 feet Level II
M1, M2, MXE or GC RC, R4, R6, R8, R12, R16, R20, > 50 feet Level IV
RO, DR, MU, IST, PB, PRK, MO,
or NC
M1, M2, GC, or MXE M1, M2, GC > 50 feet Level I
Any district RC, R4, R6, R8, R12, R16, R20, > 50 feet Level IV
RO, DR, MU, IST, PB, PRK, MO,
merchandise

NC
Outdoor

display

Any district RC, R4, R6, R8, R12, R16, R20, < 50 feet Level III
RO, DR, MU, IST PB, PRK, MO,
NC
Any district Street or right of way < 50 feet Level I

** This landscape requirement does not require buffering between individual

housing units.

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