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BYLAW NO. 55
5-1
Division 5: Landscaping, Screening, and Fencing
5.1
APPLICATION
5.1.1
Landscaping, screening, and fencing uses are specified within this division.
5.2
LANDSCAPING SITING AND MINIMUM AREA REQUIREMENTS
5.2.1
All areas of the Site not covered by approved Buildings, display areas, storage
areas, off-Street parking areas, or loading and manoeuvring aisles shall be
landscaped.
5.2.2
Landscaping shall be installed in the front of Buildings and along Streets or property
lines to mask or separate:
(a)
industrial Uses from commercial and Residential Uses;
(b)
commercial uses from Residential Uses (except where commercial and
Multi-Unit Residential developments are provided within the same
Building); and
(c)
residential, commercial, and industrial Uses, including Buildings, outdoor
storage areas, and parking areas; from public Streets, lanes, sidewalks,
and adjacent residentially zoned properties.
(55-68) 5.2.3
Minimum landscaped areas of developed property shall be provided as shown on
Table 9:
Table 9
Zoning Category and Zone
Minimum Landscaped Area (excluding
Boulevard)
Institutional Zones
P2, P3, P4, P5
15% of the developed Lot Area
Small-Scale Multi-Unit Residential Zones
R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, R7, and R8
a) All portions for a Required Front Yard, side
Street Yard, and that portion of Required Rear
Yard abutting a Street not used for parking or
driveway use must be landscaped; and,
b) A minimum of 40% of the street frontage of
each corresponding street line must include a
landscape buffer that is at least 3 m deep
between the Street Line and any parking space
-
except Lots with 12 m frontage or
less
A minimum of 25% of the street frontage of each
corresponding street line must include a landscape
buffer that is at least 3 m deep between the street
line and any parking space
-
except Lots fronting a cul-de-sac
bulb with less than 10 m frontage
15% of the Required Street Yard (Lot Frontage and
area) shall be landscaped
-
except where vehicular access is
restricted to a lane
100% of the Required Street Yard (Lot Frontage
and area) shall be landscaped
BYLAW NO. 55
5-2
Table 9
Zoning Category and Zone
Minimum Landscaped Area (excluding
Boulevard)
Multi-Unit Residential Zones
RM1, RM2, RM3, RM4, RM5, MHP,
and MHS
30% of the developed Lot Area (includes residential
amenity space)
Commercial Zones
CBD, CNS, C1, and C4
5% of the developed Lot Area
-
except stand-alone, Multi-Unit
Residential development in the
C1 zone
30% of developed Lot Area (see C1 zone for
details)
C3, C6, C7, and C8
10% of the developed Lot Area
-
Except stand-alone, Multi-Unit
Residential development in the
C6 or C7 Zones
30% of the developed Lot Area
(see C6 and C7 Zones for details)
C2 and C5
15% of the developed Lot Area
-
except Multi-Unit Residential
development in the C5 zone
15% of the developed Lot Area plus additional
landscaping described in the C5 zone
Industrial Zones
I1, I2, and I3
5% of the developed Lot Area
I1S
10% of the developed Lot Area
(55-68) 5.2.4
All minimum landscaped areas shall primarily be treated with Soft Landscaping.
(55-68) 5.2.5
Off-street parking is not permitted within required minimum landscaped areas,
including minimum Front Yard, Side Street Yard, and Rear Street Yard landscaping
areas, as shown on Figure 27.
Figure 27. Typical Required Landscaping
BYLAW NO. 55
5-3
5.3
BOULEVARD LANDSCAPING
5.3.1
The developer and/or property owner shall be responsible for Soft Landscaping the
Boulevard area, including Boulevards located on the exterior of any Fences on a
property line abutting a Street (front, side, or rear).
5.4
LANDSCAPING SPECIFICATIONS
5.4.1
Landscaping shall be consistent with the City's Landscape Guidelines for
Development, and the policies of the Official Community Plan, as amended.
