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Dayton planning commission adopts amendment to landscaping rules, cuts shrub requirement and adds council discretion for site constraints
Summary
The planning commission approved a zoning amendment to the landscaping and screening section that reduces the shrub requirement (proposed change from ~1 per 100 sq ft to 1 per 300 sq ft) and builds in council discretion and a possible cash‑in‑lieu tree fund; commissioners debated language to ensure the change targets site constraints rather than cost avoidance.
Dayton Planning Commission members on Feb. 5 voted 4‑0 to adopt an amendment to the zoning ordinance’s landscaping and screening section that reduces shrub planting requirements and creates a mechanism for a community tree fund when on‑site plantings are infeasible.
Staff explained the proposal as a targeted change to the shrub standard: "What staff is proposing is to reduce the number of shrubs by 2 thirds," staff said, explaining that the amendment would change the ratio used to calculate required shrubs (from about one shrub per 100 square feet of open area to one per 300 square feet). Staff said the overall ‘‘3 of 4’’ option (selecting three of four plant categories — overstory, evergreen, ornamental, or shrubs — and parking‑lot island plantings) would remain in place.
Commissioners expressed concerns about drafting and implementation. One commissioner warned that the packet language could be read by developers as allowing no on‑site landscaping in favor of paying a fee: "If I was a developer and I read this, I could take this as I have the option of not putting any landscaping in at all," the commissioner said, urging clearer language that ties exceptions to site conditions rather than cost savings. Staff said the intent was to allow payment only when a site truly cannot meet planting requirements (for example, due to wetlands or steep slopes) and recommended placing any cash fee in the city’s fee schedule so the amount is transparent and tied to tree replacement costs.
The commission discussed alternative wording that would explicitly allow the City Council to reduce minimum plantings for documented site conditions while keeping a minimum on‑site standard. Staff said the proposed text was in part modeled on language copied from another jurisdiction and that the city attorney could help refine the wording before council review.
The public hearing was opened and closed with no speakers. A motion to approve the amendment as discussed was moved and seconded; the commission adopted the amendment 4‑0. Commissioners said they expect staff to return with refined language on council discretion and a proposed fee schedule for the tree‑fund before the amendment is implemented.
