10.379 Streetscape, Planter Strip, and Street Tree Standards, S-E.
Within the S-E Overlay District, streetscape features, planter strips, and street trees shall be improved and/or installed as provided below.
(1) Streetscape and Planter Strip Plan Required. A Streetscape and Planter Strip Plan shall be submitted as part of an application for a Land Division, Preliminary PUD Plan, Transportation Facility, Site Plan and Architectural Review, or Conditional Use Permit, except when the project site has no public or private street frontage, or a Streetscape and Planter Strip Plan has been previously approved for the site frontage. The approving authority shall approve, conditionally approve, or disapprove the Plan after review and recommendations from City staff.
(a) Plan Content. The form and number of copies of the Streetscape and Planter Strip Plan shall be as set forth in the application materials on file in the Medford Planning Department. The Plan shall include details regarding the proposed design of the entire area between the curb and the property line, including sidewalks, landscaping, street trees, street lights, utility poles, traffic signals, and transit stops. It shall acknowledge that an appropriately designed automatic underground irrigation system will be provided per Section 10.780. The street trees indicated in the Plan shall meet the requirements in (2) through (6) of this Section. Street lighting indicated in the Plan shall meet the requirements of Section 10.380. The Plan shall also include streetscape features required by any adopted Neighborhood Circulation Plan, Commercial Center Core Area Master Plan, special area plan, or other adopted plans.
(b) Landscaping Installation and Continued Maintenance. Except for planter strips and medians in Arterial streets, and for medians in Collector streets, installation and maintenance of the approved landscaping, including street trees, shall be a continuing responsibility of the owners of the abutting property.
(2) Street Trees and Right-of-Way Landscaping Required. Street trees and right-of-way landscaping shall be planted and maintained along all public or private streets as a condition of any of the following actions.
(a) As a condition of approval for any subdivision, land partition, or PUD; or,
(b) As a condition of approval for any development requiring Site Plan and Architectural Review; or,
(c) As part of the project when Arterial and Collector streets dedicated, or intended to be dedicated, for public use are constructed or improved ; or,
(d) As a condition for a permit to remove a street tree when replacement is required.
(3) Street Tree Spacing Standards. Street trees, where they are within or abutting residential zoning districts on the same side of the street, shall be installed to provide not less than a 100% canopy cover over the sidewalk at the time of tree maturity. Street trees, when they are within or abutting commercial zoning districts on the same side of the street, shall be installed to provide not less than a 70% canopy cover over the sidewalk at tree maturity. Canopy cover shall be based on tree maturity and growth habit data provided in the Official List of City of Medford Approved Street Trees, a copy of which is on file in the City of Medford Parks Department. Street trees shall not be located within 20 feet of the corner of an intersection of two streets measured at the curb line. Where trees are required in on-site street frontage landscaping pursuant to Section 10.797, street trees located in the right-of-way may be counted towards this requirement on a one-to-one basis at the discretion of the approving authority.
(4) Street Tree Types; Minimum Tree Size.
(a) Appropriate tree species, variety and cultivars shall be selected from the City of Medford’s Selected Street Tree List, a copy of which is on file in the City of Medford Parks Department.
The approving authority shall consider tree type selections based on the following:
(i) Maximizing tree canopy size at maturity to provide maximum shading.
(ii) Avoiding conflicts with utilities, street lighting, and traffic visibility.
(iii) Meeting unique site aesthetic considerations.
(iv) Ensuring tree type diversity within a block.
(b) New street trees shall have a minimum trunk diameter of two inches measured 12 inches from the ground.
(5) Location of Street Trees.
(a) Street trees shall be planted within the planter strips located between the curb and the sidewalk, no closer than three feet from the curb line. For those commercial areas where no planter strips are planned, tree wells with grates shall be used, the design of which shall be as approved in the Streetscape and Planter Strip Plan.
(b) If no planter strip or tree wells exist, required street trees may be planted within the street right-of-way, or on private property, subject to the following conditions:
(i) The street trees may be planted between the edge of the street improvements and street right-of way line provided that the tree is no closer than three feet from the planned curb line and not within a planned sidewalk.
(ii) For any street tree planted within a public utility easement, a deed restriction shall note that tree replacement due to utility work is the responsibility of the property owner.
(iii) Any street tree planted within six feet of or inside a public street right-of-way, or in a public utility easement, shall be planted with a City-approved root controlling design.
(iv) When necessary, the street trees may be planted on private property not more than 10 feet back from the street right-of-way line. When required street trees are planted on private property, deed restrictions shall be recorded indicating that such trees are subject to the same City of Medford regulations as street trees within a public right-of-way.
(6) Timing for Installing Street Trees and Right-of-Way Landscaping; Security to Guarantee Installation.
(a) Single-Family Residential Development. The installation of sidewalks, planting of street trees and landscaping of planter strips in the right-of-way may be deferred for new single-family development until dwellings are constructed. In such cases where sidewalks, street trees and landscaping are deferred, the developer shall enter into an agreement with the City to ensure compliance according to Sections 10.666 and 10.667. Sidewalks, street trees and landscaping of planter strips conforming with the approved Streetscape and Planter Strip Plan shall be installed prior to issuance of Certificate of Occupancy.
(b) Multiple-Family Residential, Commercial, and Institutional Development. Street trees and planter strip landscaping conforming with the approved Streetscape and Planter Strip Plan, Landscape Plan and this Section shall be planted in conjunction with new multiple-family residential, commercial, and institutional development. As a condition of PUD, Site Plan and Architectural Review, or Conditional Use Permit approval, the developer shall enter into a written agreement pursuant to Sections 10.666 and 10.667 to ensure compliance with this Section.