Franklin Zoning Ordinance

201 LANDSCAPE  12 Chapter Franklin Zoning Ordinance Effective December 30, 2019 12.8.3 Planting Strips A. Planting strips shall have a minimum width of six feet. B. Planting strips shall be located between the back of the curb and the edge of the sidewalk, unless otherwise approved by the DRT. C. The trunks of street trees shall be a minimum of three feet from the back edge of the street curb at time of planting. D. Where public utilities are located within the planting strip that prevent street trees from being planted in the planting strip, street trees shall be planted four feet from the back edge of sidewalk. Figure 12.8.3.A Planting Strip Planting Strip 12.8.4 Tree Types Street trees shall be large-maturing canopy trees. In areas where overhead utilities prevent the use of canopy trees, understory trees may be substituted. 12.8.5 Spacing A. Canopy trees shall be planted between 35 to 45 feet on-center. Columnar trees shall be planted between 20 to 25 feet on- center. B. Understory trees shall be planted between 20 to 25 feet on-center. C. Clustering of street trees is permitted when utility conflicts or required sight distances prevent the minimum spacing requirements. 12.8.6 Sight Distance Street tree placement along streets shall allow for adequate site distance for traffic control signs. These signs include mid-block warnings, speed limits signs, and stop signs. The following standards shall apply: Street With Designated Speed Limit Placement of First Street Tree in Front of Sign 1 2 20 or 25 MPH Minimum of 45 feet before the sign 30 MPH Minimum of 60 feet before the sign 40 MPH or Higher Minimum of 75 feet before the sign Notes: 1. Street trees may be placed closer than the minimum distances above if the vertical clearance between the grade and the lowest branches is at least ten feet, but in no case shall a street tree be closer than 25 feet to the sign. 2. Where signs are placed at the front end of curb extensions or bulb-outs, the above street tree placements shall not apply. 12.8.7 Exception to Tree Installation The Department of Planning and Sustainability may waive developer installation of street trees in the public right-of-way in special circumstances where timing of the installation would result in tree removal shortly thereafter due to street widenings, streetscape projects, or other capital improvement projects.