2010-252A (17) - Laserfiche WebLink

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➢ Residential Landscaping/Buffers In addition to minimizing impacts on residential properties from adjacent roadways and incompatible uses, landscape buffers also enhance the natural aesthetics of a residential development. In recent years, the county has strengthened landscape requirements for residential developments by increasing buffer and common open space requirements and by establishing a two canopy tree requirement for every new single-family residence. Current development regulations emphasize landscaping along project perimeters. While landscape buffers are necessary along project boundaries abutting busy streets or incompatible uses, landscape buffers along boundaries abutting other residential uses benefit only a limited number of residents, specifically those whose lots back-up to the buffer. In contrast, common open space areas benefit all project residents. Therefore, county policies should emphasize landscaped common open space areas accessible to all project residents in place of perimeter buffers abutting similar residential uses. ➢ Appearance of Single -Family Residences Oftentimes, new single-family subdivisions exhibit a monotony, or lack of variation, in residential architecture. Generally, design monotony results from the overuse or too -frequent repetition of a model or similar models within a subdivision. Additional causes of monotony include lack of articulation (particularly for two-story residences), garage placement at the front of a house, and building mass/scale that is not in proportion to lot size. To combat monotony, the county's policy should be to require design guidelines that apply to the appearance of houses within certain types of new residential development. In particular, design guidelines should be required of all new planned developments (PDs). Such guidelines would need to address garage placement and scale, frequency of use for a model within the same subdivision, building materials (fagade and roof), building massing and architectural details that relate to articulation, the project's appearance from adjacent public streets, and internal streetscaping. For all new residential PDs, design guidelines should be project -specific and require approval by the Planning and Zoning Commission prior to release of development plans. Commercial/Industrial Development As discussed above in the "Land Needed to Accommodate 2030 Population" section, the county has an adequate supply of commercial/industrial designated land on its Future Land Use Map to accommodate projected 2030 demand. Currently, there are 2,394 acres of developed commercial and industrial land within the county's C/I nodes. Those 2,394 acres represent only 43% of the total 5,538 acres within the C/I nodes, suggesting that the county has sufficient commercial and industrial designated land. Based on current employment trends and estimated future population growth, there will, by 2030, be a need within the overall county (unincorporated county plus the municipalities within the county) Future Land Use Element 94