HomeMy WebLinkAbout9 -Landscape Ordinance 93-02 Public Hearing
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DATE:
INTRODUCTION:
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HORST GRASER, DIRECTOR OF PLANNING
CONTINUATION OF LANDSCAPE ORDINANCE - 93-02
PUBLIC HEARING
JANUARY 19, 1993
This item is a continuation from December 7,
1992. The landscape ordinance has had two
previous readings prior to December 7, 1992.
The ~rinciple purpose for the continuation was
to g1ve additional time for council members to
discuss specific questions with staff. Greg
Kopischke of Westwood Planning and Engineering
will be present to review the Ordinance.
Staff has made two major changes suggested by
the Council. One was to adapt the ordinance
to common property lines of the downtown
business district. It was decided that it
would be appropriate to exempt this area from
the requirements of the ordinance. Paragraph
B-3 on page 2 exempts the downtown
redevelopment district from the requirements
of the ordinance. Normally redevelopment
districts have plans which specify specific
landscaping standards and treatments.
The second change was organizational in
nature. The suggested change was to divide
the pur~ose section into a purpose and
applicat10n section. This revision makes it
considerably easier to both follow and
reference the ordinance. The Council also
suggested that paragraph 4 on page 8 be
amended to include that a letter of credit by
placed on file with the City when the building
permit is issued.
Approve the ordinance as submitted.
Continue the hearing for purposes of
making changes and additions.
Deny the ordinance and close the hearing
process.
Alternatives land 2 as may be necessary.
l.
2.
3.
Depends on Council direction.
4629 Dakota St. S.E., Prior Lake, Minnesota 55372 I Ph. (612) 447-4230 / Fax (612) 447-4245
AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
ZONING
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The purpose of this ordinance is to establish perfQ~ance
standards and minimum requirements for landscaping, buffering
and screening that will enhance the visual, environmental and
aesthetic character of property and site developmen~ within
the city. The City Staff, Planning commission and City
Council will utilize these standards in the review and
evaluation of SUbdivisio~and site plans and development
proposals~ ~AA~~'3J~ ~.~ ~r>' -'.:lL~-i~.>..
The objectives of these requirements are to establish and
maintain forestation of the city; to provide appropriate
ground cover vegetation for controlled soil erosion; to
preserve and enhance, when necessary, the natural
environment, particularly in instances where the natural
environment is disturbed during the course of development;
and to establish standards for utilization of natural and
other materials to achieve desired screening, buffering and
landscaping.
"Z09202"
DRAFT 8-5-92
*11-23-92
CITY OF PRIOR LAKE
ORDINANCE NO. 93-02
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING PRIOR LAKE CITY CODE AND PRIOR LAKE
ORDINANCE NO. 83-6.
The Council of the City of Prior Lake does hereby ordain:
CITY CODE SECTION 5-5-10: SCREENING: AND
ORDINANCE 83-5 SECTION 6.10 are hereby
following language:
(A) Purpose:
1.
2.
3. This ordinance sets forth minimum re9Uirements for
landscaping, reforestation and technical l1mitations to
assure that the result is consistent with reasonable
maintenance requirements on a long-term basis and to assure
that the results provide landscape amenities to the urban
environment.
4. This ordinance is intended to provide standards that allow
flexibility in design and individual site needs. Designers
are encouraged to utilize a variety of site landscape
elements (1.e.; trees, shrubs, ground covers, flowers, berms
and ground form, fences, walls, existing topography and
vegetation, artforms, and other similar items), in creative
ways that are aesthetically pleasing yet functional where
required. In addition to compliance with subse9?ent sections
of this ordinance, plan review by the C1ty Planning
Department will include such items as: choice of materials,
especially plantings, to determine if they are functionally
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a~propriate for the intended purpose; hardiness;
d1sease-resistance; compatible choice and mix of materials;
do materials complement and/or provide ~leasing contrast to
on-site and off-site conditions to ma1ntain interest; and
other issues as site appropriate. Specific site plans may be
required to go beyond the minimum requirements to meet the
purpose and objectives of this ordinance due to unique or
exceptional circumstances and conditions which are existing
or proposed.
(B) Application:
1. This ordinance applies to all business, industrial,
mUlti-family residential (projects of 3 or more dwelling
units per building), ~ublic and institutional uses as may be
permitted or condit1onal within their respective zoning
districts.
2.
Existing uses shall also comply with this ordinance
apply for a building permit. Exceptions' include
that in total are under ten percent of the
structure's gross floor area or 4,000 square feet,
is less.
when they
additions'
existing
whichever
3.
The Downtown Redevelopment District as defined by
No. shall be exempt from this ordinance.
