6.1 PCSR 12-27-1994 • 900.30 - REGULATIONS ON SCREENING, LANDSCAPING, LIGHTING,
STORAGE AND OUTDOOR DISPLAYS
1 . Definitions.
1. INTENT AND PURPOSE
A) The purpose of this ordinance is to clearly express the City of Elk
River's intent for all properties to be landscaped and maintained
with great care. Properties shall be landscaped to express
sensitivity to environmental conditions as well as aesthetic needs
of the general public.
B) All landscaping must be designed to add visual beauty to the
property. The quantity and quality of the design should be
compatible with each zoning district and the intended use of the
property. Individual review of the landscape design will require
consistency with areas which have established unique concepts,
design patterns, and a high level of aesthetic value.
C1'' The preservation of desirable vegetation is a goal which should
be addressed prior to new construction or expansion of an
• existing use.
2. DEFINITIONS
For purposes of this Section, the terms listed below shall be defined as
follows:
CALIPER: The length of a straight line measured through the trunk of
a tree six (6) inches above the ground for up to and including a four (4)
inch caliper size, and twelve (12) inches above the ground for larger
sizes.
CONIFEROUS/EVERGREEN TREE: A woody plant which, at maturity, is at
least thirty (30) feet or more in height, with a single trunk, fully branched
to the ground, having foliage on the outermost portion of the branches
year-around.
DECIDUOUS OVERSTORY SHADE TREE: A woody plant which, at maturity, is thirty
(30) feet or more in height, with a single trunk unbranched for several
feet above the ground, having a defined crown, and which loses
• leaves annually.
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• DECIDUOUS UNDERSTORY ORNAMENTAL TREE: A woody plant which, at maturity, is
less than thirty (30) feet in height, with a single trunk, unbranched for
several feet above the ground having a defined crown, and which
loses leaves annually.
GROUND COVER: Plants which are used for accents and/or soil stabilization and
are typically 24-inches or less in height.
LANDSCAPE: Site amenities, including trees, shrubs, ground covers, flowers,
fencing, berms, retaining walls and other outdoor furnishings.
MECHANICAL EQUIPMENT: Heating, ventilation, exhaust, air conditioning, and
communication units integral to and located on top, beside, or
adjacent to a building.
2. Screen'nq. All nonresidential principal and accessory uses, except business
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the design of the principal structure. Plantings may be used as a
re-placement of oth- --e - "e e - -
SCREENING: A barrier which blocks all views from public roads and adjacent
differing land uses to off-street parking areas, loading areas, service
and utility areas, and mechanical equipment.
3. Landscaping`Screeninq
- All nonresidential principal and accessory uses including off-street parking,
except business signs, which are situated within fifty (50) feet of a residential
district, shall be screened from such district by a wall, fence and/or
• landscaping of not less than eighty percent (80%) opacity.
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• - Walls, or fences e - - --'e- or planting screens may be permitted if
the nature or extent of the use being screened is such that a lesser degree of
screening will adequately promote and protect the use and enjoyment of
the properties in the adjacent residential district, or that screening of the
type required by this ordinance would interfere with the provision of
adequate amounts of light and air to said properties.
- Double fronted residential buildings and lots along said collector or arterial
streets shall be screened with a fifteen (15) foot easement area for
landscaping. Screening shall be accomplished by a combination of earth
berming and planting.
- In all districts, mechanical equipment, and other similar features shall be
screened from adjacent properties and public streets with the application of
landscapincgdesigned to be compatible with the architectural treatment of
the principal structure or painted to match the building
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- All external loading and servic=e areas accessory' to buildings shall be
screened from the ground'levei view>with architectural enhancements, walls
and/or landscaping.
Ill4. Landscaping
G. A. General Requirement Applicable to all Districts.
- All exposed ground areas surrounding or within a principal or accessory
use, including street boulevards, which are not devoted to drives, sidewalks,
patios, or other such uses shall be landscaped with grass, shrubs, trees, or
other living ornamental landscape materials.
- All landscaped areas shall be kept neat, clean and uncluttered.
- No landscaped area shall be used for the parking of vehicles or the
storage or display of materials, supplies or merchandise.
