HomeMy WebLinkAboutFINAL ORDINANCE NO. 08-087•
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SECTION- City Council of the City of Lake Elmo herebyamends
Land Usage; Chapter 154: Zoning Code, by adding the following language:
5154.258 Landscape Requirements
§ 154.258 Landscape Requirements
All development sites shalt 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.
A. Landscape Plan Required. A landscaping plan is required for at( new commercial, industrial,
institutional and mutti-family development, all planned unit developments, and all
subdivisions, with the exception of minor subdivisions, as defined in Chapter 154. The
landscape plan shall be prepared by a certified landscape architect 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
§ 154.257.
3. Structural and ground cover materials.
4. Provisions for irrigation or other water supplies.
5. Details and cross sections of all required screening.
6. Special planting instructions.
B. Design Considerations. The following design concepts and requirements shall be considered
when developing a landscape plan.
1. To the maximum extent possible, the landscape plan shalt incorporate existing trees and
other vegetation on the site.
2. Landscaped areas should be of adequate size to allow proper plant growth, protect
plantings from vehicular and pedestrian traffic, and provide adequate areas for plant
maintenance.
A variety of trees and shrubs should be used to provide visual interest year round. No more
than fifty percent (50%) of the required number of trees and shrubs may consist of any one
species. A minimum of twenty-five percent (25%) of the required number of trees shall be
deciduous shade trees, and a minimum of twenty-five percent (25%) shall be coniferous
trees.
4. Final slopes greater than 3:1 will not be permitted without special treatment such as
terracing, retaining walls, or special ground covers.
5. All plant materials shall meet the following minimum size standards in Table 6-1.
Table 6-1. Minimum Size Standards for Landscape Materials
Plant Type
Minimum size at planting
Trees:
Evergreen
6 feet in height
Deciduous - shade
2.5 inches caliper, measured 6 inches from base
Deciduous -ornamental
2 inches caliper, measured 6 inches from base
Shrubs:
Evergreen
# 5 container*
Deciduous
# 5 container*
Shrubs used for screening (evergreen or deciduous)
# 5 container'
* Approximately 5 gallons. See American Standards for Nursery Stock, ANSI 260.1-2004 for exact
specifications.
6. As an alternative to the minimum standards for landscape materials, a landscape plan
prepared by a qualified professional certifying that said plan will meet the intent of this
Section may be submitted.
C. Landscaping of Setback Areas. All required setbacks not occupied by buildings, parking, paths
or plazas shall be landscaped with turf grass, native grasses, trees, shrubs, vines, perennial
flowering plants, and surrounding pervious ground cover.
1. A minimum of one (1) tree shalt be planted for every fifty (50) feet of street frontage, lake
shore or stream frontage, or fraction thereof.
a. Trees adjacent to streets shalt be planted within the front yard and may be arranged in
a cluster or placed at regular intervals to best complement existing landscape design
patterns in the area.
b. Salt tolerance and root structure should be considered when selecting tree species
adjacent to streets, sidewalks and parking areas.
c. Where property abuts a take or stream, trees shall be planted at intervals of no more
than fifty (50) feet along the shoreline, except where natural vegetation is sufficient to
meet this requirement.
2. In addition to the requirements of C.1 above, a minimum of five (5) trees shall be planted
for every one (1) acre of land that is developed or disturbed by development activity. Such
trees may be used for parking tot landscaping or screening as specified in subsections D and
E below.
D. Interior Parking Lot Landscaping. The purpose of interior parking tot landscaping is to
minimize the expansive appearance of parking tots and provide shaded parking areas.
Landscaping shall consist of planting islands, medians and borders, comprising the required
planting area specified under item (1) below.
1. At least five (5) percent of the interior area of parking lots with more than thirty (30)
spaces shall be devoted to landscape planting areas. Areas may consist of islands or corner
planting beds.
2. Shade trees shall be provided within the interior of parking tots (in islands or corner
planting beds) in accordance with the following table:
Table 6-2. Minimum Required Tree Planting for Parking: Lots
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
E. Perimeter- Parking Lot Landscaping. Parking areas shall be screened from public streets and
sidewalks, public open space, and adjacent residential properties. The perimeter of parking
areas shalt be screened as follows:
1. A landscaped frontage strip at least five (5) feet wide shalt be provided between parking
areas and public streets, sidewalks or paths. If a parking area contains over one hundred
(100) spaces, the frontage strip shall be increased to eight (8) feet in width.
a. Within the frontage strip, screening shall consist of either a masonry wall, fence, berm
or hedge or combination that forms a screen a minimum of three and one-half (3.5) and
a maximum of four (4) feet in height, and not less than fifty percent (50%) opaque on a
year-round basis.
b. Trees shalt be planted at a minimum of one deciduous tree per fifty (50) linear feet
within the frontage strip.
2. Along side and rear property lines abutting residential properties or districts, screening
shall be provided, consisting of either a masonry watt, fence or berm in combination with
Landscape material that forms a screen a minimum of four (4) feet in height, a maximum of
six (6) feet in height, and not less than ninety percent (90%) opaque on a year-round basis.
Landscape material shall include trees, planted at a minimum of one deciduous or
coniferous tree per forty (40) linear feet along the property line.
F. Screening. Screening shall be used to provide visual and noise separation of intensive uses
from less intensive uses. Where screening is required in the City Code between uses or
districts, it shalt consist of either a masonry wall or fence in combination with landscape
material that forms a screen at least six (6) feet in height, and not less than ninety percent
(90%) opaque on a year-round basis. Landscape material shall include trees, planted at a
minimum of one deciduous or coniferous tree per forty (40) linear feet along the property line.
Additional landscape material such as shade trees or trellises may be required to partially
screen views from above.
G. 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.
2. Irrigation or other water supply adequate to support the specified plant materials shall be
provided.
3. All required landscaping and screening features shalt be kept free of refuse and debris.
4. All landscape materials shalt be guaranteed for two (2) years. Any landscape material that
dies or becomes diseased before the end of the second (21d) year after installation shall be
replaced by the developer.
5. Continuing maintenance and replacement of landscape materials shalt be the responsibility
of the property owner beyond two years of initial installation.
H. Financial Security. The City will require that a financial security, in a form acceptable to the
City, be provided as part of a development agreement or applicable permit to ensure
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compliance and performance of 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 become damaged or diseased after
planting. Adequate security must be retained to ensure performance for at least two years
after the installations have been completed.
SECTION 2. Effective ®ate. This ordinance shall become effective immediately upon
adoption and publication in the official newspaper of the City of Lake Elmo.
SECTION 3. Adoption ®ate. This Ordinance 08-087 was adopted on this twentieth
day of August 2013, by a vote of 4 Ayes and 0 Nays.
LAKE ELMO CITY COUNCIL
Mike Pearson, Mayor
Adam Bell, City Clerk
This Ordinance 08-087 was published on the — day of , 2013.
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