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HomeMy WebLinkAbout6/7/2019 - RegularTOWN OF VINTON 311 S. POLLARD STREET VINTON, VIRGINIA 24179 PHONE: (540) 983-0605 FAX: (540) 983-0621 ANITA MCMILLAN EMAIL: amcmillan@vintonva.gov PLANNING AND ZONING DIRECTOR June 3, 2019 TO: VINTON PLANNING COMMISSION Mr. Keith Liles, Chairman Mr. David “Dave” Jones, Vice-Chairman Mr. Robert “Bob” Benninger Mr. William “Bill” Booth Mr. Robert “Bob” Patterson RE: Planning Commission Lunch Work Session Friday, June 7, 2019 A work session will be held by the Planning Commission to discu ss a proposed draft of a landscaping ordinance and revisions to the current buffering and screening standards of the zoning ordinance on Friday, June 7, 2019. The lunch work session will begin at 12:00 p.m. The lunch work session will be held in the Administration Conference Room. Please see the enclosed agenda and supporting materials for the meeting. Please review all the materials prior to the meeting and be ready to discuss them at the work session. Please let me know if you are UNABLE to attend the meeting on June 7th as soon as possible by emailing me at amcmillan@vintonva.gov or calling me at (540) 983-0605. Thank you. Sincerely, Anita J. McMillan Planning and Zoning Director Enclosures c: Barry Thompson, Town Manager Anne Cantrell, Treasurer/Finance Director Nathan McClung, Principal Planner AGENDA JUNE 7, 2019 LUNCH/ WORK SESSION: 12:00 P.M. ADMINISTRATION CONFERENCE ROOM I.Call to Order—Roll Call II.Zoning Amendment Topics for Discussion: 1.Proposed Landscaping Ordinance a.Review attached proposed landscaping ordinance document b.Review attached Powerpoint Presentation 2.Revisions to Buffering/Screening Standards a.Review attached draft of revisions to buffering and screening standards III.Comments of Planning Commissioners and Planning Staff IV.Adjournment Town of Vinton PLANNING COMMISSION Vinton Municipal Building 311 S. Pollard Street Vinton, VA 24179 Phone (540) 983-0605 Fax (540) 983-0621 Mr. Keith Liles, Chairman Mr. David “Dave” Jones, Vice-Chairman Mr. Robert “Bob” Benninger Mr. William “Bill” Booth Mr. Robert “Bob” Patterson 1 Town of Vinton Proposed Landscaping Ordinance 3 June 2019 Section 5-12 Landscaping Standards I.Purpose. The purpose of this section is to provide for landscape planting. Landscaping standards are intended to: a.Promote public health, safety and resilience; b.Prevent soil erosion and conserve natural resources; c.Provide shade; d.Conserve natural resources; and e.Enhance the overall appearance of development sites. II.Applicability. All of the following types of development shall comply with the standards in this section: a.The requirements of this division apply to any development for which a site development plan is required by Article ?, Division ?, "Site Development Plans," section ?. III.Landscaping Plan. A landscaping plan shall be submitted with an application for any development subject to the requirements of this section. The plan shall depict how the proposed development complies with the standards of this section. a.Landscaping Plan Preparation. A landscaping plan, when required through site plan review, shall be prepared by a Virginia Licensed Landscape Architect, Virginia Certified Landscape Designer, or a Certified Horticulturist or Arborist. b.Proposed planting chart shall be indicated on the landscaping plan. A landscape planting chart showing the planting schedule, minimum size at planting, total canopy percentage, species, and total canopy coverage for the site. IV.General Standards for Landscaping and Screening a.General Requirements. i.Acceptable vegetative ground cover consists of shrubs and ground cover including grass. Using standards from recognized texts on the subject, the Zoning Administrator shall decide the appropriateness of any such trees and ground cover. ii.Species of trees shall not be planted if the roots cause damage to public utilities, the branches are subject to a high incidence of breakage, and the fruit is considered a nuisance or high maintenance, as determined by the Zoning Administrator. 2 iii.Landscaping within a sight distance triangle shall not include any evergreen tree and, furthermore, shall not include shrubs or ground cover exceeding thirty (30) inches in height above the graded ground level. iv.When a determination of the number of required trees or shrubs, as set forth in this division, results in a fraction, any fraction shall be counted as one (1) tree or shrub. v.If the development of any portion of a lot includes the creation of a slope of two to one (2:1), horizontal to vertical, or greater, such slope shall be planted with vegetative cover, subject to determination of the Zoning Administrator that the methods of planting will hold the soil in place and that the proposed vegetative cover and rate of planting will ensure stabilization of the slope. vi.Trees planted to meet any of the requirements below may also be