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Updated January 2025 – Gem Lake Consolidated Land Use Ordinance No. 131 150 11. Landscaping Plans. 1. Content of Plans. A landscaping plan for any construction or land disturbance site shall be indicated either on the site plan and building plan, or on a separate to-scale plan drawing. The landscape plan shall address the matters raised by Sections 26.5 and 26.6, as well as visually depicting conformance with the performance standards of this Ordinance. Where streetscape plans or other landscape guidance from the Zoning Ordinance are applicable to the proposal, the landscape plan shall incorporate and visually depict compliance with those standards. When a landscaping plan is required by this Ordinance, the applicant shall submit a number of copies equal to the number of copies of site plans required for the permit or authorization (e.g. CUP, building permit) sought. 2. Submission - residential districts. If the construction is proposed as part of a subdivision, planned unit development, or other application requiring Planning Commission review, the landscape plan shall be submitted with the applicant’s other materials for the permit or other entitlement. In other cases, the City’s building official shall ensure that such a plan exists before issuing a building permit. 3. Submission - non-residential districts. In non-residential districts, a detailed landscaping site plan shall be submitted to the Planning Commission by the subdivider, developer, builder or property owner as part of the application for zoning entitlement or other permit. This plan must be approved at the same time as the site plan and building plan and the landscaping plan must be approved before any building, demolition, grading or filling permit is issued and construction is started. In cases where Planning Commission review is not required to issue a building permit, such as additions to or remodeling of existing structures, the City’s building official shall ensure that such a plan exists before issuing a building permit. 4. Land filling or reclamation. Each request for a land filling or land reclamation permit in all zoning districts shall also include a landscaping plan. This plan shall be approved by the Planning Commission before a filling permit is issued and filling is started. 12. Performance Surety for Landscaping in Non-Residential Districts. 1. Requirements. All landscape plans for construction in a non-residential district shall be accompanied by an owner supplied performance security which shall provide the City with cash, corporate surety bond, approved letter of credit or other surety satisfactory to the City to guarantee the proper installation and vigorous growth of all landscape elements and screening required. 2. Time period surety to remain in effect. Said surety shall remain in effect for two (2) full growing seasons. The first year the amount of the surety shall be equal to one hundred ten percent (110%) of the estimated costs of plant material, installation and tree preservation. The second year the surety shall be reduced to equal twenty-five percent (25%) of the estimated costs of plant material, installation and tree preservation. 3. Requirements for lots with irrigation systems. Lots or sites provided with an irrigation system covering one hundred percent (100%) of the area improved with landscaping need only provide surety for one (1) full growing season. 13. Maintenance of Landscaping in All Districts. 1. Responsibility for replacing dead materials. The property owner shall be responsible for replacement of any dead trees, shrubs, ground covers and sodding shown on a landscaping plan. If any of these plant materials are not maintained or replaced, said plant materials will be replaced by the City and the cost thereof will be taken from any posted surety or, if a surety does not cover all costs, assessed to the property. In residential districts the City’s replacement costs will be assessed to the property. 2. Responsibility for maintenance. The property owner shall be responsible for maintaining the landscaping on every lot and parcel in the City in good condition. Every occupied and unoccupied lot and parcel shall be maintained to limit the growth of weeds or poisonous or harmful vegetation. Weeds shall include all weeds, grass, brush, wildings, second growth, rank vegetation or other vegetation that is not growing in its proper place, having a greater height of ten (10) inches or spread more than ten (10) inches. Grass must be mowed and shall not be allowed to grow more than ten (10) inches. Moving shall occur only between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 8:30 p.m. Every property owner shall keep all yard spaces around a residence or non -residential in a manner such that the appearance will not detract from the neighborhood