12.64.303 Setback Area Landscaping.
Setback areas shall be landscaped in accordance with the following regulations.
A. Perimeter Block Setback Areas. The following setback area treatments are permitted or required as specified for each District in BMC 12.64.100, District Requirements for front and side yard setback areas located between buildings and public streets other than alleys. The disposition of the front setback zone is further illustrated and addressed in BMC 12.64.206(B). Private Frontage Types.
1. Sidewalk Extension.
a. Sidewalk extensions are required where minimum sidewalk widths established in the City of Bothell Design and Construction Standards and Specifications result in the extension of the sidewalk width on to private property and in front of all Shopfront and Arcade Private Frontage Types that are built within 5 feet of the back of sidewalk.
b. Sidewalk Extensions must consist of new sidewalk built at the same grade as the adjacent existing sidewalk and provide no obstructions, edges, or barriers to access between portions of the public and private property. A Public Access Easement shall be provided for the sidewalk extension and must be granted to the city.
c. Construction staging should be organized to allow the construction of the entire sidewalk (within and outside of the public right-of-way) at the same time.
d. Paving material and design should be the same as or sufficiently similar to the portion within the public right-of-way to create the effect of a single pedestrian walkway.
e. No trees are required in the setback zone (other than those back-of-curb, as specified in Design and Construction Standards and Specifications).
2. Parkway Landscaping.
a. Coordinated Frontage. The treatment of the public frontage and private frontage should be coordinated to provide a cohesive and unified landscape treatment. That is, the sidewalk should run between any parkway strip landscaping (a portion of the Public Frontage), and setback area landscaping (all or primarily within the Private Frontage area) that are easily identifiable as a single, cohesive design (Public easements may be required).
b. Screening. Type V landscaping per BMC 12.80.040 is required to provide substantial screening of buildings and interior spaces from view from (and of) the main thoroughfare.
c. Green Landscape. Living groundcover, trees, and shrubs must cover all setback areas other than those covered by the public sidewalk, pedestrian walkways connecting to building entrances, or permitted access ways (pedestrian and/or vehicular) to parking facilities.
d. Multiple Species in Naturalistic Pattern. Trees consisting of at least 50% conifers and shrubs of varied species and heights should be planted in an irregular/informal pattern. Where existing trees are located within the frontage, they shall be retained and count towards the landscaping requirements.
e. Vegetation-based low impact development best management practices such as bioretention facilities are encouraged to be placed within parkway landscaping.
3. Neighborhood Street Landscaping.
a. Visual Continuity along Block-front. Setback areas along a development should provide a visually coherent and continuous green landscape design. Adjacent developments should strive to create strong visual relationships for an entire block frontage.
b. Green Setback Area. Living groundcover accented by trees and shrubs must cover all setback areas other than those covered by the public sidewalk, walkways connecting to building entrances, or permitted access ways (pedestrian or vehicular) to parking facilities.
c. Vegetation-based low impact development best management practices such as bioretention facilities are encouraged to be placed within setback area landscaping.
B. Interior Block Setback Areas. Setback Areas located between properties, i.e. all rear setback areas, for side setback areas not located between buildings and public streets, as well as for setback areas along mid-block alleys and that are not covered by parking lots (see BMC 12.64.403 for parking lot landscaping) shall be landscaped as specified for each District in BMC 12.64.100 District Requirements, in accordance with the following requirements.
1. Paving. Cover side and rear yard areas 5 feet wide or narrower with paving or pervious paving.
2. Groundcover. Cover side and rear yard areas with landscaping or pervious surfaces consisting of living groundcover or other pervious surfaces such as decomposed granite, mulch, rocks, and boulders accented by shrubs.
3. Moderate Screening. Provide light visual separation along property lines consisting of:
a. Type III Landscaping per BMC 12.18.040 that screens parking/service areas and blank side and rear building façades but maintains views to building entrances and signage.
b. One (1) shrub per five (5) linear feet of property line (excluding curb cuts)
c. Living groundcover or other pervious surfaces such as decomposed granite, mulch, rocks, and boulders accented by shrubs.
4. Heavy Screening. Provide heavy visual separation along property lines of Retail Anchor, Entertainment / Recreation, Auto-oriented Services, and Commercial Goods uses consisting of:
a. Type II Landscaping per BMC 12.18.040 that screens parking/service areas and blank side and rear building façades.
b. Solid screening at least six (6) feet high utilizing: hedges, screening walls or fences.
c. Living groundcover or other pervious surfaces such as decomposed granite, mulch, rocks, and boulders accented by shrubs. (Ord. 2200 § 2 (Exh. B), 2016).