used to meet any other screening or landscaping requirement within this Article. b.Planting materials. Where landscaping is required by this division, the following standards shall apply: i.Trees used to meet the requirements of this division shall be selected from the current list of landscape trees approved and published by the Zoning Administrator. Such list shall specify minimum height or minimum caliper at planting, the 20-year canopy of trees in square feet, and the suitability of each species for parking areas, site canopy, or buffer yards. ii.Existing vegetation which meets the standards prescribed by this division, as determined by the Zoning Administrator, may be preserved and may be used to meet some or all of the landscaping requirements. iii.All plant material must meet American Association of Nurserymen Specifications for No. 1 grade. Native plantings are encouraged when compatible with the surrounding land use. Every effort should be made to incorporate healthy existing trees into the landscape and avoid the use of highly invasive species. iv.Where the planting of trees which have a height at twenty-year maturity which would interfere with overhead utility lines, the Zoning Administrator may, as a part of development plan approval, permit the substitution of trees with a lesser height at maturity, provided the substitute trees shall be provided at a rate that will result in the same amount of total tree canopy. c.Installation. The installation of required tree canopies, landscaping, buffering, and screening shall meet the following requirements: i.Only healthy planting materials shall be used for the required plantings. ii.The planting of trees shall be done in accordance with the standardized landscape specifications jointly adopted by the Virginia Nurserymen's Association, the Virginia Society of Landscape Designers and the Virginia Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects 3 d. Minimum tree and shrub size. New and existing tree and shrub types shall be defined by the height, caliper, and diameter at breast height per the Table below, Minimum Tree and Shrub Size. Table 1. Minimum Size and Spacing Requirements Height At Planting Final Height Screening and Spacing Requirements Small shrubs 12″ 2′ minimum N/A Large shrubs (evergreen or deciduous) 24″ 6′ minimum 5′ on center Small evergreen trees 5′ 15′ minimum 15′ on center Large evergreen trees 6—8′ 50′ minimum 20′ on center Small deciduous trees 1½″ caliper 15′ minimum N/A Large deciduous trees 2″ caliper 50′ minimum N/A e. Maintenance. After approval by the Zoning Administrator that all landscaping required by this chapter is complete and in healthy condition, the property owner shall be responsible for the ongoing protection and maintenance of all required landscaping in a manner that complies with the requirements of this chapter and in conformance with the approved development plan. Where necessary to comply with the requirements of this chapter and the approved development plan, dead or damaged landscaping materials shall be replaced by the property owner within six (6) months of notification by the Town f. Modification of landscaping requirements. The Zoning Administrator may approve in writing a development plan subject to, in whole or in part, alternative landscaping, screening, or buffer yard standards if the Zoning Administrator finds that any of the following circumstances exist on the proposed development site, or surrounding properties, provided any such alternative plan shall provide the equivalent quantity of required vegetative material and shall have no additional adverse visual impact on adjacent properties or public areas or otherwise be inconsistent with the stated purposes of this division: i. Natural land characteristics, such as topography or existing vegetation, on the proposed development site would achieve the same intent of this division; 4 ii. Innovative landscaping or architectural design is employed on the development site to achieve an equivalent tree canopy, landscaping, screening, or buffering effect; iii. The screening and landscaping for a required buffer would be ineffective because of the proposed topography of the site or the location of the improvements on the site; or iv. The topography of adjacent and surrounding sites would render required screening ineffective. V. Tree Replacement Requirements a. Any trees on the site which are a caliper of five inches or more at a height of one foot above the ground, or ornamental trees over twelve feet in height which are to be removed during site development shall be replaced up to the maximum canopy coverage required in Section ?.? below. VI. Canopy coverage requirements a. Definition of tree canopy. For purposes of this section, "tree canopy" shall include all areas of coverage by existing plant materials exceeding five (5) feet in height, and the extent of planted tree canopy at maturity shall be based on the "canopy at 20 