Agenda - Planning Commission - 08/02/2007

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CNP Storage: Site Plan Review July 26, 2007 Page 3 of4 Based on the proposed building square footage (38.220) and lineal feet of site perimeter (1.462). a minimum of thirty-eight (38) trees and 127 shrubs are required to satisfy the general landscaping requirement. Additional plantings are also required for buffering purposes along botb. the eastern and northern boundaries (see Bufferyard comments). The landscaping plan. dated July 20, 2007, includes twenty (20) trees and thirty-four (34) shrubs. At least eighteen (18) more trees and ninety-three (93) additional shrubs must be included, exclusive of plantings used to satisfy the bufferyard. requirements, to meet. the general landscaping standard. Since there is not much, if any, opportunity for p1antings in the interior of the site. a greater emphasis must be placed on perimeter plantings. This includes both the buffer areas as wdl as the area along Ramsey Blvd between the entrance and the cluster of trees being preserved. A combination of taller growing shrubs and bOtl1 deciduous and coniferous overstory trees should be added to "fill in" the space between the preserved trees and the entrance. Also, some foundation plantings along the western edge of the western most building would be another suitable location for some shrubbery. Overall. a revised landscaping/tree preservation plan must be submitted that incorporates at least forty (40) additional trees (18 for general landscaping purposes and 22 for bufferyard purposes) and 169 additional shrubs (93 for general landscaping purposes and 76 for bufferyard purposes) as well as addresses the other aforementioned concerns. Tree Preservatil;m: A majority of the existing tree cover consists of Siberian Elm, an undesirable, invasive species, and Scotch Pine. a relatively short lived species of pine. About fifteen percent (15%) of the existing trees Vlill be preserved, mostly clustered in the northwestern corner of the site along Ramsey Blvd. It should be noted that the understory vegetation in this area should also be preserved as that is what will provide much of the actual screening. While the trees being preserved 9.0 provide screening from Ramsey Blvd, the species composition does not warrant credit toward landscaping requirements. Tree save fencing must be shown on both the landscaping/tree preservation plan as well as the grading plan. If silt fence is to double as tree save fencing, it must be clearly indicated on the plan. In the field, tree save fencing must be installed at the dripline of individual trees or groups of trees and must be in place prior to any construction activity. Ground Cover: All landscaped areas must be sodded and irrigated per City Code. Architectural Standards: The E-l District restricts building height to 65 feet and exterior wall finishes to natural or prefabricated brick or stone or pre-cast concrete panels or some other material approved by City Council. One black and white building elevation has been submitted that appears to meet these requirements; a color rendering must be shown at the Planning Commission meeting. The elevations indicate the buildings will be rock-face block with vinyl shakes; vinyl is not typically permitted in the E-1 District, but may be allowed if approved by the City CounciL 39