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there were opportunities to improve the City's existing landscaping requirements. Currently, the <br />City's landscaping requirements are somewhat vague and spread throughout the Code. Staff is <br />proposing amendments to the landscaping requirements and reformatting the requirements so <br />that they are compiled together in Section 1325.05, the Design Standards section of the Zoning <br />Code. Attached is a draft of these regulations. Staff has included Section 1325.05 in its entirety <br />to highlight the reorganization that is required. Please note that the City Attorney has not yet <br />reviewed these drafts. Upon review, he may determine that certain aspects of the regulations <br />would need to be revised or amended. <br />Tree Preservation and Landscape Requirements <br />The development of a tree preservation ordinance is closely impacted by a need for balance <br />within the regulations. While tree preservation and landscaping requirements provide added <br />beauty, increased value, and improved environmental conditions, there is also a cost. Trees and <br />landscaping take up space within a property, which reduces the buildable area and space for <br />parking. Trees and other landscaping can also be expensive to install and maintain. <br />Additionally, adopting regulations that are too restrictive or onerous could hamper future <br />development and redevelopment, which would have a long-term impact on property value. An <br />effective and enforceable ordinance will have regulations that address this balance and provide <br />for the property owner as well as the community as a whole. <br />With that in mind, staff is requesting the Planning Commission discuss the draft ordinance. <br />There are a few issues within the code that staff requests further discussion and feedback from <br />the Commission. <br />Expanding uses versus new construction. If an existing development wants to <br />expand, is it appropriate to require the property to meet the same landscaping <br />requirements as a new development? If the property is deficient in landscaping <br />under the new code, does an expansion then require the property to meet the full <br />code regardless of the size of the expansion? Is it possible that these requirements <br />would discourage a property owner from expanding or remodeling? <br />2. Should properties along freeways and trunk highways be treated differently in <br />terms of landscaping requirements than other properties? Should there be a <br />greater buffer requirement? <br />3. What is an appropriate mitigation rate for tree replacement, taking into account <br />space within a site and need for building pads, parking areas, and construction <br />access? If a property needs to remove a significant tree, what is the proper <br />replacement? <br />City of Arden Hills <br />Planning Commission MeetingforFebruarr 6, 2008 <br />ICases' 2008'.08-OXA Tree Pmwt i ation Oi'dinanceW20608 -PC Repori - h ee <br />Pmsen'ation_Landscaping Work Session.doc <br />Page 2 of 3 <br />