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Lewiston council approves first reading of landscaping, parking-lot code amendments
Summary
Council approved the first reading of Ordinance 49-42 to amend Lewiston City Code sections on parking-lot definitions and landscaping, increasing minimum planter widths, adding maintenance requirements and clarifying flexibility for developers.
Lewiston City Council on May 12 approved the first reading of Ordinance 49-42, amending Lewiston City Code sections 37-3 (definition of parking lot) and 37-153 (landscaping) to clarify parking-lot landscaping purpose and requirements, increase minimum planter widths and add provisions for maintenance.
City planner Joel Plascon told the council the amendment began with the comprehensive plan work group and included input from the Urban Forestry Commission and two local landscape contractors. Plascon said the Planning and Zoning Commission held a public hearing on April 9, heard no testimony and voted unanimously to recommend approval to the council.
The revision raises minimum planter widths (changing a smaller option from 2 feet to 3 feet), adds language on maintenance and removes redundant provisions, Plascon said. "The local landscape contractors told us that the 3 foot planter width option was not wide enough for a lot of the trees. I'm sorry. The 2 foot planter width. So it's being proposed to increase the smaller 1 from 2 to 3 feet to capture trees more room to grow," Plascon said.
Council members asked how the changes would affect redevelopment and small projects. Councilor Forsman asked whether the requirements apply only to new development or to redevelopment; Plascon said they apply to both and cited past retrofits at the Lewiston Center Mall when WinCo moved in. Councilor Forsman and Councilor Wright voiced concern that irrigation and long-term maintenance could impose costs and liabilities on property owners.
Council President Kleberg summarized the ordinance language and the policy goals. "The intent is to create shade, reduce heat bridal, reduce the barren appearance of parking lots, create aesthetic environments, buffer adjoining land uses, slow stormwater runoff, and mitigate pollution while maintaining design flexibility," Kleberg said.
Plascon and Public Works Director Dustin Johnson also told the council the code already contains flexibility provisions not amended in this ordinance; staff typically works with developers on alternatives such as grouping or relocating landscaping. The ordinance also replaces bond requirements for delayed planting with a written commitment to install landscaping by a specified date, Plascon said.
Councilor Schroeder moved the first reading; the motion was seconded by Council President Kleberg and the motion carried on the council voice vote (first-reading approval recorded as Ordinance 49-42).
The ordinance will return for additional readings; councilors indicated possible amendments at later readings and encouraged staff to provide additional data on stormwater and maintenance options.
Votes at a glance: first reading of Ordinance 49-42 — mover: Councilor Schroeder; second: Council President Kleberg; outcome: approved (first reading).
