§ 33-5. Tree Canopy.

A.

Minimum Tree Canopy Required. Minimum tree canopy coverage shall be provided for all new commercial, industrial, and multi-family residential development in accordance with this section. Tree canopy coverage shall include all areas of coverage by plant material exceeding five feet in height, and shall be measured at twenty years maturity after planting. Tree canopy coverage shall be calculated for new plantings using twenty-year tree canopy coverage standards published by the Virginia Nursery and Landscape Association or other set of standards approved by the Zoning Administrator. When a coverage interval is cited in such standards, the smallest coverage figure for each interval shall be used.

All landscape plans shall include the preservation of existing trees, the planting and replacement of trees, or any combination thereof, to the extent that, at maturity of twenty years, a minimum tree canopy shall be provided as follows:

1.

Ten percent tree canopy for a site developed with commercial, office, institutional or industrial uses;

2.

Fifteen percent tree canopy for a multi-family residential site developed at a gross density of more than ten but less than twenty dwelling units per acre; and

3.

Twenty percent tree canopy for a multi-family residential development developed at a gross density of ten or fewer dwelling units per acre.

B.

Incentives for Tree Preservation. A bonus credit toward tree canopy requirements will be given for the preservation of existing wooded areas, clusters of trees or Mature Trees (having a circumference of 42" or greater measured five feet above grade), pursuant to the following:

1.

The credit provided per Mature Tree will be 2.0 multiplied by the area defined by the boundaries of the existing drip line of the tree.

2.

The credit provided for preservation of existing trees, wooded areas or clusters of trees shall be 1.50 multiplied by the area defined by the boundaries of the existing drip line of the tree, wooded area or cluster of trees.

3.

Credit towards tree canopy requirements shall not be given for any tree deemed to be in poor to fair condition by the Zoning Administrator, nor for any plant designated as highly or moderately invasive on the Invasive Alien Plant Species of Virginia List published by the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation.

C.

Modification. The Approving Authority may grant a modification or waiver to any of the tree canopy requirements for those parcels eligible under Section 15.2-961 of the Code of Virginia for reasonable exceptions to, or deviations from, the requirements of this section to: allow for the reasonable development of farm land or other areas devoid of woody materials; for the preservation of wetlands; or when the strict application of the requirements would result in unnecessary or unreasonable hardship to the developer. The Approving Authority may attach conditions to any modification or waiver to assure the results of the modification or waiver will be in accord with the intent of this Section.

(Ord. of 8-1-2006(2))

(Ord. of 8-1-2006(2))