17.57.010 Purpose and intent.
The purpose and intent of this chapter is to encourage and, where appropriate, require the use of landscape elements, particularly plant materials, in proposed developments in an organized and harmonious manner that will enhance, protect and promote the economic, ecological and aesthetic environment of McMinnville. Landscaping is considered by McMinnville to be an integral part of a complete comprehensive development plan. The city recognizes the value of landscaping in achieving the following objectives:
A. Provide guidelines and standards that will:
1. Reduce soil erosion and the volume and rate of discharge of storm water runoff.
2. Aid in energy conservation by shading structures from energy losses caused by weather and wind.
3. Mitigate the loss of natural resources.
4. Provide parking lot landscaping to reduce the harmful effects of heat, noise and glare associated with motor vehicle use.
5. Create safe, attractively landscaped areas adjacent to public streets.
6. Require the planting of street trees along the city’s rights-of-way.
7. Provide visual screens and buffers that mitigate the impact of conflicting land uses to preserve the appearance, character and value of existing neighborhoods.
8. Provide shade, and seasonal color.
9. Reduce glare, noise and heat.
B. Promote compatibility between land uses by reducing the visual noise and lighting impacts of specific developments on users of the site and abutting properties.
C. Unify development and enhance and define public and private places.
D. Preserve existing mature trees.
E. Enhance the urban forest and tree canopy.
F. Encourage the use of plants native to the Willamette Valley to the maximum extent feasible, in order to reduce watering requirements and agricultural chemical applications, and to provide a sense of regional identity with plant communities unique to the area.
G. Establish and enhance a pleasant visual character and structure to the built environment that is sensitive to safety and aesthetic issues.
H. Support McMinnville as a community that cares about its appearance.
It is further recognized that landscaping increases property values, attracts potential residents and businesses to McMinnville, and creates safer, more pleasant living and working environments for all residents and visitors to the city.
The guidelines and standards contained in this chapter serve to help McMinnville realize the objectives noted above. These guidelines and standards are intended as minimum standards for landscape treatment. Owners and developers are encouraged to exceed these in seeking more creative solutions both for the enhanced value of their land and for the collective health and enjoyment of all citizens of McMinnville. The landscaping provisions in MMC 17.57.070 are in addition to all other provisions of the zoning ordinance which relate to property boundaries, dimensions, setback, vehicle access points, parking provisions and traffic patterns. The landscaping objectives shall also seek to accomplish the purposes set forth in MMC 17.03.020. (Ord. 5027 §2, 2017; Ord. 4128 (part), 1981; Ord. 3380 (part), 1968).