HomeMy WebLinkAbout3G - Landscape Ordinance 93-02
CITY OF PRIOR LAKE
ORDINANCE NO. 93-02
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING PRIOR LAKE CITY CODE SECTION 5-5-10 AND
PRIOR LAKE ZONING ORDINANCE NO. 83-6.
The Council of the City of Prior Lake does hereby ordain:
CITY CODE SECTION 5-5-10: SCREENING: AND PRIOR LAKE ZONING
ORDINANCE 83-6 SECTION 6.10 are hereby amended to add the
following language:
(A) Purpose:
1. The purpose of this ordinance is to establish performance
standards and m1n1mum requirements for landscaping,
buffering, and screening, that will enhance the visual,
environmental, and aesthetic character of property and site
development within the City. The City Staff, Planning
Commission, and City Council, will utilize these standards in
the review and evaluation of subdivision and site plans and
development proposals.
2. The ob~ectives of these requirements are to establish and
mainta~n 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.
3. This ordinance sets forth m1n~mum requirements for
landscaping, and reforestation and technical limitations 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 (i.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.
(B) Plan Review Standard:
Plan review by the City Planning Department will include such
items as: choice of materials, especially J?lantings, to
determine if they are functionally appropr~ate for the
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intended pur~ose; hardiness; disease-resistance; compatible
choice and m1X of materials; do materials comJ?lement and/or
provide pleasing contrast to on-site and off-s~te conditions
to maintain 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.
(C) Application:
1. This ordinance applies to all proposed business, industrial,
multi-family residential {projects of 3 or more dwelling
units per building), pub11C and institutional uses as may be
permitted or conditional within their respective zoning
districts. This applies to all new construction within all
zoning districts.
2. Existing uses shall also comply with this ordinance (except
as exempted in Section (E 5) when a building permit is issued
for their expansion. Exce~tions include additions in which
the ground building footpr1nts in total are under 10% of the
existing structures gross floor area or 4000 square feet,
whichever is less.
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The Downtown Redevelopment District as
council Resolution No. 85-07 shall be
ordinance.
defined by
exempt from
city
this
(D) General provisions and Landscape Requirements:
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)
business, industrial,
development projects with
or gross building area of
whichever is less;
public and institutional
sites over 20,000 square feet
4,000 square feet or more,
mUlti-family residential projects of 8 or more dwelling
units per building.
Projects smaller than those 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.
b)
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:
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The site perimeter.
The "entrf" focal area(s) of a development (i.e., 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.
4. 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.
a)
b)
c)
d)
5. 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
requirement. Existing plant material must meet or exceed
the city standard in order to qualify for a one to one
substitution credit.
6. Plantings at street intersections shall not block visibility
within a clear view triangle.
7.
Plantings shall not interfere with drainage patterns,
unreasonable conflict with utilities (i.e., frequent
near overhead power lines, etc.) or restrict access
utilities.
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.
(E) 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
design instruction. Creativity of design is encouraged to
provide specific solutions.
a) Perimeter Tree Calculation:
Business/Industrial/Public/Institutional 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 <1ross building area.
Multi-residential sites shall conta~n, at a minimum, the
greater of:
1. 1 tree per dwelling unit, or
2. 1 tree required per 40' of site perimeter.
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b)
Entr~ Plantings: Each "entry"
Sect10n (C) b, of a development
landscape development (trees,
numerical requirement of plants is
landscape plan shall reflect the
Trees required on the perimeter
applicable to this design feature.
and focal area. (see
shall be treated with
shrubs, etc.). No
provided, but the
proposed treatment.
calculation are not
Parking Lot Landscape: As identified in section (E) 1
and 4, parking lot islands and screening shall be
provided. No numerical requirement of 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 (F)
miscellaneous screenin~ shall be provided. No numerical
requirement of plants 1S provided. The ~erimeter tree
planting requirement may be used to prov~de trees for
this purpose, but their effectiveness shall be as
described in Section (F).