years" as set forth in the current list of landscape trees referenced above in Sec.?.?. b. Trees shall be provided within the limits of construction to the extent that at twenty years from the date of planting, tree canopies or covers will provide at least the following minimums: Table 2. Canopy Coverage Requirements by District Zoning District Tree Canopy R-LD 20% R-1, R-2 20% CB 20% R-3 10% GB, R-B, M-1, M-2, MUD 10% PD Per Uses Above c. Existing trees or wooded areas which are to be preserved, at the applicants option may be included to meet all or part of the canopy requirements, provided the site plan identifies such trees and the trees meet the standards of size, health, placement, etc. set out in this section. The Zoning Administrator shall evaluate the use of existing trees to ensure they have adequate health and strength to allow such use. d. Existing trees designated to be included as part of these requirements shall be protected during construction by fencing placed at a distance in feet equal to or greater than the diameter of the tree in inches at the height of 4½ feet. e. This section does not replace, or negate full compliance with, the requirements of any other section of this chapter. However, if the trees provided to satisfy the requirements of street yard trees (Section ?.?), buffer yards (Section ?.?) and parking areas (Section ?.?) equal or exceed the tree canopy required by this 5 section, no further planting of trees or tree replacement is required in order to comply with the requirements of this section. VII. Parking Lot Landscaping. a. The following provisions are intended to require that 5% of the entire parking lot, excluding the access drive, is landscaped with trees and vegetative ground cover. The area of the parking lot is the square foot area of the parking spaces and aisles and interior parking lot islands, excluding access drives that do not contain either parallel or perpendicular parking spaces. b. Within the parking lot there shall be planted one tree per ten spaces, rounded down to the closest whole number. c. Planter islands or peninsulas containing trees shall be located within the parking lot, such that each island or planter is surrounded on at least 3 sides by parking lot or an access road to the parking lot. Their size shall be eighteen feet square in area, or equal total area in irregular shapes such that adequate space is provided for adequate tree canopy maturation. d. Planter islands may be combined or placed together such that more than one tree may be provided in the combined planter island, so long as the total space equals a multiple of the requirements above. e. Perimeter plantings may be used to satisfy this requirement in parking facilities less than forty-two feet in width. f. Perimeter planting beds at least 10 feet in width shall be provided whenever a parking area is immediately adjacent to a public right-of-way. If a question arises as to whether or not a parking area is immediately adjacent to a public right-of- way, the Zoning Administrator shall make the determination. i. Plantings within this area shall include trees and vegetative ground cover. ii. Berms may be used in addition to, but not instead of plantings. VIII. Adjacent right-of-way/street side plantings. a. Where a new or expanded development, or reconfigured parking area is proposed adjacent to a public street right-of-way, a planting strip shall be established between the parking areas and the adjacent right-of-way. The planting strip shall have a minimum width of ten (10) feet. b. Within this planting strip a minimum of one (1) large deciduous tree shall be planted every thirty (30) linear feet along the public street right-of-way. Small trees planted every twenty (20) linear feet, may be used where an overhead power line or other obstruction is present. c. The trees shall be planted adjacent to the public right-of-way on the site being developed, or with the concurrence of the developer, and the Zoning Administrator in the public right-of-way. d. The Zoning Administrator may reduce or eliminate this standard based on the size, street frontage, existing vegetation, and specific conditions of the site. IX. Alternative Landscaping Plan. An alternative landscaping plan may be submitted to, and approved by, the Zoning Administrator if strict compliance with the standards in this 6 section is impractical. In determining whether the alternative landscaping plan shall be approved, the Zoning Administrator shall consider whether: a. The site involves space limitations or is an unusually shaped lot; b. Existing buildings are maintained; c. Topography, soil, vegetation, or other physical conditions of the lot are such that full compliance is impossible or impractical; d. Compliance with landscaping standards would endanger public safety; e. Impact on the environmental quality of the lot and surrounding area will be improved with the proposed alternative landscaping plan; or