Planning Commission recommends tiered landscaping rules for Village Commercial lots

The Springdale Planning Commission voted unanimously on April 15 to recommend Town Council approval of Ordinance 2026-08, which would add tiered minimum landscape and open-space requirements in the Village Commercial zone. Director of Community Development Niall Connolly told commissioners the proposal would leave properties one-half acre or larger at the current 60% landscape requirement, lower the requirement to 50% for properties between one-quarter and one-half acre, and set a 40% requirement for properties smaller than one-quarter acre.

Applicant Noel Benson told the commission his family’s small Village Commercial parcel had limited feasible development options under the current standard and that the proposed tiers would help make projects such as a modest restaurant financially viable. Benson noted his parcel had recently been reassessed from approximately 0.24 acres to 0.26 acres, which placed it near the proposed thresholds, and he asked the commission to consider a 5% administrative tolerance to help marginal cases.

Commission discussion focused on whether the lowest tier should be 40%, 45% or 50% given existing parking and setback constraints. Commissioner Terry Kruschke said the change would provide design flexibility but questioned whether a 40% minimum on quarter-acre lots would materially increase development capacity. After deliberation, Kruschke moved that the commission recommend approval; Paul Zimmerman seconded the motion and the recommendation passed unanimously (Kruschke: Aye; McCulloch: Aye; Zimmerman: Aye).

If the Town Council adopts the ordinance, the Village Commercial zone would mirror existing tiered standards used in other Springdale zones and could reduce the need for variance requests on very small commercial lots. The council will receive the commission’s recommendation as part of the formal adoption process.