ACTION REQUESTED:
Title
Communication from the City Manager and Director of Community Development with a Recommendation from the Planning & Zoning Commission and Staff to ADOPT the Following:
A. ORDINANCE A Amending APPENDIX B, the Zoning Ordinance, Related to LANDSCAPING AND SCREENING REQUIREMENTS; and
B. ORDINANCE B Amending APPENDIX C, the Land Development Code, Related to LANDSCAPING AND SCREENING REQUIREMENTS.
Body
BACKGROUND:
On February 18, 2014, Staff held a policy session with City Council to discuss current and proposed landscaping and screening requirements. At the policy session, Staff noted the following issues with the current regulations:
* Lack of plant variety
* No encouragement for the use of bio-swales or alternative landscaping
* No requirement for street trees
* Landscaping for large parking lots only
* No encouragement for alternative screening
* Lack of incentive to landscape or screen
* Different regulations between the Zoning Ordinance and Land Development Code.
Staff presented research of the economic, environmental, and social benefits effective landscaping and screening regulations can provide to a community: Benefits such as:
* Increased property values
* Lower utility/operational costs of mechanical systems
* Extended street and parking lot pavement life
* Better erosion control
* Improved air quality
* Added attractiveness and livability of neighborhoods
* Reduced noise pollution
* Overall sense of well-being
Following the discussion, Council directed Staff to take the specific actions listed below.
1. Permit a greater variety of landscaping plants and an emphasis on trees.
2. Require landscaping of parking lots at 50 spaces.
3. Allow artistic painting of utility boxes.
4. Align the landscape requirements of the Land Development Code and the Zoning Code.
The text amendments included with this memo are summarized below.
Item
Description
Appendix B Section
Appendix C Section
F...
Click here for full text