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� � r TO: James Chandler County Administrator DMSION HEAD CONCURRENCE: arc Robert M. Keating, CP Community Development Director FROM: Stan Boling, AICP Planning Director DATE: November 24, 1997 SUBJECT: First Hearing: Proposed Landscaping LDR Amendments It is requested that the data herein presented be given formal consideration by the Board of County Commission:x- its special meeting of Decerrber 1, 1997. BACKGROUND: At its meeting of June 26, 1997, the Planning and Zoning Commission reviewed and accepted Proposed landscaping amendments and considered a request from the PSAC to hold a joint workshop on landscaping issues. The Commission then voted to direct staff to set-up a PSAC/Planning and Zoning Commission/Board of County Commissioners public workshop on landscaping issues. The Planning and Zoning Commission also voted to recommend that the Board invoke the "pending ordinance doctrine" for the proposed ordinance until the county holds the joint workshop and considers final adoption of revised landscaping requirements. On July 22, 1997, the Board of County Commissioners reviewed proposed landscaping amendments and invoked the pending ordinance doctrine for a proposed ordinance that modifies the county's existing landscaping requirements. Since that time, county staff has applied the pending ordinance requirements to new applications for development and re -development projects countywide. At that same July 22nd meeting, in response to a request from the Planning and Zoning Commission, PSAC, and staff; the Board agreed to have a public workshop to discuss several landscaping issues, including: private sector landscaping requirements within both the current LDRs and the pending ordinance; public sector expectations and commitments to roadway landscaping; and a countywide policy on corridor planning. That workshop was held on September 8, 1997. During the workshop, the Board provided staff direction on various landscaping issues (see attachment #1). Issues related to public right -of --way landscaping enhancements, corridor planning, and code enforcement landscaping inspection practices were addressed at the workshop and are being implemented outside of the context of the landscaping LDRs. However, private development responsibilities are being addressed and implemented through the proposed landscaping amendments now being considered. At its October 16, 1997 meeting, the PSAC recommended that the Board of County Commissioners adopt the proposed landscaping LDR amendments. Likewise, at its November 13, 1997 meeting the Planning and Zoning Commission recommended that the Board adopt the proposed ordinance, with some minor modifications (see attachment #2). Those minor modifications have been incorporated into the proposed ordinance (see attachment #3). The Board of County Commissioners will consider these proposed changes, as well as amendments not related to landscaping, at two hearings (December 1 st and December 16th). At the first hearing, it is the Board's duty to consider each amendment and direct staff to make any changes deemed necessary. At the second hearing, the Board will take final action on a proposed ordinance. ANALYSIS: At the September 8th workshop, the Board generally re -affirmed support for the version of landscaping amendments proposed at that time. Those changes include increased road frontage landscaping, increased sizes for material required to be replanted, and increase buffer requirements for taller buildings located closer to property lines. However, at the workshop the Board gave direction to modify or consider modifying certain aspects of the amendments. Based on the Board's direction, staff has made post -workshop changes to the proposed amendments. These changes are highlighted by bold italics in the attached "Post Workshop Version" now under consideration, and are explained as follows. 1. [Page 1 of the amendments] Specific reference to Canary Island date palms is used as an example of a palm tree type that could be treated as a canopy tree at a 1:1 ratio (without clustering). DECEMBER 1, 1997 -9- 800K I U 13 PAGE