7.12. SR 10-17-1994
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~ll< River
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** CONSENT ITEM 7.12
MEMORANDUM
TO: MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
FROM:
J[T'
TROY LANGER, PLANNING INTERN
DATE:
OCTOBER 17, 1994
SUBJECT: AMEND VARIOUS SECTIONS OF THE
SCREENING AND LANDSCAPING
ORDINANCE (SECTION 900.30),
PUBLIC HEARING, CASE NO. OA 94-05
REQUEST
Staff is proposing several amendments to various sections of the landscaping
and screening ordinance (Section 900.30). This item was reviewed by the
Planning Commission on September 27, 1994 and it was the recommendation
of the Planning Commission to table this request to allow for more time to
review the proposed amendments.
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that the City Council table the request for ordinance
amendments to the landscaping and screening requirements (Section 900.30)
until the November 21, 1994 City Council meeting.
P.O. Box 490 . 13065 Orono Parkway. Elk River, MN 55330 · (612) 441-7420 · Fax: (612) 441-7425
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CITY OF ELK RIVER
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LANDSCAPE REQUIREMENTS
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OCTOBER 25, 1994
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900.30 - REGULATIONS ON SCREENING, LANDSCAPING, LIGHTING.
STORAGE AND OUTDOOR DISPLAYS
1. Dofinitions.
1. INTENT AND PURPOSE
Al 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 areat care. Properties shall be landscaped to express
sensitivity to environmental conditions as well as aesthetic needs
of the aeneral public.
BI All landscapina must be desianed to add visual beauty to the
property. The auantity and quality of the desian should be
compatible with each zonina district and the intended use of the
property. Individual review of the landscape desian will require
consistencv with areas which have established unique concepts,
desian patterns. and a hiah level of aesthetic value.
C)
The preservation of desirable veoetation is a ooal which should
be addressed prior to new construction or expansion of an
existina 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.
=> CLEAR CUTTING: The indiscriminate removal of trees, shrubs, or
underarowth with the intention of Preparina real property for
nonaoricultural development purposes. This definition shall not
include the selective removal of non-native tree and shrub species
when the soil is left relatively undisturbed; removal of dead trees; or
normal mowina operations.
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
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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.
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 heiqht.
LANDSCAPE: Site amenities, including trees, shrubs, ground covers. flowers,
fencing. berms, retaining walls and other outdoor furnishings.
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MECHANICAL EQUIPMENT: Heating, ventilation, exhaust, air conditioning, and
communication units integral to and located on top, beside, or
adjacent to a building.
2. Screeninq. All nonresidential principal and accessory uses, except business
signs, which are situatod within fifty (50) feet of a rosidontial district. shall bo
screenod from such district by a wall or fenco of not loss than oighty percont (gO'll
opacity and not loss than fivo (5) ner moro than sovon (7) foot in hoight abovo the
hoight of the residential property at tho district boundarf. Walls er fences of lesser
heights or planting screons ma't' bo pormittod by the Council if it finds that the
naturo or extGnt of the use being screened is such that a lesser degree of
screening .""i11 adequately promote and protect the use and enjoyment of the
propertios in tho adjacent residential district, or that screening of tho typo roquired
by this ordinance would interfere with tho provision of adequate amounts of light
and air to said properties.
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Mechanical equipment located on the oxterior or roofs ef nonresidential uses must
also be scrOEJnod with material that is architecturally harmonious with
tho dosign of tho principal structuro. Plantings may bo used as a
roplacomont of othor material to scroen oxtoriorSCREENING: A barrier
which blocks all views from public roads and adiacent differina land
uses to off-street parkin a areas. loadina areas, service and utility areas.
and mechanical equipment.
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3. Landscapinq:Screenina
- All nonresidential Principal and accessory uses includina off-street parkina,
except business sians. which are situated within fifty 150l feet of a residential
district. shall be screened from such district by a wall. fence and/or
landscapinq of not less than eiahty percent 180%1 opacity.
- Walls or fences of lesser heiqhts or plantinq screens may be permitted if the
nature or extent of the use beinq screened is such that a lesser deoree of
screenina will adeauately promote and protect the use and enioyment of
the properties in the adiacent residential district, or that screenina of the
type reauired by this ordinance would interfere with the provision of
adeauate amounts of Iiqht and air to said properties.
