§ 33-6.25.1. Purpose.

These landscaping, buffering, and screening requirements are designed to:

(a)

Promote and protect the health, safety, and general welfare by creating an environment that is aesthetically pleasing, alleviates the effects of climate, and promotes economic development through an enhanced quality of life;

(b)

Reduce the negative environmental effects of development while enhancing and protecting property values and public and private investments;

(c)

Promote walkable, pedestrian-scale streetscapes;

(d)

Increase infiltration in permeable land areas essential to stormwater management, groundwater recharge, and subsidence reduction;

(e)

Mitigate air, dust, noise, heat, glare, chemical pollution, and other adverse environmental effects through the biological filtering capacities of trees and other vegetation;

(f)

Reduce the heat-island effect of impervious surfaces, such as parking lots, by cooling and shading the surface area and breaking up large expanses of pavement;

(g)

Encourage preservation of existing significant trees and incorporate native plants and ecosystems into landscape design;

(h)

Ensure composition of all plant material includes species indigenous or acclimated to the growing conditions and climate of South Louisiana, has adequate growing space, sufficient soil volume and is installed in a sound manner to sustain overall health and longevity which reduces replacement costs for property owners;

(i)

Encourage routine maintenance of plant materials that result in healthy, mature vegetation that enhances the tree canopy and natural vegetation;

(j)

Screen unsightly equipment or materials from the view of persons on public streets or abutting properties and buffer between land uses that differ in density or intensity; and

(k)

Establish street trees and streetscape designs throughout Jefferson Parish to promote a favorable character and identity.

(Ord. No. 25405 , § 35, 8-9-17)