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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPC Report Lanscaping Text AmendmentSTAFF REPORT DATE: 1/23/2023 REGULAR ITEM #4A – PUBLIC HEARING MOTION TO: FROM: AGENDA ITEM: REVIWED BY: Planning Commission Sophia Jensen, City Planner Landscape Requirements Text Amendments Sarah Evenson - HKGi Landscape Architect 1 BACKGROUND: As the City continues to develop and uses of different intensities develop side by side the City should review its standards for mitigating the impacts of a more intense use on a less intense use. One of the ways cities do this is through landscaping standards. At the September 13, 2022 workshop, the City Council directed staff to bring back to workshop screening standards that would address current concerns and add clarity to the code requirements. At the December 13th 2022 workshop, the City Council reviewed the proposed amendments to the landscaping provisions related to screening, top soil, water, and other previously identified revisions that would aid in executing the ordinance. Council directed staff to bring forward the items related to screening for a public hearing while holding off on the top soil and watering provisions until further review is completed. The proposed amendments have also been reviewed by the City's Landscape Architect. Revising the landscape ordinance is an item within the Planning Commission work plan for 2023. ISSUE BEFORE THE PLANNING COMMISSION: The Planning Commission is asked to make a recommendation to the City Council on the proposed text amendment to the landscape provisions. PROPOSAL DETAILS/ANALYSIS City Code Article VIII Environmental Standards provides for the City’s tree preservation and landscaping standards for new development. The purpose statement for this article is as follows: materials, and provides for where landscaping should be located. In regards to perimeter landscaping that can provide a transition between uses, landscaping is required in the setback areas, and to screen parking lots from public spaces and adjacent residential properties. In addition, screening is required to provide visual and noise separation of intensive uses from less intensive uses. The City Council, Planning Commission, applicants, and staff have identified the need to update this section STAFF REVIEW Staff distributed the proposed amendment for staff re view and received comments from the following: •Landscape Architect HKGi 1 2 PUBLIC COMMENT A hearing notice was published in the Stillwater Gazette on January 13th, 2023. Staff has not received any public comment on the text amendment. FISCAL IMPACT None OPTIONS •Recommend approval of the proposed amendments.•Recommend changes to the proposed amendments.•Recommend denial of the proposed amendments. RECCOMENDATION Staff recommends that the Planning Commission recommend approval of the proposed text amendments as presented. “Motion to recommend adoption of the proposed text amendment, amending the landscaping provisions in Section 105.12.480 Landscape Requirements as presented.” ATTACHMENTS 1. Proposed Text Amendment2. Existing Code Language Text underlined orange text refers to additional screening updates based on council direction. Other updates are depicted in underlined green text. Strikethrough text is removed language. 105.12.480 Landscape Requirements All development sites shall be landscaped, as provided in this section, in order to control erosion and runoff, moderate extremes of temperature and provide shade, aid in energy conservation, preserve habitat, provide visual softening of, especially, urban development, and generally enhance the quality of the physical environment within the city. 1.Landscape plan required. A landscaping plan is required for all new commercial, industrial, institutional, and multifamily development, all planned unit developments, and all subdivisions, with the exception of minor subdivisions, as defined in this chapter. The landscape plan shall be prepared by a certified landscape architect, shall be drawn to a scale identified on the plan, and include the following: 1.The location, size, quantity, and species of all existing and proposed plant materials. 2.Methods for protecting existing trees and other landscape material, consistent with LEC 105.12.470.3.The plant schedule shall depict the height and spread of each plant type at the time of planting and atand atand at the time of maturity. 4.Structural and ground cover materials. All existing and proposed features such as buildings, structures, parking areas, pervious and imperious pavements, signs, fences, walls, enclosures,natural features, grading, property lines, easements, utilities, and driveways shall be clearly shown on the plans. 5.Seeding, sodding, and ground cover materials6. Provisions for irrigation and other water supplies. 7.Elevation view, details, and cross-sections of all required screening.8. Special planting instructions.9.City standard plan notes and drawings planting details, as well as any additional plantinginstructions and notes.10. Utilities and driveways shall also be clearly shown on the plans. 