- Undisturbed areas of existing natural vegetation maintained free of noxious
weeds need not be altered.
- A reasonable attempt shall be made to preserve wetlands and as many
existing trees as is practical and to incorporate them into the proposed
development plan.
• site plan. -` Slopes greater than 1 to lthree (3) feet horizontal to one (1) foot (3:1 )
will not be permitted without approval of the Building and Zoning Administrator.
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•
• City. Only under special conditions or unique circumstances will steeper slopes be
permitted.
Slopes adjacent to pedestrian systems, inslope of roadways, ponding,
sedimentation areas, and other water or wetland features may not have a
slope greater than 4:1 .
- In all multi-family, commercial, and industrial zoning districts, the
maintained/manicured landscaped areas shall have inground/underground
irrigation systems.
b. B. Landscaping Requirements in Multifamily Districts, Commercial Districts, and
Industrial Districts and Nonresidential Uses in Residential Districts.
i. Application of Requirements. All properties shall comply with the
requirements of this section when new development isor expansions are to
occur on these properties, except for single dwelling unit or two family unit
lots, public parks, playgrounds and athletic facilities, and public
and—pry a-te--gaaff courses, except that club houses, parking areas and other
structures accessory to such
ii. Landscape Plan Requirements. Landscape plans shall be prepared by a
• landscape architect or other qualified individual—acceptable to the City
Building and Zoning Administrator. Landscape plans shall be drawn to a
scale of not less than one (1 ) inch equals 50fifty (50) feet and shall include
the following information:
(a) name and address of property owner and/or developer
(b) name of project
(c) name of preparer of plan
(d) date of plan preparation
(e) boundary lines of the property with accurate dimensions. Note scale
and north arrow.
(f) locations of existing and proposed buildings, parking lots, public roads,
easements and other improvements
(g) proposed grading plan with two (2) foot contour intervals
• (g) location, approximate size and common name of existing trees
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(+)-h) planting schedule containing:
• - symbols
- quantities
- common names and botanical names
- size of plant materials
- root condition specifications
- special planting instructions
(ii) planting details illustrating proposed locations of all new plant material
including proposed walls, fences, planters, landscaped islands, and other
landscaping related improvements.
(-k) to tie-res and dctai f--ethcr landscape features including berms,
fences, and planter boxes
(ti) details of restoration of disturbed areas including areas to be sodded
and seeded
(mk) indication if irrigation sy-stems will be used
• (n) details of all rcquired-se-reening; and
(ok) location of existing wetlands
iii. Minimum Requirements. All open areas of a lot which are not used and
improved for required parking areas, drives or storage shall be landscaped
with a combination of overstory trees, undcrstory ornamental trees,.
coniferous trees, shrubs, flowers, and turf or ground cover materials. The
number of trees on the lot, tract, or parcel, shall not be less than the
perimeter of the described area as measured in feet divided by forty (401.
(a) Minimum Number of Ovc e -- . -- -e- e e - e --s on
tract as measured in feet divided by forty (Q0).
(a) Overstory Trees. Fifty percent (50%) of the required trees shall be
overstory trees.
(b) Ornamental Trees. -e. e e-- -e- -e e - -- --e e= e'
for two ornamental trees mee _ '-e e '•'- •- e e- e 'per inch. No more
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• fer—by Twenty-five percent (25%) of the required trees shall be ornamental
trees.
(c) Coniferous Trees. Twenty-five percent (25%) of the required trees shall be
coniferous trees.
..................
(dl In order to accomplish an adequate buffer additional landscaping over'.
and above the required amount may be requested by the City.
(e) Minimum Size and Root Condition of Required 9 e-r-s-tTrees.
- deciduous- overstory trees: two (2) inches in diameter as measured six (6)
inches above the ground and trees must be balled and burlapped.
- `ornamental trees: one and one-half (1 1/2) inches in diameter as
measured six (6) inches above the ground and trees must be balled and
burlapped.
- coniferous trees: - _ e - '- - -'e- six (6) feet in height and trees
• must be balled and burlapped.
(f) Species.
- all required trees shall be comprised of species which are classified as
overstory, ornamental, and coniferous trees by the American Nurseryman's
Association.
- not more than 50 percent (50%) of the required number of overstory or
ornamental trees shall be composed of one species.
