HomeMy WebLinkAbout06-14-17 Planning and Economic Development Committee Meeting Agenda1
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6/9/2017
6/9/2017
EAST STATE STREP A R K E R S T R E E TSENECA WAYRANCE P LA C EFOUNTAIN PLACELETS PLACE
EAST BUFFALO STREETEAST SENECA STREETEAST GREEN STREETE T
ETS O U T H C
S O U T H500250feet0Proposed Boundary of Ground Floor Active Use ZoneProposed Boundary For Mandatory Ground Floor Active Use Zone-May 2017
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B. CRITERIA FOR TREE PRESERVATION, PLANT SELECTION AND PLANTING
SITE CONSTRUCTION, PLANT MATERIALS AND MAINTENANCE.
All projects shall provide for adequate types and arrangements of landscaping, both to enhance the
site and to complement the architectural components of the development and to screen or buffer
adjacent uses in public ways. Additional information and guidelines are available in the City’s
forestry master plan, Ithaca's Trees: Master Plan, Inventory & Arboriculture Guidelines for the
Public Trees in the City of Ithaca New York (available at:
http://www.cityofithaca.org/DocumentCenter/View/379 .Appendix II of Ithaca’s Trees provides
standard construction details relating to the best practices for tree planting in the City. Where
feasible and applicable, these details should be incorporated into site designs:
“Minimum Spacing for Street Trees”
“Typical Tree Planting in Ordinary Soil”
“Typical Tree and Shrub Planting in Continuous Bed”
“Typical Tree Lawn Planting Detail”
“Structural Soil Break-out Zone from Narrow Tree Lawn to Adjacent
Property”
“Typical Tree Planting Pit with Structural Soil along Sidewalk”
“Typical Tree Planting Island in a Parking Lot with Structural Soil”
“Tree Protection Fencing Detail”
1. PRESERVATION OF EXISTING TREES.
a. Where possible and reasonable, any trees greater than eight inches in diameter at
breast height of desirable species and in good health and sound structure, in
consultation with the City Forester, should be retained on the site and protected
during development per the requirements of ANSI A300, Trees and Shrubs Of
Construction Management Standard Part 5 and the Best Management Practices
Managing Trees During Construction, published by the International Society of
Arboriculture. See also Ithaca’s Trees Appendix II: Standard Tree Planting Details
“Tree Protection fencing detail”.
b. The City Forester shall review a pre-construction tree inventory if required. The
Forester may require the developer to survey some trees that lie outside of the
property, as neighboring trees can be negatively impacted by construction. The
preconstruction tree survey shall include trees on the private property as well as street
trees adjacent to the property and shall note the location of the trees, their species,
DBH (diameter at 4.5’ above grade), and the critical root zone area (CRZ). The CRZ
shall be noted as a radius of 1’ for each diameter inch for trunk at DBH. All trees over
8” in diameter shall be inventoried.
c. The developer shall provide Site Plan Review with a tree preservation plan including
tree protection detail, during construction care (ie mulching, watering), post
construction monitoring and care using the specifications outlined in the ANSI A300
Construction Management Standard Part 5 and the Best Management Practices
Managing Trees During Construction, published by the International Society of
Arboriculture. The tree preservation plan shall show the location of utility work and
the construction work zone where it may conflict with CRZ of preserved trees. Tree
protection fences shall be made of either chain link or wood fence barriers. No plastic
fencing will be allowed.
d. For all city-owned trees, the City Forester will review the plan and make comments
on the proposed protection plan, and submit those comments to Site Plan Review.
For trees in the city right of way, the City Forester will approve the tree protection
plan and issue a tree work permit prior to the issuance of a building permit. The City
Forester may also visit the site during construction to ascertain that the tree
protection plan is being implemented for both trees in the city right of way and trees
on private property.
2. PLANTING SITE SELECTION
a. For the planting of trees in the city right of way, the City Forester shall be
consulted regarding specifications governing tree species selection, size, spacing and
method and location of planting. A tree work permit will be required for this work.
b. As a guideline, street trees should:
not be planted within 20 feet from the corner of intersecting streets
not be planted within 35 feet in front of a stop sign
not be planted within 15 feet from hydrants
not be planted within 15 feet from a utility or street light pole
not be planted within 15 feet of a driveway or curb cut
Large or medium trees which mature at 30 feet or taller shall be spaced no
less than 30 feet apart, unless part of a dense screening planting
Small trees which mature at 30 feet tall or less shall be spaced no less than 25
feet apart, unless part of a dense screening planting,
See also Ithaca’s Trees “Site Selection for Tree Planting” and Appendix II: Standard
Tree Planting Details “Minimum Spacing for Street Trees”
c. For planting of trees or shrub in the city right of way or on private property, no tree
or shrub is to be planted directly under or in competition with an existing large
tree, or beneath building overhangs.
