07-10-13-PC - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

ARDEN HILLS PLANNING COMMISSION JUNE 19, 2013 6 A Landscaping Plan was submitted by the applicant for Phase I and is included in Attachment C. Based on the square footage of the proposed building, the City Code requires 48 caliper inches of trees be planted. Currently, 22.5 calipers inches of trees are proposed. Staff has included as condition of approval that an additional 25.5 caliper inches of trees be included in the Phase I development. Landscaping Plan All of the 15 existing trees on the site will be removed for the Phase I development. It was determined that none of the trees on the property should be considered significant due to their health, structure, or susceptibility to disease, and the developer is not being required to replace the caliper inches removed. The following table outlines these numbers. Caliper Inches Number of Trees Proposed Removal* 189 15 (100% of existing trees) New Trees Required by 48 - Code Total Trees After 22.5 8 Development Additional Trees Required 25.5 To Be Determined as Condition of Approval *None of the existing trees were determined to be significant, therefore no replacement trees are being required in this case Trees along Street Frontage Flexibility Requested The City Code requires that a minimum of one tree be planted along the right of way for every 40 feet of street frontage. Approximately 187 feet of the Phase I development fronts Red Fox Road and 375 feet fronts Lexington Avenue. A total of 14 trees along the right of way are required. Currently, four trees are proposed adjacent to the driveway access off of Red Fox Road. An additional 10 trees will need to be sited along the Lexington Avenue right of way and this provision has been added as a condition of approval. However, due to the presence of an underground waterline and other public infrastructure, the developer may be constrained in locating these required street trees. Perennials and Shrubberies Exceeds Requirements The City Code requires that at least ten percent of the total landscaped area shall be covered with perennials and/or shrubbery. A total of 412 square feet of plantings is required in Phase I based on the Code. The applicant has proposed 2,824 square feet, or 68.5% of the total landscape coverage. It is important to note that if the proposed landscaping met the 25 percent coverage requirement, a total of 1,456 square feet of plantings would be required. The Master Plan calls for 75,730 square feet of landscape coverage, of which 7,573 would be required to be planted with perennials. For the site-wide landscaping plan, the applicant has proposed 16,836 square feet of plantings, or 22.2% of the overall landscape coverage. Planting Islands Flexibility Requested At least ten percent of a parking area must be occupied by planting islands that are at least 150 square feet in size and have at least one tree. The proposed planting islands meet the size requirements and all islands include a tree planting. However, only 8.0% of the Phase I parking area is occupied by planting islands. For the Master Plan, planting islands comprise 9.3% of the total parking area.