Landscape review is intended to provide a procedure to ensure that certain development proposals comply with landscaping and screening standards of this Code.
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The Planning Commission must develop and may revise from time to time a Landscape Manual that sets forth the required design, review, approval, installation, and maintenance of landscape in accordance with the goals and objectives set forth in this subtitle.
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The goals governing development of the Landscape Manual are:
to improve and increase the City’s environmental quality and green infrastructure network;
to preserve and enhance the City’s character and sense of place;
to foster the economic vitality of the City’s neighborhoods and commercial districts;
to provide a clear process for the design, review, and approval of landscape plans within the City’s development review process; and
to promote the long-term health and maintenance of the City’s landscape and tree canopy.
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The environmental objectives governing development of the Landscape Manual are:
to foster environmentally sensitive site design that preserves natural vegetation and landforms when appropriate; and
to complement the built environment through planting that:improves water quality and reduces stormwater run-off;
reduces soil erosion;
increases the City’s tree canopy;
promotes biodiversity; and
helps to mitigate the urban heat island effect.
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The character-and-sense-of-place objectives governing development of the Landscape Manual are:
to articulate spatial relationships, provide image, develop sense of place, and improve the aesthetics of the built environment;
to enhance the quality of life of residents through planting that provides comfortable outdoor spaces for people to occupy;
to create pedestrian and bicycle-friendly environments; and
to provide visual screens, buffers, and shade that:diminish undesirable views;
reduce glare, noise, and heat; and
mitigate the impacts of intensive uses.
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The economic objectives governing development of the Landscape Manual are:
to provide landscape design that is functional, cost effective, and sound; and
to create environments that are safe for residents and visitors and deterrents to potential criminals.
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The landscape-installation-and-maintenance objectives governing development of the Landscape Manual are
to ensure that landscape is installed and maintained in conformance with approved landscape plans;
to ensure that landscape is installed and maintained in a manner that will promote the proper health, function, and appearance of the landscape; and
to encourage the use of sustainable landscape construction and maintenance techniques that support the goals established by the Baltimore Sustainability Plan.
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The Landscape Manual must provide for a review process that:
integrates the preparation, review, and approval of landscape plans into the City process for development review and approval;
coordinates landscape requirements with related regulations, including those for forest conservation, stormwater management, green building standards, and the Chesapeake Bay Critical Area; and
allows flexibility and encourages creative solutions to meet the goals and objectives of the Landscape Manual.
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Landscape review is required for the types of development specified in the Landscape Manual.
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Landscape review approval is required before any permits may be issued for any development to which <cite data-path="|32|§4-509">§ 4-509 {“Applicability”} of this subtitle</cite> applies.
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Submittal requirements for landscape review are as found in the Landscape Manual.
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The Director of Planning must review the project in accordance with the procedures found in the Landscape Manual.
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Landscape review standards are as found in the Landscape Manual.
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An applicant who is aggrieved by the final landscape review decision of the Director of Planning may appeal that decision to the Planning Commission.
Appeals must be filed within 30 days of the Planning Director’s final decision on the landscape review.
The Planning Commission must review the decision at a public hearing held within 45 days of receiving the appeal.
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