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Board reviews landscaping standards; staff flags typo and measurement questions
Summary
Staff briefed the board on proposed clarifications to landscaping and street-tree standards for the Design District, noting practical changes since 2020. Members flagged a typo (24 feet vs 24 inches for shrubs) and asked how caliper is measured for street trees.
City staff presented a follow-up report on landscape requirements in the Design District (Article 13) and compared current standards to pre-2020 guidance. Craig (staff) summarized three applicable sections and said practical changes since 2020 include reduced spacing and lower height minima for street trees, and clarified shrub requirements.
A board member pointed out a likely typo in the draft that listed shrubs at "24 feet" instead of "24 inches" and asked staff to correct it. Zoe, identifying herself as a forester, asked whether caliper measurements reference the standard 4.5 feet above grade; staff said they would check and incorporate consistent measurement language, likely aligning with shoreland and other standards.
Why it matters: Clear measurement definitions and correct units are essential to enforceable landscaping requirements; the board said waivers should remain an option when site conditions justify them.
Next steps: Staff will correct the typo and confirm caliper-measurement language in the draft before returning with any housekeeping edits.
