PC Packet 07-15-2014 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

applicant is attempting to successfully balance City requirements, APi's needs, and LEED standards. To conclude, minimum off-street parking standards are met. Screening of Parking Areas Section 6-710(3) establishes standards for the screening of parking areas that face street frontages. This section requires use of "hedges, ornamental railing, walls, bollards, trees, and other methods to screen parking lots from pedestrian spaces while maintaining eye-level visibility." Additionally, the screening must be maintained to a height of 2 '/2 feet — 3 '/2 feet. The proposed site plan has several parking areas that face Northwest Parkway. The applicant intends to meet this standard by planting a series of shrubs that will eventually make a hedge. Staff finds this approach acceptable to meeting this standard. Landscaping Zoning Code Section 6-750(3) outlines the following landscaping standards (staff responses in italics): • All land area not occupied by buildings, parking, driveways, sidewalks or other hard surface shall be sodded or mulched and landscaped with approved ground cover, flowers, shrubbery and trees. This standard is met. The Landscape Plan indicates all areas will be sodded, mulched and/or landscaped. • At least 10% of the total land area within the perimeter of the private parking and driveway areas shall be landscaped. Staff finds this standard is met. While a percentage is not noted on the plan, a cursory review easily indicates at least 10% of the total land area within the perimeter of parking area is landscaped. This landscaping includes the proposed hedge screening, 8 overstory trees, and two large rain garden areas. • Parking lot landscaped islands shall be a minimum of 150 SF in area and include at least one overstory or evergreen tree. This standard is met. The plan depicts 2 large parking lot islands exceeding 1,000 SF each, and incorporation of 10 Dakota Pinnacle Birch trees per island • Where parking abuts the site perimeter there shall be provided at least one overstory tree per 25' of site perimeter. Some interpretation of this standard is necessary. Parking stalls abut 305' of site perimeter. The Landscape Plan indicates that parking only abuts 171 ' of site perimeter. However, parking abutting the northern boundary was not included in the perimeter calculation. The applicant has proposed 9 overstory trees within the site's perimeter. Additionally, 9 evergreen trees have been proposed within the perimeter. Staff interprets evergreen trees as a suitable tree type for this standard Thus, with 9 overstory and 9 evergreen trees, this standard is met.