5.4.2
Massed planting and xeriscape landscaping are the preferred landscaping
techniques and are defined as follows:
(a)
massed planting means landscaping using groups of trees, shrubs, and
ground covers which, over time and with the growth of the plants, will
allow the spaces between the plants to be reduced to provide a
continuous mass of plant material; and
(b)
xeriscape landscaping means the strategic use of drought-tolerant plants
for the purpose of water conservation.
5.4.3
All landscape areas, including xeriscape areas, shall be irrigated.
(55-68) 5.4.4
Where massed planting or xeriscaping techniques are utilized in required minimum
landscaped areas or City Boulevards, at least 50% of the landscaping area must be
covered with plant material (based on the combined estimated mature size of the
plants).
(55-68) 5.4.5
Off-street parking shall not be permitted within a required landscape area and the
landscaped area must be protected from vehicles and loose materials such as gravel
surfacing on the parking area by a durable edge.
(55-68) 5.4.6
Parking shall not be permitted within the required landscaped Boulevard.
(55-68) 5.4.7
Where municipal bylaws, regulations, and standards, including the Traffic Bylaw,
Road Right-of-Way Usage Bylaw, and Subdivision and Development Control Bylaw
allow parking in the road right-of-way abutting a Lot, the shoulder of an uncurbed
road used for parking need not be landscaped provided the following conditions are
met:
(a)
The shoulder parking area does not abut a public pedestrian facility,
bicycle lane, or multi-use path;
(b)
Where the shoulder parking area is not separated from the boulevard by
a ditch, it is limited to a maximum width of 2.7 m between the edge of the
paved road and the landscaped boulevard or property line;
(c)
The soft landscaped boulevard between any on-street road shoulder
parking area and the property line must be protected by a durable
landscape edge such as pin-down vehicle stops or low landscape wall;
(d)
Parking on the road shoulder shall not count towards off-street parking
requirements, except where off-street parking requirements may be
BYLAW NO. 55
5-4
reduced where homeowners are eligible to obtain a Residential Parking
Permit;
(e)
Parking on the shoulder shall not be designated for the exclusive use of
the adjacent property owner;
(f)
The City reserves the right to remove shoulder or street parking for any
reason;
5.5
LANDSCAPE PLANS AND PROCEDURE
Applications for a building permit or a development permit to construct or to alter the siting, size,
or dimensions of a Building or Structure, other than for a Single-Detached, Single-Detached with
Secondary Suite, or Two-Unit residence, shall be accompanied by a detailed landscape plan for
the Site and Boulevard areas.
5.5.1
A landscape plan shall include the following:
(a)
metric scale;
(b)
north arrow;
(c)
total area of on-Site landscaping;
(d)
property lines, rights-of-way, and existing and future roads;
(e)
existing Hard Landscaping and Soft Landscaping and any proposed
changes to these features;
(f)
identification of all Buildings and Structures;
(g)
identification of all soft landscape materials in a plant material list which
will include common and botanical plant names, initial and mature plant
sizes and calipers, and quantities of each species;
(h)
proposed plant spacing; and
(i)
details of Hard Landscaping including design and materials.
(55-68) 5.5.2
Where a landscape plan is required to be prepared by a landscape architect, a
British Columbia Society of Landscape Architects Letter of Assurance of Professional
Design and Commitment for Field Review (Schedule L) shall be submitted in
conjunction with the landscape plan.
5.5.3
The landscape plan must be approved prior to the issuance of a building permit or
development permit.
(55-68) 5.5.4
Security for the provision of landscaping shall be submitted as a condition of
development permit or building permit approval as follows:
(a)
The security amount shall be based on 125% of the estimate of the value
of landscaping provided by a landscape architect, landscape designer, or
landscape installer;
BYLAW NO. 55
5-5
(b)
Where a landscape plan is required to be prepared by a landscape
architect, the estimate must be provided by the landscape architect.
