(a) Noxious and invasive weed species as per Clallam County’s Weed Department are required to be removed from all landscaped areas throughout the lifetime of the project.

(b) Retention of existing vegetation in place of new plants is allowed and encouraged.

(c) Appropriate tree species should be selected that will not interfere with any overhead power lines.

(d) Vegetation shall not obscure line-of-sight at intersections of roadways.

(e) Corner lots shall maintain a vision clearance triangle (Figure 1). Larger vision triangles may be required, based on the road classifications, as specified by City, State or federal transportation agencies or departments.

Figure 1 – 15-ft clearance triangle example.

(f) With the exception of hedges, planting patterns throughout the landscaped area should promote nonlinear planting technique.

(g) The Administrator or Hearing Examiner may consider limiting landscape screens and visual buffers to be located around the perimeter of the development site (as opposed to the perimeter of the entire lot) where only a small part of the lot and/or street frontage are developed. For example, requiring landscaping immediately around a small public utility building and related improvements with a small footprint on a lot that is vacant or containing development not otherwise requiring landscaping subject to this chapter.

(h) Required landscape screens, visual buffers, and streetscaping is permitted to include sidewalks and stormwater management features that are integrated with the landscaping design, provided the purpose and intent of this chapter are met.

(i) Vegetation along State or County right-of-way shall not obstruct or otherwise impact any roadway or sidewalk.

(j) The planting of trees within 10 feet of sidewalks, road surfaces or parking areas shall require root barriers (minimum 18 inches in depth) to prevent root heaving.

(k) Soil amendments and mulch are required to help maintain a healthy landscape.

(l) Drought-tolerant and native vegetation is encouraged as a means of reducing water use.

(m) Trees, shrubs, and ground cover shall have a survivability of 100 percent after the first year, 75 percent after the second year, and 66 percent after the third year. The landowner shall replace any dead trees, shrubs, and groundcover within 90 days of notification by the Administrator and to comply with these thresholds.

(n) All landscaping shall remain in conformance with approved landscape plans through the life of the development.

(a) Requirements for a landscape screen along property lines is specified per Table 33.53.020. The table provides the width of the required landscape screen based on the proposed and existing adjacent uses.

(b) The standard landscape screen shall include large trees planted no greater than 20 feet on center and understory vegetation planted no greater than six feet on center within the width of the landscape screen (Figure 2). Ground cover (evergreen or deciduous plantings) shall be planted at three-foot spacing in all directions within the width of the landscape screen.

Figure 2 – Overhead view of example landscape screen.

(c) The landscape screen shall be comprised of no less than 75 percent evergreen tree species and no more than 50 percent deciduous shrubs.

(d) As an alternative to the standard screen spacing outlined above, the large trees and understory vegetation selected shall not exceed 75 percent of the projected crown width. For example, if a large tree has a projected crown width of 20 feet, a spacing of no less than 15 feet on center would be required. Understory vegetation with a projected crown width of 10 feet would be spaced at no greater than seven and one-half feet on center.

(e) As an alternate to the standard landscape screen spacing outlined above, the spacing of the trees and shrubs selected should provide twice the projected crown width. For example, if a large tree has a projected crown width of 20 feet, a spacing of 40 feet on center would be required. Understory vegetation with a projected crown width of 10 feet would be spaced at 20 feet on center.

(f) The Administrator or the Hearing Examiner may allow the landscape screen width to be varied (minimum five-foot width); provided, that an equivalent number of trees, shrubs, and groundcover to the standard or alternative landscape screen is provided within the modified landscaped area to achieve a more visually appealing effect.

(a) A barrier comprised of solid fencing, block wall, berm, or hedge, may be allowed by the Administrator to reduce the required width of a landscape screen as specified in Table 33.53.020. For high, moderate or low potential impacts per Table 33.53.020, the barrier shall be as follows: High requires a seven-foot-high solid barrier comprised of berms, solid fence, or wall or a combination thereof; moderate requires a five-foot-high barrier comprised of berms, solid fence, or wall or a combination thereof; low requires a minimum three-foot berm or hedge. In addition to the barrier, a landscape visual buffer shall be installed to provide for visual enhancement of the development site where a barrier is used. The visual buffer width is required per Table 33.53.020.

(b) The standard visual buffer shall include an assortment of large trees planted no greater than 25 feet on center and comprised of no less than 50 percent evergreen species (Figure 3).

Figure 3 – Overhead view of example visual buffer.

(c) A minimum of two understory vegetation (no more than 50 percent deciduous) and groundcover three feet on center shall be interspersed between trees.

(d) As an alternate to the standard landscape visual buffer spacing outlined above, the spacing of the trees and shrubs selected should provide twice the projected crown width. For example, if a large tree has a projected crown width of 20 feet, a spacing of 40 feet on center would be required. Understory vegetation with a projected crown width of 10 feet would be spaced at 20 feet on center.

(e) The Administrator or the Hearing Examiner may allow the visual buffer width to be varied (minimum five-foot width); provided, that an equivalent number of trees, shrubs, and groundcover to the standard or alternative landscape screen is provided within the modified landscaped area to achieve a more visually appealing effect.

(a) Landscaping is required along road frontages for all uses set forth in CCC 33.53.020 and is intended to provide for the aesthetic character and visual enhancement of the development site.

(b) The standard streetscape shall be no less than 10 feet in width and include an assortment of trees (mostly deciduous) planted no greater than 25 feet on center with shrubs or groundcover interspersed between the trees at no less than six feet on center.

(c) As an alternate to the standard streetscape spacing outlined above, the spacing of the trees and shrubs selected should provide twice the projected crown width. For example, if a large tree has a projected crown width of 20 feet, a spacing of 40 feet on center would be required. Understory vegetation with a projected crown width of 10 feet would be spaced at 20 feet on center.

(d) The Administrator or the Hearing Examiner may allow the streetscape width to be varied (minimum five-foot width); provided, that an equivalent number of trees, shrubs, and groundcover to the standard or alternative landscape screen is provided within the modified landscaped area to achieve a more visually appealing effect.