- all plant materials shall be indigenous to the hardiness zone of the area in
which the City is located. The use of drought ''tolerant plant materials are
encouraged to meet landscaping requirements.
(eh) Credit for Oversizinq Required e Trees. The total number of
required overstory trees may be reduced by one tree for each new
deciduous tree measuring four and one-half (4-1/2) inches or more in
diameter, or each new coniferous tree measuring ten (10) feet or more in
height, which is planted on the lot or tract. In no event, however, shall this
credit result in a reduction in the total number of required trees by more than
• twenty-five percent (25%).
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• (fi) Credit for Existing Trees. The total number of required new overstory trees
may be offset by the retention of existing-everstoFy trees on the lot provided
that such trees satisfy the requirements of this section as to size and species.
A sliding scale shall be used to determine the amount of credit for existing
trees. Existing trees between four (4) inches in diameter and less than eight
(8) inches in diameter will receive credit for one (1 ) tree. Existing trees eight
(8) inches in diameter or greater will receive credit for two (2) trees.
Credit can not exceed fifty percent (50%) of the total requirement.
Maintenance. The property owner of the lot upon which-the required
landscaping or screening is located shall maintain all materials in a sightly
and healthy growing condition without cost to the-C-it-y.
v. Ea-for-c-ernent (k) Placement of Plant Materials.
(1 ) All required landscaping shall be located on the lot occupied by the use,
building, facility, or structures. No landscaping shall be located within any
public right-of-way unless approved by the City.
(2) Plant materials shall be located to provide reasonable access to all
utilities.
• (3) At all intersections, Sight `'Visibility triangles shall be kept clear of
landscape materials that would obstruct the sight lines of motorists at
intersectina streets.
5. Enforcement.
(01 ) Installation. All landscape improvements required by this subsection
shall be installed by the owner no later than one year after the issuance of a
building permit for the subject property.
Replacement of any dead trees, shrubs, ground covers and sodding shall be
responsibility of the property owner.
(b2) Inspection. Twelve (12) months after the date of issuance of a building
permit, the Building OfficialCity shall conduct a field inspection of the subject
site to assure compliance with the requirements of this ordinance and
implementation of the approved landscape plan.
— (c) Warrant . The owner shall warranty all landscaping for one (1 ) calendar
-- - - -- ' _-nee of the final Certificate of Occupancy for the project.
411
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(d3) Exceptions and Adjustments. Where a strict application of this
• subsection is not possible due to unique topographic landform, irregular lot
shape or historic features worthy of preservation, the applicant may present
an alternative landscape and screening plan to the City Planning
Commission for alternate approval.
6. Interior Parking Area
I. All off-street parking areas shall include unpaved, landscaped islands that
are reasonably distributed throughout the parking,area. These islands should
be located to break up expanses of paved areas and facilitate traffic
control.
II. Landscaped islands should be sized and designed to adequately support
landscaping.
7. Preservation of Woodland Areas
I. In order to retain, as far as practicable, substantial tree stands as part
of urban development, d..tree preservation plan should be submitted to the
City prior to removing trees or commencing construction.
•
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ITEM 6.1.
0MEMORANDUM
iver
TO: PLANNING COMMISSION
FROM: STEVEN B. ACH, CITY PLANNER,64 ,--
DATE: DECEMBER 27, 1994
SUBJECT: ORDINANCE AMENDMENT TO THE
SCREENING AND LANDSCAPING
REQUIREMENTS
At the November 21st meeting, the City Council reviewed the proposed
landscaping ordinance and indicated they had several concerns regarding the
proposed changes. Subsequent to receiving comments from the
Councilmembers, adjustments have been made in the proposed ordinance to
address their concerns. Although we do not need to hold a public hearing to
review these amendments, the Planning Commission's input was requested
by the City Council prior to this item coming back to them at their January
23rd meeting.
p1anning:pc:oa94-5
13065 Orono Parkway • P.O. Box 490 • Elk River, MN 55330 • (612) 441-7420 • Fax: (612) 441-7425
ITEM 6.1
CITY OF ELK RIVER
LANDSCAPE REQUIREMENTS
DECEMBER 20, 1994