Agenda - Environmental Policy Board - 03/30/2015 - Special

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Environmental Policy Board (EPB) 5. 2. Meeting Date: 03/30/2015 By: Chris Anderson, Community Development Information Title: Review Landscape and Tree Preservation Plans Associated with the Preliminary Plat Application for Harvest Estates; Case of NIK Management Inc. Purpose/Background: The City has received an application for Preliminary Plat review for Harvest Estates, a proposed single family home subdivision consisting of forty-four (44) lots located at 15153 Nowthen Blvd (the "Subject Property"), which is the site of the former municipal center. The Preliminary Plat submittal includes both a Tree Preservation Plan and Landscape Plan in accordance with City Code. Observations/Alternatives: City Code has standards related to both landscaping and tree preservation requirements. Single family home developments are required to provide two (2) front yard trees per lot. Not less than twenty-five percent (25%) of the plantings shall consist of coniferous species. Deciduous trees shall be at least one (1) inch in caliper and coniferous trees shall be a minimum height of five (5) feet. In addition to the tree requirements, all disturbed areas not otherwise improved with impervious surfaces (house/garage, driveway, walkways, etc) shall have four (4) inches of topsoil applied prior to establishing the yard. The boulevard area must be sodded while the remainder of the yard can be established with sod, seed, hydroseed, or other acceptable ground cover. Residential developments shall retain at least forty percent (40%) of existing significant tree inches on site (stated another way, up to sixty percent [60%] of the existing significant tree inches can be removed). For every one (1) significant tree inch removed in excess of this threshold, 1.25 inches (diameter) of new trees shall be provided on site, or restitution equal to $125.00 per significant tree inch removed in excess of the threshold, or some combination thereof. Reforestation plantings can also satisfy the required landscaping, as outlined in the applicable zoning district. Landscape Plan The Landscape Plan does provide at least two (2) trees per lot. All proposed trees exceed the minimum required sizes and there is an appropriate mix of deciduous and coniferous species. Staff has requested certain revisions to the Landscape Plan, which are identified in the Staff Review Letter attached to this case. Tree Preservation The site has 1,435 inches of significant trees (excluding invasive species) and per the Tree Preservation Ordinance, no more than sixty percent (60%) of those inches (861 inches) can be removed without triggering reforestation of 1.25 inches of new trees for every one (1) significant tree inch removed in excess of the threshold. The project proposes removing 1,360 diameter inches of significant trees, which exceeds the removal threshold by 499 inches. Thus, a total of 624 inches (1.25 x 499) should be replanted. The required landscaping of the applicable zoning district (two [2] trees per lot for this project) can be applied toward the reforestation standard. The project is proposing to install a total of 160 trees, each being 2.5 inches in diameter, resulting in a total of 400 diameter inches of reforestation trees. The project appears to be short 224 diameter inches of reforestation trees. However, the purpose of the Tree Preservation Ordinance, as stated in City Code, is to enhance the community and