f. Strict compliance with landscaping standards is not practical. Section 5-13 Proposed Buffering and Screening Standards Revisions I. Purpose. Perimeter buffering and screening provides spacing and landscaping between proposed development and adjoining land or streets, in order to: a. Mitigate potential negative impacts from development on adjoining lands; b. Provide a transition between private lands and the public realm; c. Create an attractive edge along the street for motorists and pedestrians; and d. Improve stormwater infiltration in certain locations. II. Applicability. All of the following types of development shall comply with the standards in this section: a. Two-family dwellings; b. Townhouse dwellings; c. Multi-family dwellings; d. Mixed-use development; e. Planned Development District; and f. Non-residential development. Any change to a use listed in subsections (a) through (f), above, shall comply with this section to the maximum extent practicable. III. Perimeter Buffer Standards a. Buffer Yard Standards i. Location and depth. A buffer yard shall be provided in any case where a side rear lot line of a lot abuts or is situated across an alley from property located in a district of lower intensity as shown on the following table. The buffer yard shall be provided on the lot in the higher intensity district. ii. Buffer yards containing specified screening and plantings shall be required between zoning districts of different intensities as shown in Table 3. For each required buffer type, the developer of the site shall choose which option to install. Buffer yards shall be installed in the higher intensity zoning district. 7 iii. Required buffer yards shall be located such that they provide a visual and physical barrier between abutting zoning districts of different intensities and shall buffer and screen all exterior storage, service, refuse, maintenance, repair, processing, salvage, and other similar areas. No use of the site may be extended beyond the required buffer yard. iv. Required buffer yards shall not be located on any portion of any existing or dedicated public or private street or right-of-way, shall not obstruct the visibility of traffic circulation, and shall not interfere with the use of adjoining properties. Table 3. Type of Required Buffer Yard Zoning District Abutting Zoning District R-LD, R-1, R-2, or R-3 RB RB A N/A GB or CB B A M-1 or M-2 C C Note: Buffer Yard Types are defined in the Table, Standards for Buffer Yard Type, below Table 4. Buffer Yard Requirements Type of Buffer Yard Option 1: Architectural Option 2: Vegetative A Six-foot screen Five-foot buffer yard, one row of large evergreen shrubs B Six-foot screen, 10-foot buffer yard, one row of small evergreen trees 25-foot buffer yard, one row of small evergreen trees, one row of large evergreen shrubs C Six-foot screen, 25-foot buffer yard, one row of large evergreen trees, one row of small evergreen trees 50-foot buffer yard, one row of large evergreen trees, one row of small evergreen trees, and one row large of evergreen shrubs v. Required buffer yards, including screening and plantings shall be in place at the time of any occupancy or use of the property. Required plantings may be installed at the beginning of the first opportune planting season after any occupancy or use of the property. vi. The buffer yard shall be reserved solely for screening and plantings, except for required pedestrian or vehicular access driveways to the property, passive recreation areas, or pedestrian or bicycle trails, which can be accommodated in a manner that preserve the intended screening function between abutting zoning districts of different intensities. In no case shall any portion of a required buffer yard be used for parking, 8 service, refuse, storage, maintenance, or any other use that impairs the intended buffer function. vii. The property owner or lessee shall have the responsibility to continuously maintain the required buffer yards, screening and plantings such that they continue to meet the specified standards and intent of this section. All materials shall present an attractive appearance and be of durable construction. IV. Standards for buffer yard planting and screening a. Planting required by this section shall be provided in accordance with the following standards: i. Vegetative material shall consist of evergreen shrubs or evergreen trees of such species, size, shape and spacing as will provide effective visual screening in accordance with the requirements of this section. ii. Where necessary to provide the required screening effect, the planting pattern shall be staggered. iii. Where required, all evergreen shrubs shall have a height of at least 24 inches at the time of planting and an ultimate height of six feet or more. Some evergreen shrubs that meet these standards are various types of hollies, yews, and junipers. iv. Where required, each small evergreen tree shall have a height of at