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To: Ken Roberts, City of Lake Elmo Planning Director
From: Lucius Jonett, Wenck Landscape Architect
Date: March 29, 2019
Subject: City of Lake Elmo Landscape Plan Review
Metro Transit Park and Ride, Review #1
Submittals
Tree Preservation Plan, dated March 18, 2019, received March 26, 2019.
Landscape Plans, dated March 18, 2019, received March 26, 2019.
Location: Northwest quadrant of the intersection of I-94 and Manning Avenue. Lot 1, Block
1 of the Four Corners 2nd Addition development.
Land Use Category: C - Commercial
Surrounding Land Use Concerns: None
Special landscape provisions in addition to the zoning code: None
Ken Roberts
Planning Director
City of Lake Elmo March 29, 2019
2
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Tree Preservation:
A. A tree preservation plan has been submitted that does not meet all requirements.
1. Significant trees are not appropriately designated:
i. The nuisance tree category includes noxious or invasive species such as
buckthorn, boxelder and cottonwood.
Entire Site
Total Caliper Inches of Significant Trees On-Site: 45.0 Cal Inches
Common Trees 15
Conifer/Evergreen Trees 0
Hardwood Trees 0
Nuisance Trees 30
Significant Inches Removed On-Site 45 Cal Inches
Common Trees 15
Conifer/Evergreen Trees 0
Hardwood Trees 0
Nuisance Trees 30
30% Tree Removal Limits (Cal. Inches) Allowed Proposed
Subtract Common Tree Removals 4.5 15
Subtract Conifer/Evergreen Tree Removals 0 0
Subtract Hardwood Tree Removals 0 0
Removals in excess of 30% allowances
Removals in excess of 30% allowances 10.5 Cal Inches
Common Removals in Excess of 30% Allowance 10.5
Conifer Removals in Excess of 30% Allowance 0.0
Hardwood Removals in Excess of 30% Allowance 0.0
Common Tree Replacement Needed (1/4 the dia inches removed) 2.6 Cal Inches
Conifer Tree Replacement Needed (1/2 the dia inches removed) 0.0 Cal Inches
Hardwood Tree Replacement Needed (1/2 the dia inches removed) 0.0 Cal Inches
Common Tree Replacement Required @ 2.5" per Tree 1.1 # Trees
Conifer Tree Replacement Required @ 3" per 6' Tall Tree 0 # Trees
Hardwood Tree Replacement Required @ 2.5" per Tree 0 # Trees
B. Tree replacement is required because more than thirty (30) percent of the diameter
inches of significant trees surveyed will be removed.
C. Tree replacement calculations do not follow the current required procedure as of the
ordinance updates approved on 9-19-2018:
1. A calculation must be provided which breaks out the number of inches removed
for hardwood, evergreen/coniferous, and common trees. The 30% removal figure
applies to each category individually and trees over the 30% allowance are to be
replaced according to:
i. Common tree species shall be replaced with new trees at a rate of one-
fourth (1/4) the diameter inches removed.
Ken Roberts
Planning Director
City of Lake Elmo March 29, 2019
3
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ii. Coniferous/evergreen tree species shall be replaced with new coniferous
or evergreen trees at a rate of one-half (1/2) the diameter inches
removed. Since coniferous species are often sold by height rather than
diameter inch, the following conversion formula can be used: Height of
Replacement Coniferous Tree/2 = Diameter Inches of Credit
iii. Hardwood deciduous tree species shall be replaced with new hardwood
deciduous trees at a rate of (1/2) the diameter inches removed.
D. This project is commercial development, therefore mitigation replacement trees can be
included toward landscape required tree counts.
Landscape Requirements:
The preliminary landscape plans meet the code required number of trees.
Preliminary Plan Preliminary Plan
(Code Required) Proposed
Street frontage 400 Lineal Feet
Lake Shore 0 Lineal Feet
Stream Frontage 0 Lineal Feet
Total Linear Feet 400 Lineal Feet
/50 Feet = Required Frontage Trees 8 Trees
Development or Disturbed Area - SF
Development or Disturbed Area 4.7 Acres
*5 = Required Development Trees 24 Trees
Interior Parking Lot Spaces* 550 Spaces
/15 = Required Parking Lot Trees 37 Trees
Perimeter Parking Lot Frontage Length* 0 Lineal Feet
/50 = Required Frontage Strip Trees 0 Trees
Required Mitigation Trees 1
Required Number of Trees** 70
Total Trees to Date 84
* Parking lot landscaping or screening trees are included in landscape required tree counts.
None if 0 - 30 Parking Spaces
1 tree per 10 spaces if 31 - 100 Parking Spaces
1 tree per 15 spaces If >101 Parking Spaces ** Commercial development - mitigation replacement trees are included in landscape required
tree counts.
1. A minimum one (1) tree is proposed for every fifty (50) feet of street frontage.
2. A minimum of five (5) trees are proposed to be planted for every one (1) acre of
land that is developed or disturbed by development activity.
Ken Roberts
Planning Director
City of Lake Elmo March 29, 2019
4
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The landscape plans do meet the minimum compositions of required trees:
Preliminary Plan Qty % Composition
Deciduous Shade Trees 56 67% >25% required
Coniferous Trees 22 26% >25% required
Ornamental Trees 6 7% <15% required
Tree Count 84
A. A landscape plan has been submitted that does not include all requirements.
1. Utilities are not shown on the landscape plan to review for tree placement
conflicts.
B. The landscape plan does meet the landscape layout requirements.
C. Interior Parking Lot Landscaping – The development does include an interior parking lot
with more than 30 spaces and satisfies the landscaping requirements.
1. At least 5% of the interior area of parking lots is devoted to landscape planting
areas. The parking lot is measured at approximatively 203,250 square feet and
planting areas measuring approximately 15,000 square feet in the parking lot
islands and bump outs The planting area is approximately 7% of the interior of
the parking lot area.
2. The interior parking lot planting area includes approximately 45 shade trees
satisfying the minimum required tree planting requirements for interior parking
lots.
D. Perimeter Parking Lot Landscaping – The development does include a perimeter parking
lot and satisfies the landscaping requirements.
1. A landscaped frontage strip is provided along Hudson Boulevard for screening
from the public street. The width of the strip exceeds the required 8’ minimum.
E. Screening – Screening is not required by City code.
Findings:
1. Tree Preservation Plan – Boxelder trees were classified as common trees. According to
the ordinance updates approved on 9-19-2018, they are now classified as nuisance trees
and not required to be included in the tree inventory and mitigation calculations.
2. Tree Replacement Calculations – Because of the different tree classification, the
applicant over estimated the number of replacement trees required. When calculated,
1.1 replacement trees is required. Fraction amounts are typically required to be rounded
up. Since only 1 common tree (15” ash) is being removed and the fraction is 0.1; 1
replacement tree will be adequate.
3. Landscape Plan - Utilities are not shown on the landscape plan to review for tree
placement conflicts.
Ken Roberts
Planning Director
City of Lake Elmo March 29, 2019
5
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Recommendation:
The preliminary tree preservation and landscape plans meet and exceed City requirements.
It is recommended that a condition of approval include:
1. Submit a revised landscape plan showing locations of utilities to review that all trees are
10’ minimum away from utility lines.
Sincerely,
Lucius Jonett, PLA (MN)
Wenck Associates, Inc.
City of Lake Elmo Municipal Landscape Architect