2.Design considerations. The following design concepts and requirements shall be considered whendeveloping a landscape plan.1.To the maximum extent possible, the landscape plan shall incorporate, preserve and protect,existing significant trees and other healthy, non-invasive vegetation and other vegetation on thesite. 2.Landscaped areas should be of adequate size to allow for healthy proper plant growth, to a typicalmature size without impeding on roads, walks, trails, buildings or other areas needed for serviceaccess or public safety. Planting areas should protect plantings from vehicular and pedestrian traffic, and provide adequate areas for plant maintenance. 3.A variety of trees and shrubs should be used to provide visual interest year-round. No more than 50 percent of the required number of trees and shrubs may consist of any one species. A minimumof 25 percent of the required number of trees shall be deciduous shade trees, and a minimum of 25percent shall be coniferous trees. Ornamental trees may be used when applied towards landscapingrequirements. However, the number of trees shall not exceed 15 percent of the required amount.4.Final slopes greater than 3:1 will not be permitted without special treatment such as terracing, retaining walls, erosion control blankets, or special ground covers.5.All plant materials, except trees planted per the tree replacement schedule, shall meet the followingminimum size standards in Table 6-1. Trees planted per the tree replacement schedule shall meetthe minimum requirements outlined in LEC 105.12.470(c)(8)d. Table 6-1: Minimum Size Standards for Landscape Materials 6. As an alternative to the minimum standards for landscape materials, a landscape plan prepared bya qualified professional certifying that said plan will meet the intent of this section may besubmitted.7.As a general rule, trees should be planted ten feet away from all utilities including water and sewerstubs unless approved by the city's landscape architect. 3.Landscaping of setback areas. All required setbacks not occupied by buildings, parking, paths or plazasshall be landscaped with turf grass, native grass, trees, shrubs, vines, perennial flowering plants, andsurrounding pervious ground cover.1.A minimum of one tree per lot or one tree for every 50 feet of street frontage, lake shore or streamfrontage, or fraction thereof shall be planted at the time of development. The total tree requirement will be whichever quantity is greater.1.Trees adjacent to streets shall be planted within the front yard and may be arranged in acluster or placed at regular intervals to best complement existing landscape design patternsin the area.2.Salt tolerance, species soil compatibility, and root structure should be considered when selecting tree species adjacent to streets, sidewalks and parking areas.3.Where property abuts a lake or stream, trees shall be planted at intervals of no more than50 feet along the shoreline, except where natural vegetation is sufficient to meet thisrequirement. Plant Type Minimum Size at Planting** Trees: Evergreen 6 feet in height Deciduous--shade 2.5 inches caliper, measured six inches from base Deciduous--ornamental 2 inches caliper, measured six inches from base Shrubs: Evergreen # five container* Deciduous # five container* Shrubs used for screening (evergreen or deciduous) # five container* * Approximately five gallons. **See American Standards for Nursery Stock, ANSI 260.1-2004 for exact specifications. * This table and its requirements do not apply to the tree replacement schedule. 2.In addition to the requirements of subsection (c)(1) of this section, a minimum of five trees shall be planted for every one acre of land that is disturbed by development activity. Such trees may be used for parking lot landscaping or screening as specified in subsections (d) and (e) of this section. 4.Interior parking lot landscaping. The purpose of interior parking lot landscaping is to minimize the expansive appearance of parking lots and provide shaded parking areas. Landscaping shall consist ofplanting islands, medians and borders, comprising the required planting area specified under subsection(d)(1) of this section.1.At least five percent of the interior area of parking lots with more than 30 spaces shall be devotedto landscape planting areas. Areas may consist of islands or corner planting beds. 2. Shade trees shall be provided within the interior of parking lots (in islands or corner plantingbeds) in accordance with the following table:Table 6-2: Minimum Required Tree Planting for Parking Lots 5.Perimeter parking lot landscaping. Parking areas, and especially vehicle headlights, shall be screenedfrom public streets and sidewalks, public open space, and adjacent residential properties. Where applicable an applicant may demonstrate that distance and/or finished grades would achieve this objective,whereupon this requirement may be waived by the Planning