To: Board of County Commissioners
Through: Bryan Weimer, Director of Public Works and Development
Prepared By:
prepared
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:
title
LDC21-001, Landscape Land Development Code Amendment and Development Application Manual Amendment
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Purpose and Request:
recommended action
The Planning Division proposes amendments to the Landscape regulations as contained in the Arapahoe County Land Development Code ("LDC" or the "Code") and the Development Application Manual (DAM).
Planning staff requests and recommends that the Board adopt two Resolutions, one to approve the proposed amendments to the Landscape regulations as proposed for the Land Development Code and the other to approve the related amendments to the Development Application Manual to incorporate the submittal requirements under the new Landscape Regulations if adopted.
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Background and Discussion: The 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 regulations occurred in 2003 to encourage, though not necessarily require, the use of water-conserving plant species in landscape designs. Due to increased drought conditions, higher water demands, limited access to central water systems in the eastern part of the County, and rising water costs, this amendment encourages the conservation of water through water-efficient landscapes. Also, 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 demo...
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