1D, Tree Preservation-Landscaping Stds

Home Browse Search

In the process of researching tree preservation, it became clear that landscaping was equally important to the natural environment in Arden Hills. While tree preservation regulates what can be removed from a property, landseaping requirements regulate what can and should be planted. Staff found that there were opportunities to improve the City's existing landscaping requirements. Currently, the City's landscaping requirements are somewhat vague and spread throughout the Code. Staff is proposing amendments to the landscaping requirements and suggesting reformatting the requirements so that they are compiled together in Seetion 1325.05, the Design Standards section of the Zoning Code. Staff is also suggesting minor revisions to other subdivisions within Section 1325.05, such as screening and fencing regulations. Attached is a draft of these ehanges and new regulations. Staffhas included Section 1325.05 in its entirety to highlight the reorganization that is required. Staff met with the Planning Commission at a work session on February 6, 2008 to discuss the draft ordinanees. The Planning Commission provided excellent feedback, and staff has incorporated their comments in these updated drafts. In addition, both draft ordinances were sent to the City Attorney for review. While additional review with the City Attorney will be neeessary, his initial reaetion was that both ordinances are within the authority of the City to regulate. Tree Preservation and Landscaue Requirements The development of a tree preservation ordinance is closely impaeted by a need for balance within the regulations. While tree preservation and landscaping requirements provide added beauty, increased value, and improved environmental conditions, there is also a cost. Trees and landscaping take up space within a property, which reduces the buildable area and space for parking. Trees and other landscaping can also be expensive to install and maintain. Additionally, adopting regulations that are too restrictive or onerous eould hamper future development and redevelopment, which would have a long-term impact on property values. An effective and enforeeable ordinance will have regulations that address this balanee and provide for the property owner as well as the eommunity as a whole. Staff would also like to make clear that both the landscaping and tree preservation ordinances deal primarily with property owners that have come to the City seeking building or grading permits. These ordinances are not designed to address those properties on which no development is being proposed, with the exception of clear cutting, which is proposed to be prohibited on all parcels. Additionally, the draft tree preservation ordinance regulates that trees removed unnaturally within two years prior to a development application are counted as if they were present on the site at the time of the application. Staff recognizes the limitations of this regulation; however, it is in place to prohibit the most egregious cireurnstances where a developer removes trees prior to submitting an application. The tree preservation ordinance is not designed to prohibit the cutting of any trees. Rather, it is meant to place an incentive on tree preservation and selective removal by requiring mitigation City of Arden Hills Joint Work Session for February 19, 2008 IlMetro-inet.uslardenhi/lslPlanninglPlanning Cases\2008108-0XX Tree Preservation Ordinance (UPCOMING)\02/908 - Joint Work Session _ Tree Preservation and Landscaping.doc Page 2 of 4