(55-68) 5.5.5
Security for the provision of landscaping shall be released in accordance with the
City's Landscape Guidelines for Development. Where the landscape plan was
prepared by a landscape architect, a British Columbia Society of Landscape
Architects Letter of Assurance of Professional Field Review and Compliance
(Schedule C-L) must be submitted prior to landscape inspection and release of any
landscape security.
5.6
MAINTENANCE
5.6.1
All landscaping shall be maintained in good condition in conformance with the
approved landscape plan.
5.6.2
In the event of failure to comply, the City may enter the Site and maintain the
landscaping at the expense of the property owner, the cost of which will be added to
the owner's current year's taxes.
5.7
SCREENING AND FENCING - GENERAL REGULATIONS
(55-68) 5.7.1
In all CR, R, RM, commercial, comprehensive development, P2, I1S, and I1 zones,
maximum Fence or wall heights are as follows and shown in Figure 28:
(a)
1.2 m within a required Front Yard, Required Side Street Yard, or
Required Rear Yard that backs onto a Street from which vehicular access
is permitted;
(b)
2 m outside (behind the Setback line of) a Required Front Yard, or
Required Side Street Yard;
BYLAW NO. 55
5-6
Figure 28. Standard Fence Height Provisions
c)
2 m within an interior Side Yard, or Rear Yard, including a Rear Yard that
backs onto a Street where vehicular access is not permitted (such as an
arterial road or Highway), except that:
i)
in the CNS and CBD Zones, the maximum Fence height in all
rear and Side Yards shall be 1.2 m;
ii)
in all country residential Zones (CR-1, CR-2, and CR-3),
Fences to a maximum of 2 m high shall be permitted in any
Yard;
iii)
in the I1 and I1S zone, Fences to a maximum of 2.5 m shall be
permitted in the rear and Side Yard, and
iv)
in the I2 and I3 zone, Fences to a maximum of 2.5 m shall be
permitted in any Yard.
5.7.2
Where soft landscape features utilized for screening purposes (e.g. hedges) are
located in any required Yard abutting a Street, they shall comply with the height
requirements for Fences and walls.
5.7.3
Where a Fence or wall is constructed on an interior Lot in a Rear Yard that abuts a
Street, a 0.8 m gate must be installed in the Fence for maintenance purposes.
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5.8
SCREENING AND FENCING - SPECIAL CONDITIONS
Notwithstanding Section 5.7, the following regulations also apply:
5.8.1
Fences around a swimming pool shall comply with the requirements of the City's
Building Bylaw as amended.
5.8.2
Automobile wrecking and junk yards shall be located within a solid wall or Fence
between 2.5 m and 3.5 m in height.
5.8.3
Any area or Structure used for the operation of commercial or Hobby Kennels shall
be effectively screened by fencing, trees, or hedges to a minimum of 1.5 m in height.
5.8.4
In all Zones, Fences to a maximum of 3 m high shall be permitted in the Rear Yard
only for properties directly abutting a railway.
5.8.5
Use of barbed wire as a fencing material is prohibited in all Single-Detached, Single-
Detached with a suite, Two-Unit, or Multi-Unit Residential Zones, but is permitted in
the Agricultural and Rural Residential Zones.
5.8.6
Use of razor wire in conjunction with fencing is prohibited in all residential Zones,
including the Agricultural and Rural Residential Zones.
