On November 13, 2001 City Council adopted parking lot landscaping performance standards and directed staff to prepare a set of Guidelines and publish the Guidelines in booklet form. As requested by the City Council, Parking Lot Landscaping Performance Standards have been prepared.

The Guidelines are attached. The Guidelines have been designed to provide a tool for developers, designers and property owners. Staff consulted other municipalities, landscape designers and other publications to create the Guidelines.

On April 8, 2002 the Planning Commission recommended approval of the Parking Lot Landscaping Guidelines. The motion carried 4-2 with one Commissioner absent. Minutes of the meeting are in Attachment 2. The Commission requested that staff provide clarification in the final document pertaining to tree shade credit, the shade calculation table, and to specify if the guidelines pertain to parking structures.

On November 13, 2001 City Council adopted an ordinance pertaining to Parking Lot landscaping that has a performance standard requiring 50 percent shading requirement for parking lots in 15 years.

The ordinance requires the Director of Community Development to maintain guidelines to assist property owners in meeting the performance standards. The City Council requested that the initial guidelines be presented for their review.

Staff developed the Guidelines by working with municipalities, landscape designers and environmental specialists and existing publications to create the Guidelines. The Guidelines include discussion and assistance of the following topics:

• General Requirements & Lane Widths

• Parking Lot Shading Calculation Process
• Parking Lot Shading Plan
• Parking Lot Shade Calculation Table

• Master Parking Lot Shade Tree List
• Ornamental and Accent Tree Species

• Details and Specifications; Construction details to control root development that may damage parking lot paving.
• Recommendations for successful subterranean details.

• Paving Alternatives: turf block, interlocking paving.
• Alternative color choice, reducing heat.
• Reduction of impervious paving: on-site infiltration of storm water.
• Decorative features.

• Reduction of impervious surfaces

• Assessing value of existing trees
• Utilizing existing trees in new landscape and site design
• Providing measures for protecting trees during construction

• Irrigation Design
• Guidelines on Pruning & General Care
• Replacement of damaged or sick trees
• Preservation of existing significant trees with new development or modification to a site.

The proposed Parking Lot Landscaping Guidelines are in accordance with the following City policies:

Policy A.1: Require all new development to utilize site planning to protect citizens from unnecessary exposure to air pollutants.

C4.4 Encourage sustainable industries that emphasize resource efficiency, environmental responsibility, and the prevention of pollution and waste.

2.5C.2b. Continue to monitor and develop standards for the preservation of mature trees and landscaping and encourage the preservation of landscaping to be considered early in the site design.

2.5C.3f. Continue to require adequate, attractive, water-wise, drought tolerant and efficiently irrigated landscaping and routinely review landscape standards.

2.5C.3g Consider investigating innovative approaches to parking lot landscaping, which provide shade and vertical relief to large asphalt areas.

Parking Lots D1. Landscaping shall be adequately distributed through out parking lots to reduce the effect of heat and glare from pavement.

Parking Lots D1. Adequately landscape all parking areas to reduce the effects of heat and glare from paving, and for visual relief.

D7. Landscape at least 20% of the parking area.

3.4A.3i. Modify new development and re-development-permitting procedures to require developers and contractors to implement Best Management Practices (BMP’s) before, during, and after construction to minimize pollutants discharged in storm water runoff.

Categorical Exemption Class 8 relieves this project from California Environmental Quality Act provisions and City Guidelines. This class consists of actions taken by regulatory agencies, as authorized by the state law or local ordinance to assure the maintenance, restoration, enhancement, or protection of the environment where the regulatory process involves procedures for protection of the environment.

Staff contacted the Chamber of Commerce, landscaping professionals and the development community to inform them of the Parking Lot Landscaping Guidelines and receive their input for the preparation.

April 8, 2002 staff represented this project at the Planning Commission Public Hearing. There was no public testimony at the hearing. To date staff has not received additional public input regarding the guidelines.

1. Approve the Parking Lot Landscaping Guidelines.
2. Approve the Parking Lot Landscaping Guidelines with modifications.
3. Deny the Parking Lot Landscaping Guidelines.
   

Staff recommends Alternative 1.

Prepared By:
Erin Megan Walters
Associate Planner

Reviewed By:
Trudi Ryan
Planning Officer

Robert Paternoster
Director, Community Development

Approved by:
Robert S. LaSala
City Manager

Attachments:

1. Parking Lot Landscaping Guidelines- Draft 
2. Draft Planning Commission Minutes- April 8, 2002
3. City Council Minutes- November 13, 2001
4. Planning Commission Minutes – October 22, 2001
5. Summary Study Issue Paper
6. Ordinance- Parking Lot Landscaping Standards