(C) General provisions and Landscape Requirements:
d' 1
Or 1nance . I
1. To help assure the best possible results, plans must be
prepared and certified by a Registered Landscape Architect in
the state of Minnesota for:
a)~H business, industrial, public and institutional
\i development projects with sites over 20,000 square feet
. \ . .
I or gross bU1ld1ng area of 4,000 square feet or more,
whichever is less;
b)
multi-family residential projects of 8 or more dwelling
units per building.
Projects smaller than identified above shall be prepared by
either a registered landscape architect or a professional
site planner with educational training or work experience in
site analysis and landscape plan preparation.
2. The quantity of plant materials shown on the landscape plans
of proposed developments shall meet or exceed the minimums as
defined herein.
3. The City requires landscape treatment of the whole site to
include the following elements:
a) The site perimeter.
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The "entrf" focal area(s) of a development (Le., major
entity dr1ves, corner areas, signage locations, and
other similar focal points).
The parking lot landscape.
Screening of mechanical equipment, exterior storage,
loading docks, trash storage, or visual clutter as
identified by the City in the plan review process.
The plant materials used must meet or exceed the City
standards of size and specie in order to qualify for credit
towards the landscape requirement. Additional plant
materials smaller than required herein may be appropriate and
necessary to achieve the design effect.
b)
c)
d)
4 .
Preservation of existing vegetation on site, if it can
successfully be incorporated into the landscape plan, is
encouraged and will be credited toward the landscape
re,quirement. 'r', -:(/:I_~, i) ."""f'/yY-' dJ./'^:'/ -.-/"""~ ,-'-'--':~ II/. J'A--uu,~ .'I) v--t., b_1
p'1~~tri1gf' ~:t~~~l-I~t [{f~te~s~cti~~-~C~~~'~li/ ~~~~~IOCk visibility
within a clear view triangle.
5.
6.
Plantings shall not interfere with drainage patterns,
unreasonable conflict with utilities (i.e., frequent
near overhead power lines, etc.) or restrict access
utilities.
7.
create
pruning
to any
8. Landscape coverage shall be defined as all ground areas
surrounding the principal building and accessory buildings
which are not garden areas, driveways, parking lots,
sidewalks or patios. All ground areas shall be landscaped
with grass, shrubs, trees or other approved ornamental
landscape material.
(D) Calculation of Requirements, Credits and Sizes:
1. The planting requirement shall be the sum of the following
separate requirements. These formulas are only intended as a
method to generate a quantitative performance level and not a
desi9n instruction. Creativity of design is encouraged to
prov1de specific solutions.
b)
a)
Tree Calculation:
Business/lndustrial/Public/lnstitutional sites shall
contain, at a minimum, the greater of:
1. 1 tree required per 40' of site perimeter, or
2. 1 tree per 1000 square feet of 9ross building area.
Multi-residential sites shall conta1n, at a minimum, the
greater of:
1. 1 tree per dwelling unit, or
2. 1 tree required per 40' of site perimeter.
Entry Plantings: Each major entry point, focal point,
etc., (see section (C)2, b), into the project or building
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c)
shall be treated with landscape development (trees,
shrubs, etc.). No numerical requirement of plants is
offered, but every development project has at least one
such feature, and the landscape ~lan shall reflect the
proposed treatment. Trees requ1red on the perimeter
calculation are not applicable to this design feature.
parking Lot Landscape: As identified in Section (E) (1
and 4), parking lot islands and screening shall be
provided. No numerical requirement for plants is
provided, but use of canopy trees to provide shade and
shrubs to soften the internal sight lines and screen
small storage areas is required.
Miscellaneous Screenings: As identified in section
other Screening, miscellaneous screening shall
provided. No numerical requirement for plants
provided and the perimeter tree planting requirement
be used to provide trees for this purpose but
effectiveness shall be as described in section
other Screening.
2. Plant Sizes: Plants provided by the developer as credit for
meeting the landscape requirement shall meet the following
size criteria:
d)
a)
b)
c)
(F)
be
is
may
the
(F) ,
d)
Deciduous Canopy Trees: 2 1/2" caliper B & B (at 6"
above ground).
Coniferous Trees: 6' high B & B
others:
1. Ornamental or half trees: 1-3/4" caliper B & B (can
substitute for canopy trees at a ratio of 2
ornamental/half trees for 1 canopy tree).
2. Other shrubs: No minimum, except that they must
meet the stated purpose (screening, etc.).
All plantings shall be appropriate to the hardiness zone
and physical characteristics of the site. They shall
conform to the size and quality standards in the most
current edition of the American Standard for Nursery
Stock as published by the American Association of
Nurserymen.
All deciduous trees proposed to meet the minimum
requirements shall be long-lived, hardwood species. A
list of desirable and ~rohibited plant material species
is incorporated as POl1CY in this ordinance and will be
maintained and kept on file with the City Planning
Department.
