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City proposes updated landscape regulations to simplify requirements and add illustrations; planning commission and urban forestry advisory committee recommend
Summary
Planning staff introduced an amendment to Title 16 to update landscape regulations for certain new development types, replacing a points-based system with illustrated standards; the Urban Forestry Advisory Committee and Planning Commission recommended approval.
Planning staff presented a proposed amendment to Title 16 of the Hot Springs Code to update landscape regulations affecting new multifamily, mixed-use, nonresidential parking lot/structure projects and planned developments. Planning Director Kathy Selman said the existing landscape code uses a points-based system with no illustrations; the proposed ordinance adds illustrations and revises applicability to be more user-friendly. Selman said the Hot Springs Urban Forestry Advisory Committee and City Forester Alan Bates assisted in drafting the ordinance; the Urban Forestry Advisory Committee unanimously recommended approval at its July 22 meeting and the Planning Commission recommended approval 7–0 at its August meeting. Staff compared requirements on two recent projects and found the new code would be roughly cost-neutral for new development and in some cases reduce developer costs. The board was scheduled to consider the ordinance on Sept. 2; no formal board action was recorded during the agenda meeting.