least five feet at time of planting and an ultimate height of 15 feet or greater. Some small evergreen trees that meet these standards are various types of pines, hollies, upright arborvitae and junipers. v. Where required, each large evergreen tree shall have a height of at least six to eight feet at the time of planting and an ultimate height of 50 feet or greater. Some large evergreen trees that meet these standards are various types of pines, firs and hemlocks. vi. Existing evergreen trees and shrubs which meet the requirements of this section may be counted as contributing to total planting requirements. vii. All portions of buffer yard areas not containing plantings shall be seeded with lawn grass of other approved vegetative ground cover. b. Screening required by this section shall be provided in accordance with the following standards: i. Screening shall be visually opaque and shall be constructed of a durable material. It shall be installed within the required buffer yard, and shall be continuously maintained. ii. Acceptable screening materials shall include stockade fences, decorative masonry walls, brick walls, and earth berms. Alternate materials may be approved, if in the opinion of the Zoning Administrator, their characteristic and design meet the intent and standards of this section. iii. Screening shall be provided, in addition to the requirements listed above, for: 9 1. All articles or materials being stored, maintained, repaired, processed, erected, fabricated, dismantled, or salvaged, such that the activity is not visible from surrounding properties or roads. 2. Refuse storage and loading areas such that these activities are not visible from surrounding properties or roads. 3. Rooftop and ground level mechanical equipment such that it is not visible from surrounding properties or roads. 4. All trash dumpsters or containers used for recycling shall be screened so that it is not visible from surrounding properties or roads. At minimum, the dumpster or container shall be screened on three (3) sides with architectural screening. Screening shall be based upon the standards above and subject to the approval of the Administrator. a. Four (4) foot tall architectural screening is acceptable when household style trash containers are used in place of dumpsters. V. Credit toward other Standards. Buffer yard areas and associated vegetation within such areas may be credited toward compliance with the Landscaping Standards in Section 5.12, above. Proposed Landscaping Ordinance and Buffering/Screening Revisions PC Work Session 6/7/2019 Purpose of Landscaping Standards •Promote public health, safety and resilience; •Prevent soil erosion and conserve natural resources; •Provide shade; •Conserve natural resources; and •Enhance the overall appearance of development sites. Applicability •The requirements of this division apply to any development for which a site development plan is required. •Current Zoning Ordinance states that a site plan is required during any of the following: •Construction of a new building, other than a single-family dwelling or building accessory thereto. •Enlargement of an existing building, other than a single-family dwelling or building accessory thereto, when such enlargement exceeds ten percent of the floor area of the building or 500 square feet, whichever is less. •Construction of a parking area for five or more vehicles, or any addition to or alteration of the arrangement or means of access to an existing parking area for five or more vehicles. General Standards for Landscaping and Screening •Requirements of the species, sight distance triangles, sloping exemptions, etc. •Health and size of plantings materials. •Requirements related to the installation of the materials. •Maintenance after they are installed. •Potential modifications of landscaping requirements (safety valve for Zoning Administrator). •e.g. modifications related to the presences of overhead utilities. AVOID: General Standards for Landscaping and Screening •New and existing tree and shrub types shall be defined by the height, caliper, and diameter at breast height per the Table below, Minimum Tree and Shrub Size. Table 1. Minimum Size and Spacing Requirements Height At Planting Final Height Screening and Spacing Requirements Small shrubs 12″ 2′ minimum N/A Large shrubs (evergreen or deciduous) 24″ 6′ minimum 5′ on center Small evergreen trees 5′ 15′ minimum 15′ on center Large evergreen trees 6—8′ 50′ minimum 20′ on center Small deciduous trees 1½″ caliper 15′ minimum N/A Large deciduous trees 2″ caliper 50′ minimum N/A Tree Replacement Requirements •Any trees on the site which are a caliper of five inches or more at a height of one foot above the ground, or ornamental trees over twelve feet in height which are to be removed during site development shall be replaced up to the maximum canopy coverage requirements. Canopy coverage requirements •Trees shall be provided within the limits of