Director. The perimeter of parking areas shall be screened as follows: 1.With the exception of VMX area, a landscaped frontage strip at least five eight feet wide shall beprovided between parking areas and public streets, sidewalks, or paths. If a parking area contains over 100 spaces, the frontage strip shall be increased to eight twelve feet in width.1.Within the frontage strip, screening shall consist of either a masonry wall, fence, berm, orhedge or combination that forms a screen a minimum of 3 1/2 and a maximum of four feetin height, and not less than 50 percent opaque on a year-round basis.2.Trees shall be planted at a minimum of one deciduous tree per 50 linear feet within the frontage strip.2.Alongside and rear property lines abutting residential properties or districts, screening shall beprovided, consisting of either a masonry wall, fence or berm in combination with landscapematerial that forms a screen a minimum of four feet in height, a maximum of six feet in height,and not less than 90 percent opaque on a year-round basis. Landscape material shall include trees, planted at a minimum of one deciduous or coniferous tree per 40 linear feet along the propertyline. Number of Parking Spaces Minimum Required Tree Planting 0—30 None required 31—100 1 tree per 10 spaces or fraction thereof 101+ 1 tree per 15 spaces or fraction thereof Figure A: Example cross-section view of perimeter parking lot landscape screening. Figure B: Example elevation view of perimeter parking lot landscape screening. 6.Screening. Screening shall be used to provide visual and noise separation of more intensive uses from less intensive uses. Where screening is required in the city Code between uses or districts, it shall consist of either a masonry wall or fence, or berm in combination with landscape material that forms a screen at leastsix feet in height, and not less than 90 percent opaque on a year-round basis. Top of wall or fence shall bea minimum of six feet above the elevation along the property line(s) from which screening of the lessintensive use is required. The City may require screening at least eight feet in height were the difference in intensity of uses is greater, such as between lots planned for development with single-family attached and detached residential development and certain service uses such as self-service storage and trade shops, automotive/vehicular uses, or industrial and extractive uses. Landscape material shall include trees, planted at a minimum of one deciduous or coniferous tree per 25 40 linear feet along the property line. Screening trees shall be adequately sized and offset from the property line so as not to overhang adjacent properties upon reaching mature size. Additional landscape material, such as shade trees or trellises, may be required to partially screen views from above. Figure C: Example cross-section of screening between land uses. Figure D: Example elevation view of screening between land uses. 7.Maintenance and installation of materials. Installation and maintenance of all landscape materials shall comply with the following standards:1.All landscape materials shall be installed to current industry standards. Special attention must bepaid to initial soil preparation, drainage, and proper initial planting of plant root mass.2.Irrigation or other water supply adequate to support the specified plant materials shall be provided at the time of, or immediately after, plant installation. 3. All required landscaping and screening features shall be kept free of refuse and debris.4.All landscape plantings, seeded, and sodded areas shall be maintained to manage weeds and ensureestablishment of intended plant materials. 5.All landscape materials shall be guaranteed for two years. Any landscape material that dies, has a dead or broken central leader, exhibits 30% or more crown death, is damaged by construction, or becomes diseased before the end of the second year after installation shall be replaced by thedeveloper.6.For nonresidential projects, continuing maintenance and replacement of landscape materials shallbe the responsibility of the property owner, including after beyond two years of initial installation. Improvements identified on the landscape plan, including non-plant materials, such as fencing, shall be maintained for the life of the project for which the plan was required. 8.Financial security. The city will require that a financial security, in a form acceptable to the city, beprovided as part of a development agreement or applicable permit to ensure compliance and performanceof the landscape plan. The financial security will be released to the applicant upon verification by the city that the landscape plan was followed, and that all landscape materials are planted and in a reasonable state of health. The financial security may be used to replace any landscape materials that have becomedamaged or diseased after planting. Adequate security must be met retained to ensure performance for atleast two years after the installations have been completed.