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current design for the south parking lot (Phase 1) we have provided approximately 36,221 sf. of planting areas, for a total of 2.53%. The primary justification for flexibility thru the approved PUD related to the Minimum Landscape Requirements for Perennials and Shrubs are identified below: 1. The overall design intent for the south parking lot is to provide enough parking stalls, without impacting the existing natural areas and character, to meet the overall parking requirements of 1676 stalls on the entire campus site (as identified in the Master PUD submission). The south parking lot serves as the primary guest entrance to the campus, so a balance was desired to limit to overall impervious parking areas, while trying to maintain the existing natural features (wetlands, wooded areas and lawns). The design accomplishes this by focusing the perennial plantings and shrubs adjacent to the entrance roadway to frame and extend the drivers entry experience as you enter towards the campus buildings. The parking lot areas are buffered from the entrance roadway (a min. 20’ wide landscape boulevard has been provided) by the ground level plantings and over story trees to extend the “natural” character all the way up to the building entrances. Subsequently, perennials and ground covers are limited at the parking lot outer edges to allow visitors un-interupted views into the adjacent natural areas. The areas adjacent to the parking lot edges will be planted with a combination of a native turf (approximately 18,900 sf.) and a woodland seed/plug plant mix (26,000 sf.) to enhance these edges and provide long-term vegetated cover. 2. As part of the future proposed work in Phase 2, we have defined approximately 176,778 additional sf. of perennial and shrub plantings which equate to approximately 14.26% of the Phase 2 project area. This proposed Phase 2 landscaping, in combination with the Phase 1 landscaping, would result in over 212,999 sf. of perennial and shrub landscaping on the entire project site for a total of 16.79%. This total % of perennial and shrub landscaping would exceed the current zoning code by approximately 170%. This is a two Phased design and construction project, so all proposed improvements will function as one landscape and should be reviewed accordingly. The Land O’Lakes corporate headquarters expansion project will also be requesting future flexibility thru the Final PUD planning process (for identified north project site in Phase 2) for Section 1325.05, Subd. 1, F. Minimum Landscape Requirements, Planting Islands. The requirements state that planting islands shall be required to visually break up expanses of hard-surface parking areas, to provide safe and efficient traffic movement, and to define rows of parking. Planting islands shall occupy at least ten (10) percent of the parking area. Planting islands shall be edged with concrete curbs. Parking lot planting islands shall be a minimum of 150 square feet in area, be of appropriate width and length, and include at least one tree meeting the requirements of this ordinance. Based on our proposed design, we estimate we will provide approximately 30,240 sf. of planting islands, for a total of 5.9%. The primary justification for flexibility thru the approved PUD related to Minimum Landscape Requirements for Planting Islands are identified below: 1. The required number for parking (as identified in the Master PUD submission) to support the overall campus expansion is 1676 stalls. This required parking stall count has caused hardship related to providing the necessary amount of land needed to accommodate this parking while trying to limit the impacts on the valuable natural features of the site. The current site is approximately 47.37 acres, with the wooded areas comprising approximately 22.7 acres,