09-13-07 Planning Comm. Agenda - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

Landscaping. Within off-street parking areas of 50 or more stalls, irrigated, landscaped islands shall be provided at a rate of one island per 15 surface spaces or fraction thereof. For the purposes of this ordinance, an island shall be required to consist of 100 square feet of landscaped surface. Such islands shall be contained in raised, curbed beds consistent with parking lot construction requirements of this ordinance. The proposed parking areas for Phases One and Two contain 850 parking stalls, requiring a minimum of 57 landscaped islands with 5,700 square feet of total green space. Due to the configuration of the parking area and the utilization of a parking deck, ten landscaped islands have been proposed with approximately 14,000 square feet of green space. A total of 40 overstory deciduous trees are proposed within and around the parking areas for Phases One and Two. Said trees are proposed in a combination of Northwood Red Maple, Littleleaf Linden, Red Oak, Kentucky Coffeetree, Marshall's Seedless Ash, and Imperial Honeylocust. An additional 15 ornamental trees are also proposed around the perimeter of the parking areas. The primary impact of this project is it's potential visibility and proximity to the Cobblestone townhomes to the south of the expansion site. To buffer the proposed expansion area from this existing residential development, the applicant is proposing to retain a portion of the existing deciduous trees and plant additional overstory trees. The applicant is proposing a series of deciduous and coniferous trees on the south side of the Phase Two building. The proposed evergreen trees are a minimum of 5.5 feet in height. When landscaping is used as screening the Ordinance requires a compact evergreen or dense deciduous hedge five to six feet in height, together with over and under story trees or other plantings. In an effort to improve the opacity of the proposed landscaping, staff recommends that the applicant provide primarily evergreen trees. As proposed, areas exist along the border between the expansion area and the townhome site where no evergreen trees are proposed. As such, screening may not be effective year-round. Staff recommends that the applicant provide additional evergreen plantings in these gaps to provide a more significant buffer. According to a narrative submitted by the applicant, this area is intended to be a prairie grass environment. Additional landscape elements include rain gardens and landscaping consistent with infiltration areas, located downstream from a proposed stormwater pond. This is intended to provide an opportunity for a variety of native plant species on the site and maximize storm water treatment. Signage. The applicant is proposing four signs for the expansion site. One 95 square foot wall sign is proposed on the north building elevation. Two signs, each 55 square feet in area are also proposed, one each at the west access and the service access. A final sign approximately 160 square feet in area is proposed near the entrance to the Phase One building. For buildings in excess of 24,000 square feet, the maximum freestanding sign area is 200 square feet, not to exceed 24 feet in height. All signs proposed for the site are within this maximum provision.