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- Double fronted residential buildinqs and lots alona said collector or arterial
streets shall be screened with a fifteen (151 foot easement area for
landscapino will be provided. Screenina shall be Provided to a heiaht of
three and one-half 13 1!21 feet above adiacent roadway. Screeninq shall
be accomplished by a combination of earth berminq and plantinq. A
minimum of twenty-five percent (25%1 of reauired screen must be provided
with plant material.
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- The liqht from automobile headliqhts and other sources shall be screened
whenever it may be directed onto adiacent residential windows.
In all districts, all mechanical eauipment, utility meters, storaae, and
service areas similar features shall be completely screened from the eye
level view from adiacent properties and public streets, or desianed to be
compatible with the architectural treatment of the principal structure.
- All external loadinq and service areas accessory to buildinas shall be
completely screened from the around level view from contiauous residential
or commercial properties and adiacent streets. except at access points.
4. Landscaoina
G.-A. General Reauirement 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.
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- All landscaped areas shall be kept neat, clean and uncluttered.
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- 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.
sito plan. - Slopes greater than 4 to Ithree (31 feet vertical to one III foot
horizontal (3:1) will not be permitted without approval of the Building and Zoning
.A.dministrator.
City. Only under sPecial conditions or uniaue circumstances will steeper slopes be
permitted.
=> Slopes for the purpose of pedestrian systems, inslope of roadway systems.
pondina. sedimentation. and other water or wetland items are not included in
the (3:1) slope requirement.
In all multi-family. commercial. and industrial zoned districts, the
maintained/manicured landscaped areas shall have inqround/underaround
irriqation systems.
&.--B. Landscapina Reauirements in Multifamily Districts. Commercial Districts. and
Industrial Districts and Nonresidential Uses in Residential Districts.
i. Application of Reauirements. All properties shall comply with the
requirements of this section when new development i50r expansions are to
occur on these properties, except for single dwelling unit or two family unit
lots, public parks, playgrounds and athlotic facilitios. and public.
and privato golf coursos, oxcept that club housos, parking areas and other
structuros accossory to such golf courses shall comply.
ii. Landscape Plan Reauirements. Landscape plans shall be prepared by a
landscape architect or other qualified individual-acceptable to the City
Building and Zoning I\dministrator. Landscape plans shall be drawn to a
scale of not less than one ilLinch equals eGfifty (SOl feet and shall include
the following information:
(a) name and address of property owner and/or developer
(b) name of project
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(c) name of pre parer 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
(gJ proposod grading plan with hvo (2) foot contour intorvals
(g) location, approximate size and common name of existing trees
(itbL planting schedule containing:
- symbols
- quantities
- common names and botanical names
- size of plant materials
- root condition specifications
- special planting instructions
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(jj) planting details illustrating proposed locations of all new plant material
includinQ proposed walls. fences. planters. landscaped islands, and other
landscapinQ related improvements.
(k) locations and dotails of other landscapo foatures including berms,
foncos, and planter boxos
(Ii) details of restoration of disturbed areas including areas to be sodded
and seeded
(ffit) indication if irrigation systems will be used
(n) dotails of all roquired screening: and
(elJ location of existing wetlands
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iii. Minimum Reauirements. 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 overs tory trees, understoryornamental 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 1401.
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(a) Minimum ~Iumber of O'terstory Troos. Tho numbor of overstory trees on
tho lot, tract, or phaso Iino. shall be not less than tho perimotor of tho lot or
tract as moasurod in foot divided by forty (40).
fal Overstory Trees. Fifty percent (50%1 of the reauired trees shall be
overstory trees.
(b) Ornamental Trees. Crodit for one roquirod overstory troe may bo given
for two ornamontal trees moasuring a minimum of one caliper inch. ~lo moro
than 25 porcont (25'l) of tho required o'iorstory trees should be substituted
for by Twenty five percent (25%1 of the reauired trees shall be ornamental
trees.
lc1 Coniferous Trees. Twenty-five percent (25%1 of the reauired trees shall be
coniferous trees.