The complement of trees fulfilling the minimum
requirements shall typically not be less than 25%
deciduous and not less than 25% coniferous to maintain a
mix of plant tfpes. Anf proposed modification to this
requirement w111 cons1der the site specific design
e)
f)
4
solution if site conditions are deemed appropriate and
other functional requirements (screening, etc.) are
met.
Installation will be in accordance with professional
horticultural standards as established with the most
current edition of the Landscape Construction Reference
Manual as published by the American Nursery and
Landscape Association.
3. Credits for Existing Materials: The developer may request
credit for plant materials preserved on site provided it is
demonstrated that they have accurately identified (by specie)
and located (by survey), their correct location shown on the
grading plan and that appropriate measures will be taken and
are shown and/or noted on the grading plan to ensure their
protection and survival (i.e.; snow fence barrier,
appropriate distance to tree base and root structure,
prunin9, watering, mulching, root protection/pruning, timing,
ferti11zation, tree removal plan/techniques, disease
prevention, method to prevent soil compaction over root
systems, etc.). This tree protection/preservation plan
should be prepared by a qualified forester, registered
landscape architect, or arborist.
Existing trees must conform to the minimum size
requirements (identified in 2 above) to be credited.
Plants must be of approved species as currently recorded
br the City as appropriate materials. Weak wooded and
d1sease prone species are not suitable for credit.
The extent of credit will be based on staff review of
data (plans and narrative) presented by the developer.
Criteria will include ty~e of material, size, quality,
location and extent of s1te coverage.
4. variation of Plant Sizes:
g)
a)
b)
c)
a)
For all landscape plans, at least 10% of the coniferous
and/or deciduous canopy trees must exceed the minimum
size (to 8' high and 3 1/2" cali~er B & B respectively)
to establish some diversity in S1ze.
For mUlti-family projects, 20% of the required plants
shall be of the larger sizes. These plants shall be
used in the areas for strategic screening, sOftening of
buildin9s, focal point enhancement, adjacent to
recreat10nal areas for shade, etc.
b)
(E) Parking Lot Landscape:
1. To avoid undesirable monotony, heat and wind associated with
large parking lots, such lots shall have lineal and row end
internal landscaped island/traffic delineators in addition to
any required traffic safety islands. Landscape islands shall
be at least 5% of the paved parking lot area in excess of
~ square feet. A parking island is considered to be 9' x
~OOO
5
18' or 162 square feet (equivalent of one parking stall),
although the shape and location will be a design option of
the developer. Minimum width shall be 6 feet.
Industrial storage yards, outdoor retail display areas or
similar type areas are exempted from the parking lot island
requirement.
Landscaping of parking lot islands shall include some
combination of mulch, lawn, shrubs and/or trees. The intent
is to provide shade, focus or promote traffic patterns,
(define drive aisles and rows of parking), limit rows of
visually uninterrupted parking stalls to a maximum of 180
feet, soften ground level views, yet maintain appropriate
visibility for safety.
Parking lot screening shall be provided on the perimeter of ......., ~
any new parking lot. ('f))J{]I\ Vyvr ~~)/y
a) Screening shall be provided using a /combination of
shrubs, coniferous trees, fencing, berming, etc., to
minimize the effect of headlights and reflected light
from bumpers, grills, and headlights. Screening must
attempt to address at least 60% of the perimeter where
views of the parking lot could originate.
b) Effectiveness of the screening shall be 80% opacity
year-round.
c) Berming must achieve a 30" height to provide 80% opacity
on 3' high screening. (Berms cannot be used as the only
method of screening. They must be used in combination
with other elements.)
d) Plant materials must be spaced no more than 30" apart on
single rows of deciduous shrubs, 48" apart on double
staggered rows of deciduous shrubs, with initial planted
height of at least 2' (spacing may vary, subject to
species used).
e) Coniferous trees must be placed no further than 8'
apart, to be counted as screening.
<I~
All parking lot islands or landscape areas must be separated ~~-
from the parking surface by cast in place concrete curbs. ~rt)k&v.
(F) other Screening:
2.
3.
4.
5.
Developers shall make design efforts to fully screen service
areas, trash storage, loading, mechanical equipment, and
other similar areas, from view by the general public or
adjacent residential areas. The screening provisions for
parking lots shall be followed except that berming heights
must be increased to a minimum of 4' with an overall
effective screening height of 6'. (Berms cannot be used as
the onlf method of screening. They must be used in
combinat10n with other elements.) Each site will be evaluated
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as to its specific needs and solution which may exceed these
minimum standards.
(G) Grounds and Lawns:
1. All areas must be finished off with a stable landscape
(trees, shrubs, turf, mulch, etc.) or hard constructed
surface (concrete, bituminous, pavers, etc.). No site areas
can be left unfinished, subject to erosion. Landscape rock
or bark/wood chi~ mulch may be substituted for sod in shrub
and flower plant1ng beds and building maintenance strips.
