Commission questions consultant parking‑lot tree density; staff to revise numeric standards

Planning staff presented new parking‑lot landscaping standards drawn from the consultant’s draft and explained how the proposed chart ties required landscape area and tree counts to parking‑lot size.

Wes Morrison described the proposed approach and cited the consultant’s numbers: "Anything under 7,000 square feet in the proposed ordinance says that you do not have to provide parking lot landscaping... Minimum of 1 large tree per 350, square feet of parking area." Several commissioners expressed concern that a large‑tree requirement at a 350‑square‑foot ratio would produce a high tree count in mid‑sized lots; one commissioner suggested the group instead consider 700 square feet per large tree or allow medium‑tree substitutions. Morrison said he did not alter the consultant’s numbers in this draft but would "make that change" if the commission preferred and would research whether a medium‑tree category is definable for the ordinance.

The proposed standard also includes minimum parking‑island sizes (180 sq ft) and a chart for shrubs per square foot of landscape area. Staff told the commission that foundation planting standards will apply to larger buildings (plans by licensed landscape architects required for buildings of 25,000 square feet or more). Staff will return revised numeric standards in a future draft.

Commissioners asked staff to double‑check how required planting will interact with easements and utilities and to add substitution ratios for areas where utilities prevent required plantings.