Agenda - Council - 06/08/2021 - Laserfiche WebLink

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into a single section of City Code. By creating a separate City Code Section for landscaping, it provided an opportunity to establish Intent, Goals and Objectives without repeating them over and over throughout each individual zoning district. The EPB wanted to see these developed to assist with future plan review and guiding recommendations. This will be beneficial if there are ever challenges to meeting minimum planting requirements, as a Landscape Plan can be cross checked with the Intent, Goals, and Objectives to ensure it is achieving them. The Planning Commission conducted a Public Hearing on the proposed Ordinance at their April 8, 2021 meeting. There was one verbal comment received, which supported the proposed amendments. Additionally, the City Council reviewed this case in Work Session prior to this current case. The City Council introduced the Ordinance on May 25, 2021 and it is now eligible for adoption. Based on City Council comments both from the Work Session as well as from when the Ordinance was introduced, Staff has made some slight modifications. Rather than entirely repealing all references to landscaping within each district, the bulk of the language is proposed to be repealed; however, a sentence was added to each Zoning District stating "Landscaping in accordance with Sec. 117-364". Alternatives Alternative 1: Adopt Ordinance #21-06 amending the landscape standards for the Employment Districts and consolidating all landscaping standards into a single Section in City Code. Compliance with the landscape standards in the Employment Districts is becoming challenging based on the typical building footprint, amount of impervious area, and stormwater management (ponds), which all restrict planting locations. The proposed amendments would reduce the number of required plantings, but should still result in well landscaped projects. Furthermore, consolidating all landscaping standards into one Section will eliminate a lot of repetitive language in the zoning districts. Alternative 2: Do not adopt Ordinance #21-06. This would retain the current landscape standards for the Employment Districts, which are based on the square footage of building footprint or lineal footage of the site perimeter, whichever results in more plantings. Recent projects have had challenges meeting the planting standards based on limited pervious areas where plantings can be installed. Funding Source: This case is being handled as part of Staffs regular duties. Recommendation: The Planning Commission and the Environmental Policy Board both recommend adopting Ordinance #21-06. Outcome/Action: Motion to waive the Charter requirement to read the ordinance aloud and adopt Ordinance #21-06 to consolidate all landscaping requirements into a single section and to amend the landscape standards in the Employment Districts. Roll Call Vote: Councilmember Musgrove Councilmember Heineman Councilmember Specht Councilmember Woestehoff Councilmember Riley Councilmember Howell Mayor Kuzma