2. All lawn areas and drainage swales shall be sodded. At least
a 2-foot width of sod shall be provided between all
paved/curbed areas and seeded/natural/native areas to provide
a finished edge and control erosion. Seeding or reseeding is
allowed for less visible or large and remote portions of a
site that are unused or subject to future development. Seed
mixes could include prairie grass or other appropriate
low-maintenance mixes. Athletic fields may be seeded.
3. Slopes in excess of 3:1 will not be allowed in areas intended
for maintained turf. Slopes of up to 1-1/2:1 may be allowed
with a slope stabilization plan approved by the City;
otherwise terracing and/or retaining walls will be required.
4. All areas to be lawn and landscaped shall have a built-in
irrigation system. An irrigation plan shall be required at
the time of obtaining the building permit. This plan shall
indicate the overlapping pattern, head type, control type and
location, source of water and connection method. The system
plan shall be ~repared by a 9Ualified designer with
experience design1ng systems for s1milar uses (project type
and size). Permanent underground irrigation is not required
for existing, new or re-established natural or native plant
communities.
5. Undisturbed areas containing existing viable natural or
native vegetation shall be maintained free of foreign or
noxious plant materials. Top seeding or enhancement of these
areas should occur as needed and appropriate to fill in thin
areas and revitalize the existing vegetation.
(H) Maintenance standards:
1. All cultivated landscape areas shall be maintained by the
property owner to present a healthy, neat and orderly area.
This shall include:
a) Maintain a healthy, pest-free condition.
b) Remove dead, diseased or dangerous trees or shrubs or
parts thereof.
c) Provide appropriate pruning per National Arborist
Association and American Nurserymen Association
Standards.
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d) Mowing and/or removal of noxious weeds and grasses.
e) Remove trash and other debris.
f) Watering to ensure plant growth and survival.
2. Natural or native plant communities shall be managed in
order to maintain the plant community for the ~urpose that it
was preserved or created. This includes trimm1ng as needed
of all noxious vegetation and long grasses, removal of trash
or other debris and other horticulturally appropriate
maintenance methods for the specific type of plant
community.
(I) Performance Guarantee:
1. All plants shall be guaranteed by the developer for one year
after total project acceptance.
2. The irrigation system shall be guaranteed for one year
concurrent with the plant guarantee. This will assure one
winter season with a fall shut down and spring start-up.
3. The developer shall notify the City prior to total project
acceptance, for city concurrence on the acceptabilit~ of the
complete landscape and irrigation system installat10n. The
citf shall issue a letter accepting the landscape and
irr1gation system installation and therein fixing the date
for guarantee purposes.
4. The developer shall post a letter of credit with the City for
the complete landscape and irrigation system installation
when the building permit is issued (plants, irrigation,
mulch and edgers). The letter of credit shall be held by the
City and used, if necessary, to effect satisfactory
completion of the project in the event of incomplete or
failed work. The value of the letter of credit shall be 125%
of the estimated construction costs for plants, irrigation
system, mulch and edgers.
5. Release of the letter of credit or unused balance shall occur
followin9 the City review of landscape and irrigation
system w1thin 10 days prior to the expiration of guarantee,
providing that plants are acceptable and irrigation system is
operable on that date.
(J) Submission Requirements:
1. Landscape plans must be drawn to scale, show all proposed
plants, quantities and sizes, seed/sod areas/limits, etc.
The planes) must include the entire project area. Include
project name, developer, registered landscape architect or
landscape designer, architect, dates, existing site
conditions (to~ography, vegetation, ponding areas or water
bodies utilit1es boundary data, walks, etc.), proposed site
8
conditions, (grading plan, tree preservation/protection plan,
etc.), site lighting, off site conditions approximately 100
feet beyond the site, and other site conditions that would be
expected to affect landscaping.
2. Calculations to evaluate compliance with the ordinance
provisions including: area in square footage and percentage
in total area for building, parking lot (including
driveways), landscape areas and total area; and quantities of
trees and shrubs required and planted or preserved.
3. Supportive plans, details, written narrative notes,
cross-sections or other information as may be required by the
Planning Staff that is reasonable and necessary to
demonstrate the design intent and general com~liance with
this ordinance, including, but not l1mited to, 1tems listed
under Section (C) 2.
4. Fifteen copies of all plans shall be submitted.
This Ordinance shall become effective from and after its passage
and publication.
Passed by the City Council
day of
of the City of Prior Lake this
, 1993.
ATTEST:
City Manager
Mayor
Published in the Prior Lake American on the
, 19____
day of
Drafted By:
Greg Kopischke
Westwood Professional Services, Inc.
14180 West Trunk Highway 5
Eden prairie, MN 55344
(612)937-5150
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