construction to the extent that at twenty years from the date of planting, tree canopies or covers will provide at least the following minimums: Table 2. Canopy Coverage Requirements by District Zoning District Tree Canopy R-LD 20% R-1, R-2 20% CB 20% R-3 10% GB, R-B, M-1, M-2, MUD 10% PD Per Uses Above Canopy Coverage Requirements Total Square Footage of Canopy (at maturity) Total Square Footage of Construction Limits Canopy Coverage % Parking Lot Landscaping •The following provisions are intended to require that 5% of the entire parking lot, excluding the access drive, is landscaped with trees and vegetative ground cover. •The area of the parking lot is the square foot area of the parking spaces and aisles and interior parking lot islands, excluding access drives that do not contain either parallel or perpendicular parking spaces. •Perimeter planting beds at least 10 feet in width shall be provided whenever a parking area is immediately adjacent to a public right-of- way. •Perimeter plantings may be used to satisfy the percentage requirement in parking facilities less than forty-two feet in width. Parking Lot Landscaping Adjacent right-of-way/street side plantings Alternative Landscaping Plan •In determining whether the alternative landscaping plan shall be approved, the Zoning Administrator shall consider whether: •The site involves space limitations or is an unusually shaped lot; •Existing buildings are maintained; •Topography, soil, vegetation, or other physical conditions of the lot are such that full compliance is impossible or impractical; •Compliance with landscaping standards would endanger public safety; •Impact on the environmental quality of the lot and surrounding area will be improved with the proposed alternative landscaping plan; or •Strict compliance with landscaping standards is not practical. Buffering and Screening Standards Revisions Purpose •Perimeter buffering and screening provides spacing and landscaping between proposed development and adjoining land or streets, in order to: •Mitigate potential negative impacts from development on adjoining lands; •Provide a transition between private lands and the public realm; •Create an attractive edge along the street for motorists and pedestrians; and •Improve stormwater infiltration in certain locations. Buffer Yard and Screening Installation •Buffer yards shall be installed in the higher intensity zoning district. •No use of the site may be extended beyond the required buffer yard. •All exterior storage, service, refuse, maintenance, repair, processing, salvage, and other similar areas shall be screened. •No use of the site may be extended beyond the required buffer yard •Where necessary to provide the required screening effect, the planting pattern shall be staggered. •Acceptable screening materials shall include stockade fences, decorative masonry walls, brick walls, and earth berms. They shall be completely opaque. Buffer Yard Requirements Table 4. Buffer Yard Requirements Type of Buffer Yard Option 1: Architectural Option 2: Vegetative A Six-foot screen Five-foot buffer yard, one row of large evergreen shrubs B Six-foot screen, 10-foot buffer yard, one row of small evergreen trees 25-foot buffer yard, one row of small evergreen trees, one row of large evergreen shrubs C Six-foot screen, 25-foot buffer yard, one row of large evergreen trees, one row of small evergreen trees 50-foot buffer yard, one row of large evergreen trees, one row of small evergreen trees, and one row large of evergreen shrubs Buffering and Screening Pattern Example Roanoke County Buffering and Screening Pattern Example Allen County, IN Example of Architectural Screening Materials Scenario #1: GB Abutting RB Scenario #1: GB Abutting RB (Option 1) Requirements: -Six-foot screen Scenario #1: GB Abutting RB (Option 2) Requirements: -Five foot buffer yard -One row of large evergreen shrubs Scenario #2: GB Abutting R-1 Scenario #2: GB Abutting R-1 (Option 1) Requirements: -Six-foot screen -10-foot buffer yard -One row of small evergreen trees Scenario #2: GB Abutting R-1 (Option 2) Requirements: -25-foot buffer yard -One row of small evergreen trees -One row of large evergreen shrubs Scenario #3: M-1 Abutting R-2 Scenario #3: M-1 Abutting R-2 (Option 1) Requirements: -Six-foot screen -25-foot buffer yard -One row of large evergreen trees -One row of small evergreen trees Scenario #3: M-1 Abutting R-2 (Option 2) Requirements: -Six-foot screen -50-foot buffer yard -One row of large evergreen trees -One row of small evergreen trees -One row of large evergreen shrubs Final Note on Requirements and Remedies •Buffer yard areas and associated vegetation within such areas may be credited toward compliance with the Landscaping Standards in Section 5.12. •The Zoning Administrator is provided with various means to provide alternatives or exemptions when met with various situations or circumstances that make certain requirements impractical or infeasible. Questions?