To: Board of County Commissioners
Through: Bryan Weimer, Direct of Public Works and Development
Prepared By:
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Molly Orkild-Larson, Principal Planner, Public Works and Development
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presenter
Presenter: Molly Orkild-Larson, Principal Planner, Public Works and Development
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Subject:
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1:15 PM *LDC21-001-Amendment to the Landscape Section of the Land Development Code
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Purpose and Request:
recommended action
The Land Development Code (LDC) requires landscaping for most land development applications reviewed through the Public Works and Development Department. Landscape regulations in the LDC first appeared in 1999 and have been modified through the years. The last modification to the landscape code occurred in 2003 to encourage, though not necessarily require, the use of water-conserving plant species in landscape designs.
Portions of the existing landscape regulations are unclear and difficult for staff and applicants to understand. Some areas of confusion include what portion of a development needs to be landscaped, how to calculate the required number of trees and shrubs, and how to demonstrate plant count compliance with the code. The update will also consider appropriate planting rates for varied uses and how landscape regulations may need to adjust for the East County environment in comparison to urban/suburban landscape standards.
The code also needs to be modified to include missing landscape processes or information such as a tree preservation plan and artificial turf and address new landscape techniques and products such as parking lot stormwater reuse and rain gardens.
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Background and Discussion: Staff approached the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) in March 2021 in a study session to request direction on amending the landscape code. The BOCC agreed to this amendment and directed staff to proceed. With this approval, the staff took the following actions:
1. Sent out a survey to obtain comments fro...
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