(dl City may reauire chanqinq the percentaqes of trees if uniaue
circumstances apply to the property that warrant other plantina
percentaqes.
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(el City may reauire additionallandscapina over and above the reauired
amount to meet buffer requirements.
(Bf) Minimum Size and Root Condition of Required Overstory Trees.
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 1121 inches in diameter as
measured six (61 inches above the qround and trees must be balled and
burlapped.
- coniferous trees: five (li) to Sill (6) foot in h()ightsix (61 feet in heiaht and trees
must be balled and burlapped.
(eg) Species.
- all required trees shall be comprised of species which are classified as
overstory, ornamental, and coniferous trees by the American Nurseryman~s
Association.
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- not more than 50 percent (50%) of the required number of ovorstorl or
ornamontol trees shall be composed of one species~
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- all plant materials shall be indigenous to the hardiness zone of the area in
which the City is located. The use of drouaht tolerant plant materials are
encouraqed to meet landscapinq reauirements.
- no tree shall be any of the followina species to meet landscape
reauirements:
1) a species of the Qenus Ulmus (elm!. except those elms bred to
be immune to Dutch Elm disease:
21 box elder;
31 a species of the qenus Populous lpoplarl;
41 female ainko: or
5) Other species as determined bv the City.
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(en) Credit for Oversizinq Reauired Larqe Trees. The total number of
required overstory trees may be reduced by one tree for each new
deciduous tree measuring four and one-half (4-112) 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%).
(fj) Credit for Existina Trees. The total number of required new overstory trees
may be offset by the retention of existing overstorl 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 150%1 of the total reauirement.
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iv--o-ill Maintenance. The property owner of the lot upon which--#le required
landscaping or screening is located shall maintain all materials in a sightly
and healthy growing condition without cost to the City.
Y. Enforcement (kl Placement of Plant Materials.
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(1) All required screenina or bufferinq shall be located on the lot occupied
by the use. buildina. facility. or structures to be screened. No screenina or
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bufferinq shall be located within any public riqht-of-way unless approved by
the City.
(21 Plant materials shall be located to provide reasonable access to all
utilities.
131 Siqht visibility trianales shall be maintained and include the area on each
street corner that is bounded by theline which connects the siaht or
connectinq points located on each riqht of way lines of the intersection.
The plantina of threes or other plantinqs exceedinq thirty (301 inches in heiaht
that would obstruct clear siaht across the identified area is prohibited.
II) Enforcement. Replacement of any dead trees, shrubs, around covers
and soddina shall be responsibility of the property owner.
(el) 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.
(132) Inspection. Twelve (12) months after the date of issuance of a building
permit, the Building OflicialCity 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) Warranty. Tho owner shall warranty all landscaping for one (1) calondar
yoar aftor tho issuanco of tho final Certificato of Occupancy for tho projoct.
(e~) Exceptions and Adiustments. Where q 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.
=> (4) Performance Guarantee. All approved plans shall include a financial
auarantee to assure all landscape improvements are completed. Financial
auarantee shall be in an amount equal to cost of landscape improvements.
5. Interior Parkina Area
I. All parkinq areas containina over one hundred llOOl stalls shall include
unpaved. landscaped islands that are reasonably distributed throuahout the
parkina area to break UP the expanses of paved areas.
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II. All parkinq areas less than one hundred 11001 stalls shall include unpaved,
landscaped islands alonq drivinq aisles that serve as primary circulation to
the site. In addition. landscaped islands shall be provided every two
hundred 1200l feet or more of uninterrupted parkin a stalls.
III. All landscaped islands shall contain a minimum width of six 161 feet and
shall be provided with deciduous shade trees. ornamental or everqreen
trees. plus around cover, mulch and/or shrubbery, in addition to the
minimum landscape requirements of this ordinance.
6. Preservation of Woodland Areas
1. No clear cuttino of woodland areas shall be permitted unless done in
accordance with a development plan approved by the City Council.
