Planning Commission approves alternative landscaping compliance at 315 27th Avenue NE, requires minimum 50 canopy trees

The Minneapolis Planning Commission on Nov. 17 approved an alternative landscaping compliance for 315 27th Avenue Northeast, the industrial/recycling property operated by LRS of Minnesota, requiring a minimum of 50 canopy trees on site and directing staff to work with the applicant on siting and species.

Chair Chris Meyer opened the public hearing and asked staff to present. Aaron Hanauer, planning staff, said the packet’s original numbers reflected seven existing trees and 19 planted trees and noted that, given the lot and building size, the site would otherwise require 88 canopy trees under site plan review. Hanauer told the commission that staff and the applicant had since updated the inventory and that the applicant’s current proposal would result in 57 trees total, including roughly 46 canopy trees and the remainder evergreen or ornamental; staff recommended alternative compliance based on the retention of large mature trees…