5.9
LANDSCAPING, SCREENING, AND FENCING - SITE LINES
5.9.1
Notwithstanding Sections 5.7 and 5.8 above, there shall be, from any landscaping,
screening, or fencing, no obstruction to the line of vision as follows:
a)
on a Corner Lot, above the 1 m level measured from the average height
of the crown of Streets within an area bounded by the centre line of
intersecting or intercepting Streets and a line joining on each of the centre
lines 25 m from their intersection, as shown on Figure 29;
Figure 29. Corner Visual Obstructions
b)
on a Corner Lot that is located at the intersection of a Provincial Highway
and any other Highway, above the 0.6 m level within an area formed by a
triangle in the angle formed by the right of way boundaries and two points
on those boundaries 6 m from their intersection, unless an eye 0.9 m
above the surface elevation of one Highway can, by looking directly over
the landscaping, screening, or fencing, see an object 0.9 m above the
surface elevation of the other Highway, as shown on Figure 30; and
BYLAW NO. 55
5-8
Figure 30. Corner Visual Obstructions on Provincial Highways
(c)
on a Lot that is located immediately adjacent to a lane or public walkway,
from the Average Finished Grade within a triangular area formed by the
Lot Line abutting the lane or walkway and the Street Line that joins that
Lot Line, and a straight line which intersects the two Lot Lines 1.5 m from
the corner where they meet, as shown on Figure 31.
Figure 31. Corner Visual Obstructions Adjacent to Lane or Walkway
5.10
UTILITY SCREENING
5.10.1
In all Multi-Unit Residential Zones, commercial Zones, and institutional Zones (P2,
P3, P4, and P5), comprehensive development Zones, and in the I1S and I1 Zones,
the following areas shall be screened from the view of Streets, or adjacent
properties:
(a)
outdoor and rooftop equipment, including mechanical, electrical, or other
service equipment;
(b)
outdoor garbage bins; and
(c)
service and storage areas.
5.11
AMENITY AREAS FOR MULTI-UNIT DEVELOPMENT
5.11.1
For all Multi-Unit Residential development, the minimum landscaped area required in
Section 5.2.3 shall include amenity space for the use of the residents, and:
(a)
may include community garden plots, seating areas with trellises or gazebos,
walking trails, landscaped court yards, activity centres, daycare facilities,
swimming pools, water features, tennis courts, clubhouses, playgrounds, and
similar recreational/social facilities.
BYLAW NO. 55
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(b)
may be located at grade, on rooftops, or within a Building.
5.12
GARBAGE AND RECYCLING BIN ENCLOSURES
5.12.1
Where the property utilizes commercial garbage and recycling bins, each bin shall be
screened from the Street, adjacent properties, and the general public; and must be
enclosed in either:
(a)
one or more combined garbage and/or recycling enclosures as shown in
Figure 32; or
(b)
separate enclosures for garbage and recycling each meeting the
specifications shown in Figure 33.
Figure 32: Combined Garbage and Recycling Bin Enclosure
Figure 33. Single Garbage or Recycling Bin Enclosure
5.12.2
The following conditions apply to any garbage and/or recycling bin enclosures:
(a)
the vehicle approach to the enclosure shall have a maximum 3% grade
for a minimum of 15 m and include a 3.6 m-long hard-surface apron
capable of withstanding a front axle weight of 16,330 kg per axle;
(b)
the enclosure shall be located so that collection vehicles do not back onto
City Streets;
(c)
access to the enclosure must provide an 11 m turning radius for garbage
collection vehicles;
BYLAW NO. 55
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(d)
the enclosure must be at least 1.8 m high, non-roofed, made of
view-obscuring materials, and must include a hard-surfaced floor;
(e)
bollards located at the rear of the enclosure must be at least 1 m high,
100 mm concrete-filled pipe, penetrating a minimum of 0.3 m into the
ground;
(f)
the enclosure must be oriented away from adjacent properties and from
the Street; and
(g)
where the front of the enclosure is visible from the Street, adjacent
properties, or high-exposure public areas, the entrance to the enclosure
must include gates that feature:
(i)
support posts of a minimum 89 mm Schedule 40 steel;
(ii)
minimum 150 mm non-pneumatic wheels;
(iii)
minimum 0.6 m long pins capable of preventing the gates from
swinging open or closed;
(iv)
no centre post; and
(v)
a means to re-tension gates if sagging occurs.