1309 Landscape standards | Phoenix Zoning Ordinance

A. General Standards.

1. Street trees and landscaping treatments shall be used for the entire site exclusive of building(s) and structural shade provided in accordance with the landscaping requirements in this section, unless there is a conflict with an existing or proposed public utility easement.

2. Planning and Development Department staff has the authority to accept modifications to landscaping requirements in the streetscape to accommodate public utility easement conditions, and to accept alternative design solutions consistent with a pedestrian environment.

3. If street trees cannot be planted in the right-of-way, architecturally or artistically integrated public amenities should be provided. Amenities may include but not be limited to the following:

a. Structural shade elements (may be cantilevered).

b. Seating (benches/chairs).

c. Public art elements.

d. Community information/news event board/kiosk.

e. Area wayfinding signage.

f. Designer light fixtures.

g. Additional bike racks.

4. Street furniture may be located within the planter area. Street furniture may be located on public sidewalks only when additional width is available in compliance with ADA accessibility requirements.

B. Planting Guidelines.

1. Shade trees are limited to those specified in Table 1309.1. Alternate tree species may be approved if they are on the Arizona Department of Water Resources Phoenix AMA-3550 list. Tree locations in conflict with overhead power lines may use alternative tree species that are on the approved SRP or APS utility plant list.

a. Minimum caliper: two inches.

b. Trees in the right-of-way should be placed 25 feet on center or equivalent grouping.

c. A minimum two-foot six-inch radius shall be clear of hardscape around the base of the tree.

d. At installation a minimum 30 percent of all trees shall have a minimum caliper of three inches.

e. Fifty percent living vegetation ground coverage should be provided when a landscape strip is present or required as part of redevelopment.

f. When providing a double row of trees in the front setback or in the right-of-way, trees should be a minimum of two-inch caliper with 30 percent of all trees a minimum of three-inch caliper. The rows should be placed parallel on either side of the sidewalk and when possible, staggered, to provide for maximum shade.

2. Soil volume for shade tree planting is required according to tree spacing as specified on Table 1309.2 and as follows:

a. Root paths, soil trenches, soil vaults, engineered soil solutions, and suspended sidewalk systems are permitted to meet soil volume requirements.

b. Up to 20 percent of required soil volume may be fulfilled by structural soil.

c. Soil compacted during construction should be excavated and water settled.

3. All trees planted within ten feet of a public water/sewer main must comply with the Water Services Department’s Design Standards Manual for Water and Wastewater Systems or as approved by the Water Services Department.

C. Tree Species Guidelines. The following should be used in accordance with the guidelines established below for type of trees within the WU Code:

**Table 1309.1 Permitted Shade Trees**
BOTANICAL NAME	COMMON NAME	T3	T4	T5	T6	HEIGHT (FT)	SPREAD (FT)
Acacia salicina	Willow acacia			P	P	30	20
Acacia stenophylla	Shoestring acacia	P	P	P	P	30	20
Celtis reticulata	Netleaf hackberry	P	P			25	25
Dalbergia sissoo	Indian rosewood	P	P	P	P	40	25
Ebenopsis ebano	Texas ebony	P	P			30	20
Eucalyptus erythrocorys	Red-cap gum	P	P	P	P	25	15
Eucalyptus microtheca	Coolibah	P	P	P	P	35	25
Eucalyptus papuana	Ghost gum	P	P	P	P	40	25
Fraxinus velutina fan west	Fan west ash	P	P	P	P	50	30
Fraxinus velutina bonita	Bonita ash	P	P	P	P	30	25
Olea europaea	Swan hill, Wilsonii, Majestic beauty—fruitless olives	P	P	P	P	30	25
Olneya tesota	Desert ironwood	P	P			25	25
Parkinsonia desert museum	Desert museum palo verde	P	P			30	25
Parkinsonia florida	Blue palo verde	P	P			25	20
Parkinsonia praecox	Palo brea	P	P			25	25
Pistacia chinensis	Chinese pistache	P	P	P	P	40	25
Prosopis South American hybrid	Thornless mesquite	P	P			30	20
Prosopis glandulosa	Honey mesquite	P	P			30	30
Prosopis velutina	Velvet mesquite	P	P			25	35
Quercus virginiana	Live oak	P	P	P	P	40	30
Ulmus parvifolia	Evergreen elm	P	P	P	P	40—60	30
UNDERSTORY TREES
Acacia aneura	Mulga	P	P	P	P	20	15
Ceiba speciosa	Silk floss tree	P	P			30	25
Chilopsis linearis	Desert willow	P	P	P	P	25	20
Chitalpa tashkentensis	Chitalpa	P	P	P	P	25—30	20
Havardia pallens	Tenaza	P	P	P	P	25	15
Pittosporum phillyraeoides	Willow pittosporum	P	P	P	P	20	15
Schinus terebinthifolius	Brazilian pepper tree	P	P			20	15
Vachellia farnesiana	Sweet acacia	P	P			20	20

**Table 1309.2 Shade Tree Soil Volume**
Spacing	Soil Volume (Cubic Feet)
Spacing	500 cf	750 cf	1,000 cf
30 feet			X
25 feet		X
20 feet	X

D. Existing Landscape.

1. Existing noxious or invasive plants species identified in Table 1309.3 should be removed.

2. Removal of existing plants meeting the following criteria should be minimized:

a. Trees with four-inch caliper or larger;

b. Native cacti three-foot and taller or nonnative cacti six-foot and taller.

E. Prohibited Plants.

1. The following plants are prohibited:

a. Artificial plants and artificial turf except at active recreation sports fields.

b. Noxious or invasive plants species as identified on the University of Arizona Nonnative Invasive Plants of Arizona list and Table 1309.3.

**Table 1309.3 Prohibited Plants**
BOTANICAL NAME	COMMON NAME
Arundo donax (L.)	Giant cane, giant reed grass, elephant grass
Pennisetum setaceum (Forsk. Chiov)	Fountaingrass
Rhus lancea (L.)	African sumac