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Commission approves Marshall Street landscape amendment with administrative review of revised plantings
Summary
The commission approved a landscape‑only site‑plan amendment for 87 Marshall St that reduces required street trees in favor of lower plantings and a vegetative buffer; staff will administratively review a revised planting plan and may require supplemental shrubs or periodic replacement to meet ordinance goals.
The Coldwater Planning Commission voted to approve a landscape plan amendment for 87 Marshall St that modifies the number and type of required trees in the right‑of‑way, subject to administrative review and additional low‑height plantings to address visibility and utility conflicts.
Staff told commissioners the ordinance usually requires the equivalent of 14 deciduous canopy trees (or 20 ornamentals) along the frontage, and that recent removals left the site deficient. “They were gonna infill trees, to get the number of trees up to the requirement,” the staff member said, explaining the city’s calculations and planting credits.
Owners at the meeting said they removed several overgrown, invasive pear trees and prefer smaller plantings and shrubs to preserve visibility for their LED sign and for vehicle sight lines. “We put two dwarf trees over towards that north side of Marshall Street,” the property owner said, adding the owners want low‑maintenance landscaping that will not obscure the building or signs.
Commission discussion focused on balancing visual access and safety with the ordinance’s environmental benefits (shade and heat‑island reduction). Commissioners suggested alternatives such as intermittent plantings, shrub beds, or low ornamental trees and asked staff and the applicants to work on a revised plan. The commission agreed the applicants can proceed with the proposed plan while staff will administratively review and approve final planting details; if applicants and staff cannot agree, the item will return to the commission.
A motion to approve the amendment with administrative review carried on a voice vote.
Next steps: applicants will submit a revised planting plan incorporating suggested low‑height vegetation; staff will confirm whether proposed plantings meet code or whether restitution (replacement plantings) is required.
