Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutZ-295 DEFEATED - Parking Lot LandscapingTHE CITY OF CARMEL, Z-289, AS AMENDED, BY THE INCLUSION OF SECTION 35.2, ENTITLED PARKING LOT LANDSCAPING WHEREAS, the Common Council of the City of Carmel it necessary, in order to conserve the value of city, and that the public health, safety, morals, and general welfa] accordance with a well use and development of all the following zoning regulat be otherwise red and )erty througho WHEREAS, pursuant to I.C. 36- 601, adequate lighting, air, c~ .ce of flood, and other dama¢ or way; to promote the sa convenience and genera welfa of the advisory F the f encacted. (Ord. No. 2d Whe :as CiE ., deems >erty in the convenience, ,ted in plan for the the city, to ~t order to secure f'~m e safety from , ~nd mo~ ~lish the ~r~poses lations are~ 2-7-83) WHEREAS, the City Co' hereb~ termines that it is to adopt parkin( Lnance · BE IT C that Z-289 the 35.2 of this Carm~ by pro for part of )I t City of Cd ' the follow: ~ections: to trance, City of of propertl ~al welfare Y~ and maintenanc( :aping as The intent of t and loading the City of C be an integr part following ~cts of safe and e and of of surface :le is to improve the of parking ~erty abutting publi -of-way within Township, by requiring landscaping to .1 projects, and by addressing the king lot design: Safety, by providing for ient traffic movement. Shading of parked vehicles .ng surfaces. Screening, by breaking up vast expanses and providing visual relief. Softening, of hard paving glass and metal vehicles. 35.2.1 a. LANDSCAPE PLAN REQUIRED A landscape plan is required for construction of all new parking lots and expansions greater than 10% of the existing parking area. The landscape plan shall include both existing and proposed site improvements and consist of: 1. A landscape design proposal, drawn to scale, showing the location and identification of proposed plant materials and maD_made landscape elements. 2. Plan construction details, drawn to scale, of fences, berms, retaining walls, planting islands, site lighting, and other site landscape improvements. 3. Ail existing and proposed easements, clear sight lines, drainage facilities underground utilities and overhead utilities 4. Planting schedule, in table form, containing the common and botanical names, size specified, size at maturity, root specifications, quantities and proposed planting dates of all plant materials. 5. The name and address of the property owner and the landscape architect or designer of the plan. Ail landscaping plans shall be submitted to the Department of Community Development consistent with the submission deadline required for the appropriate project approval. 35.2.2 a. VISIBILITY REQUIREMENTS Visibility triangles shall be maintained on all plans following the regulations of the City of Carmel or Hamilton County. Landscping installed within planting islands or medians shall be no taller than curb height plus two (2) feet, except single trunk trees pruned to a height of eight (8) feet. Trees are to be of such a size and so spaced that a visual obstruction that represents a traffic hazard is not created. 35.2.3 a. PERIMETER LANDSCAPE STRIP Ail vehicle accommodation areas shall be screened from all public roads and adjacent properties by a minimum ten (10) wide foot landscape strip. 2 Screening within the landscape strip shall consist of plantings, berms or fence structures, or any combination of these elements. For purposes of this section, plantings shall mean trees, shrubs, and vegetative groundcovers. Unless otherwise approved, the maximu~ height for fences, berms, and shrubbery installed along parking areas which are adjacent to public thoroughfares shall be 42 inches. Screening which will be installed along public roads shall extend along a minimum of ninety (90) percent of the length of the area paralleling the thoroughfare (e.g., along 100' of frontage, 90' would be the minimum required visual screen.) Screening for vehicular accommodation areas may be used to fulfill the requirements for bufferyards, if the design is consistent with standards for bufferyards. 35.2.4 a. INTERIOR LANDSCAPING Planting islands shall be required for all interior parking and peripheral parking rows. In all instances, planting islands shall be located at the ends of each parking row, to provide for safe and efficient traffic movement. Planting islands shall be distributed evenly throughout interior and peripheral parking rows, limiting unbroken rows of parking spaces to a maximum of 120 feet. Planting islands shall be a minimum of six inches in height and encompass an area not less than one hundred eighty (180) square feet for single parking rows, and three hundred sixty (360) square feet for double parking rows. Unless otherwise approved, the minimum width of planting islands shall be ten (10) feet. Larger islands are encouraged as they better allow for the growth and health of trees. Planting requirements within planting islands shall be one deciduous shade tree and five (5) shrubs for each 180 square feet of required landscaped area. 3 35.2.5 a. SHOPPING CA~T STORAGE AREAS Shopping cart storage areas within parking lots shall be screened on three sides by a landscaped area not less than 60 square feet. Shopping cart storage areas which are located adjacent to buildings shall be screened from view from publically dedicated thoroughfares, extending along a minimum of ninety (90) percent of the length of the area paralleling the parking area. Shopping cart storage area screening shall consist of shrubbery, with a height not less than 24" tall nor greater than 42". If approved by the appropriate authority, alternative materials for cart storage area screening may used. Shopping cart storage areas may be installed adjacent to curbed planting islands, if all requirements of sub- section 35.2.3 and 35.2.4 are met. 35.2.6 a. PEDESTRIAN ACCESS For pedestrian safety and convenience, there shall be at least one designated route for pedestrians between the street, the parking area, and the main entrance, in parking area which exceed 12,000 square feet or 40 spaces. For projects with frontage on two or more streets, a minimum of one route from each street to the entrance will be required. walkways shall be designed to be recognizable to both vehicles and pedestrians. Any combination of the following walkway treatments shall be used: 1. constructing the walk/crosswalk from different materials, such as concrete or brick; 2. constructing the walk/crosswalk with a different texture or pattern than the surrounding pavement; 3. placing bollards at sufficient regular intervals to delineate the walk/crosswalk ; 4. aligning planting islands to define the walk/crosswalk; 5. raising or lowering the walk/crosswalk; 35.2. 9 ALTERNATIVE METHODS OF COMPLIANCE Upon the request of the property owner to which this article applies, the appropriate authority may approve an alternative plan which is not in strict compliance with the requirements of this article, if the alternative plan is found to meet the intent of the requirements of this section and clearly represents a plan which is superior to a plan that would be developed in strict compliance with this article. In making the determination, consideration may be given to the topography, shape, size or other natural features of the property; the suitability of any alternative screening or buffering proposals; and other relevant aspects. PASSED by the Common Council of the City of Carmel, Indiana this of , 1994. T.E. Johnson, Presiding Officer ATTEST: Susan W. Jones, Clerk-Treasurer 6