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provide the proper screening for the mechanical equipment. The City Council should comment as part of the review if the proposed screening is sufficient. F. Landscaping — Flexibility Requested Section 1320.06 — District Requirements Chart of the City Code requires a minimum landscape lot area of 20% or 18,908.6 square feet for the Subject Property in the B-2 Zoning District. The Applicant is proposing a landscape lot area of approximately 23.34% percent or 22,067 square feet. Additionally, at least 10% or 2,206.7 square feet of the total landscaped area (i.e. 22,067 square feet) shall be covered with perennials and/or shrubbery. The Applicant is proposing perennial and/or shrubbery of approximately 23.63% or 5,214.5 square feet. Planting islands shall occupy 10% or 6,478.8 square feet of the parking area (i.e. 64,788 square feet). The landscaping plans show seven (7) proposed parking islands but do not indicate the total square feet of the provided planting islands. Additionally, per City Code, 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 each parking island shall include at least one tree to meet the requirements of this ordinance. The Applicant has stated a request for flexibility from the planting islands requirement for one (1) tree per parking lot planting island. Plans show that six (6) of the seven (7) parking lot planting islands will not have a tree planted and that one (1) planting island would have three (3) trees planted. This plan would allow site lighting in lieu of trees within six (6) of the proposed islands to provide adequate lighting to the site. At the July 10, 2024 Planning Commission meeting, Condition 19 was added to the conditions for approval, reading "The Applicant shall be required to install curbing around parking islands with parking lot improvements." In the narrative submitted on July 15, the Applicant notes that the redevelopment of the parking lot will incorporate curb and gutter around all new parking islands and all changes requested by the City Engineer/Public Works Director and the Rice Creek Watershed District based on their review of the project documents. The site contains approximately 145 caliper inches of significant trees. Section 1325.055 Subd. 5 allows for the removal of fewer than ten (10) percent of the caliper inches of significant trees on the property without requiring mitigation. Ten (10) percent of 145 is 14.5 caliper inches. The Applicant proposes removing 119 caliper inches of trees, meaning the Applicant is responsible for mitigation of 104.5 caliper inches removed above ten (10) percent. Per Section 1325.055 Subd 6, the number of caliper inches of trees required for replanting is determined at a rate of 1:2 or one (1) inch replaced for every two (2) inches lost. The Applicant intends to replace the 61 caliper inches required based on the total inches removed and the rate of replacement. Existing 10% of Proposed Inches in Required Proposed Existing Removal excess of 10% Replacement Replacement 145 caliper 14.5 caliper 119 caliper 104.5 caliper 52.25 caliper 61 caliper inches inches inches inches inches inches The City Code requires a minimum of one (1) tree be provided along the right-of-way of every 50 feet of public street frontage. The Subject Property survey shows the south property line with frontage on Connelly Avenue has approximately 20 feet of frontage. The proposed development would be required to plant one (1) tree along the Connelly Avenue right-of-way. Right-of-way tree plantings are not shown in the plans. Page 16 of 23