7. Liahtina
4. Liqhtinq.Artificial lighting shall be planned, designed, constructed and
maintained consistent with the following standards:
a. A. Lighting shall be directed away from the public right-of-way and
nearby or adjacent residential or agricultural conservation districts.
b. B. Commercial parking lots shall be lighted to a minimum level of three
(3) foot candles. Other parking lots shall be lighted to a minimum level of
one and one half (1-1/2) foot candles.
c. C. All sources of artificial lights shall be so fixed, directed, designed or
sized that the minimum subtotal of their illumination will not increase the level
of illumination on any nearby residential property by more than 0.1 foot
candles in or within twenty-five (25) feet of a dwelling nor more than 0.5 foot
candles on any part of the property.
d. D. Glare, whether direct or reflected as different from general
illumination, shall not be visible from beyond the limits of the immediate site
from which it originates.
8. Architectural Standards
5. Architoctural Standards. All multifamily, commercial and industrial construction
shall be developed in accordance with the following design standards:
a. A. Architectural Plans. Construction plans shall be prepared and
submitted to include:
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i. Elevations of all sides of the building
II. Type and color of exterior building materials
Iii. A typical floor plan and dimensions of all structures
iv. Location of trash containers, heating. air conditioning and
ventilation systems
v. Proposed screening of trash containers, heating, air conditioning and
ventilation systems.
&.--B. Exterior Buildina Finish
i. Standards for the R-3, R-4, C-l, C-2 and PUD zones. One hundred percent
(100%) of the exterior building finish shall consist of materials comparable in
grade and quality to the materials on the list of exterior building finishes
referenced in this section.
ii. Standards for the C-3 zoninq. A minimum of seventy-five (75%) of the
exterior building finish shall consist of materials comparable in grade and
quality to the materials on the list of exterior building finishes referenced in
this section.
Iii. Standards for the I-I and 1-2 zones. A minimum of twenty-five percent
[25%) of the exterior building finish shall consist of materials comparable in
grade and quality to the materials on the list of exterior building finishes
referenced in this section.
iv. Approved Exterior Buildinq Finishes
(a) Face Brick
(b) Natural Stone
(c) Glass
(d) Wood
(e) Stucco
(f) Aluminum Lapsiding
(g) Masonite
(h) Vinyl
(i) Specially designed precast concrete units or concrete blocks (only if
the surfaces have been integrally treated with an applied decorative
material or textured).
(j) Other approved architectural metal siding
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c. C. Roofina Standards. Roofing shall consist of materials comparable in
grade and quality to the following:
h-1 R-3, R-4, C-1, C-2 & PUD shingled or membrane roof
ii. C-3, 1-1, and 1-2 shingled, membrane, colored metal, or dulled
noncolored (galvalume-Iike) metal on roofs with a pitch of 1 to 12 or
flatter.
d. D. Alterations and Additions. All subsequent additions and exterior
alterations constructed after the erection of an original building or buildings
(when the original building was constructed in conformance with this
section) shall be constructed of materials comparable to those used in the
original construction and shall be designed in a manner conforming to the
original architectural design and general appearance.
o. E. Accessory Structures. Architectural standards as outlined in this
section, shall also apply to accessory buildings.
f. F. Performance Standards. All portions or sides of buildings which abut a
public street or a residential or institutional use or zone or place of assembly
such as a public park or recreational facility shall be constructed of materials
on the list of exterior building finishes referenced in this section.
9.
Storaae and Display
6. ~toraqe and Display. Storage and display on properties shall be planned,
designed, constructed and maintained consistent with the following, at the City's
discretion:
a. A. All materials, supplies, merchandise or other similar matter not on
display for direct sale, rental, or lease shall be stored within a completely
enclosed building or if located within an 1-1 industrial district must be w~thin
the confines of a one-hundred percent (100%) opaque wall or fence not less
than five (5) feet high.
b. B. Merchandise may be displayed beyond the confines of a building.
The area occupied by such outdoor display shall not constitute a greater
number of square feet than ten percent (10%) of the ground floor area of
the building housing the principal use. Merchandise that is customarily
displayed outdoors, such as garden supplies, shall be exempt from this
provision.
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c. C. No storage of any type shall be permitted within one-half (112) of the
required front or side street setback nearest the street.
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