2. Plant Sizes: Plants provided by the developer as credit for
meeting the landscape requirement shall meet the following
size criteria:
c)
d)
a)
b)
c)
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 prohibited plant material species
is incorporated 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 be less than 25% deciduous
and not less than 25% coniferous to maintain a mix of
plant types. Any proposed modification to this
requirement will consider the site specific design
solution if site conditions are deemed appropriate and
other functional requirements (screening, etc.) are
met.
d)
e)
f)
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Installation will be in accordance with professional
horticultural standards as established in 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 the
developer has demonstrated that the plant material has been
accurately identified by specie and location on a survey.
The plant materials correct location shall also be shown on
the grading plan with appropriate measures 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,
fertil1zation, 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.
g)
a) Existing trees must conform to the minimum size
requirements (identified in 2 above) to be credited.
b) Plants must be of approved species as currently recorded
b~ the City as appropriate materials. Weak wooded and
d1sease prone species are not suitable for credit.
c) The extent of credit will be based on staff review of
data (~lans and narrative) presented by the develo~er.
criter1a will include type of material, size, qual~ty,
location and extent of site coverage.
4. variation of Plant Sizes:
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" caliper B & B respectively)
to establish some diversity in size.
b) 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.
(F) 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
6000 square feet. A parkin9 island is considered to be 9' x
18' or 162 square feet (equ~valent of one parking stall),
although the shape and location will be a design option of
the developer. The minimum width shall be 6 feet.
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2. Industrial storage yards, outdoor retail display areas or
similar type areas are exempted from the parking lot island
requirement.
3. 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.
4. Parking lot screening shall be provided on the perimeter of
any new parking lot.
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.
Effectiveness of the screening shall be 80% opacity
year-round.
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.)
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).
Coniferous trees must be placed no further than 8'
apart, to be counted as screening.
5. All parking lot islands or landscape areas shall be separated
from the parking surface by cast in place concrete curbs or
an equal or better standard. Bituminous or precast concrete
curbs or similar curbs are unacceptable. Curb will not be
reguired for existin~ uses that are required to comply with
th~s ordinance (Sect~on B-2) unless more than 50% of the
existing parkin~ or paved area will be reconstructed to
accommodate dra1nage or general maintenance.
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)
(G) other Screening:
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 onl~ method of screening. They must be used in
combinat1on with other elements.) Each site will be evaluated
as to its specific needs and solutions which may exceed these
minimum standards.
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(H) 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 or subject to erosion. Landscape rock
or bark/wood chip mulch may be substituted for sod in shrub
and flower planting 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 prepared by a qualified designer with
experience designing systems for similar 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.
(I) 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.
d) Mowing and/or removal of noxious weeds and grasses.
e) Remove trash and other debris.
f) watering to ensure plant growth and survival.
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2. Natural or native plant communities shall be managed in
order to maintain the plant community for the purpose that it
was preserved or created. This includes trimming 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.
(J) 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 acceptabilitr of the
complete landscape and irrigation system installat~on. The
Cit~ 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
following the City review of landscape and irrigation system
within 10 days prior to the expiration of guarantee,
providing that plants are acceptable and irrigation system is
operable on that date.
(K) 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 (topography, vegetation, ponding areas or water
bodies, utilities, boundary data, walks, etc.), proposed site
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.
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2. Calculations to evaluate compliance with the ordinance
J?rovisions including: area in square footage and percentage
1n 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 <1eneral comJ?liance with
this ordinance, including, but not l1mited to, ~tems 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 of the City of Prior Lake this
15th day of MARCH, 1993.
ATTEST:
Acting Mayor
City Manager
Published in the Prior Lake American on the
day of
, 19
Drafted By:
Greg Kopischke
Westwood Professional services, Inc.
14180 West Trunk Highway 5
Eden Prairie, MN 55344
(612)937-5150
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