3. PLANTING SITE CONSTRUCTION AND PREPARATION
a. Where it is practical to have a tree lawn in the city right of way, tree lawns must be no
less than 6 feet wide, but preferably should be 8 to 12 feet wide
b. Tree pits created in the city right of way, which are surrounded by pavement, shall
have a porous opening of at least 50 square feet (e.g. 6 feet by 8 feet, or 8 feet by 8
feet).
c. For all tree plantings, adequate soil volumes will be required based on the tree species
selected. Large or medium trees which mature at 30 feet or taller shall have a
minimum of 760 cubic feet of soil per tree. Small trees that mature at 30 feet tall or
less shall have a minimum of 335 cubic feet of soil per tree. The opportunity for tree
roots to grow into adjacent green space can be used to help satisfy the soil volume
requirement. See also Ithaca’s Trees Appendix II: Standard tree planting details
“Structural soil breakout zone from narrow tree lawn to adjacent property”
d. For planting of trees or shrubs in the city right of way where existing soil is
determined to be unsuitable by the City Forester, suitable soil must be brought to the
site. This imported soil must adhere to Ithaca’s Trees Appendix I: Specifications
“Planting Soils Specification”. This may require replacing continuous lengths of tree
lawn, where areas have had utility installations and/or compaction from construction
vehicles or material storage.
e. For planting of trees or shrub in the city right of way where new tree lawn, tree pits or
new planting areas are constructed, where previously none existed and there is
removal of pavement to create the planting area, the area will be excavated to a depth
of 2 feet and replaced with suitable soil (Ithaca’s Trees Appendix I: Specifications
“Planting Soils Specification”). The width and length of the soil remediation will be
adequate to reach the recommended soil volumes based on the tree species selected
(see above 3. PLANTING SITE CONSTRUCTION AND PREPARATION c.).
This may require complete replacement of tree lawn soil.
f. Depending on site design and soil conditions, structural soil may be required under
sidewalks and in planting areas contiguous to paved areas. The City Forester and/or
the Director shall work with the applicant to determine the need for structural soil, its
depth and extent of its use. See also Ithaca’s Trees Appendix II: “Structural Soil
Break-out Zone from Narrow Tree Lawn to Adjacent Property”, “Typical Tree
Planting Pit with Structural Soil along Sidewalk”, and “Typical Tree Planting Island in
a Parking Lot with Structural Soil”
g. For planting of trees or shrub in the city right of way or on private property, all plants
shall be planted in the appropriate season, generally spring or fall, as decided by the
City Forester.
4. TREE AND SHRUB SPECIES SELECTION AND QUALITY
a. The City Forester and the Shade Tree Advisory Committee will be given the
opportunity to review and make comments on all plant selections and planting soil
specifications. Use of invasive species should be avoided. Species selection should
consider available soil volume, overhead clearance and specific site conditions. For
further guidance see also Ithaca’s Trees “Tree Selection”
b. For the planting of trees in the city right of way, large trees maturing at a height
greater than 30 feet should be planted in all sites unless there are primary electric
lines overhead or other structural conflicts. Where a conflict exists, trees maturing at
a height of 30 feet or less should be planted.
c. For the planting of trees in the city right of way, adequate soil volume must he
provided based on the tree species selected (also see 3. PLANTING SITE
CONSTRUCTION AND PREPARATION c.)
d. For the planting of trees in the city right of way, when possible, small trees should
have a mature shape and stature so that pedestrians may eventually walk under them.
e. For all tree and shrub plantings, specifications shall adhere to the American Nursery
and Landscape Association ANSI Z60.1 nursery standards. See also Ithaca’s Trees
Appendix I: Specifications “Nursery Stock Quality Guideline Specifications for
Deciduous Street Trees”.
f. For all tree plantings, deciduous trees be at least 1 1/2 inches caliper (diameter at 12
inch above grade) at the time of planting. Size of evergreen trees and shrubs may
vary depending on location and species.
5. PLANTING
a. See also Ithaca’s Trees “Tree Planting”
b. All plant materials shall be installed to the following standards:
All planting beds for shrubs shall to be excavated to a minimum depth of two
feet.
Tree pits in lawn to be excavated to depth of the tree root ball and shall be
three times the width of the root ball in all directions
All trees in lawn areas to receive a 3-inch deep covering of mulch, covering at
least the extent of the root ball. Mulch must remain clear of the trunk of the
tree. See also Ithaca’s Trees Appendix II: Standard tree planting details
“Typical Tree Planting in Ordinary Soil”
B&B trees must have metal cages of the root ball removed prior to planting
and the biodegradable burlap covering the root ball should be pulled down
and removed on at least the top 1/3 of the root ball. The remainder can
remain. If non-biodegradable covering material is used it must be completely
removed from the root ball.
At time of planting the topmost structural root of the root ball should be no
more than a few inches below the finished grade, excess soil should be
removed from the top of the root ball so the trunk flare is clearly visible.
Guying is not generally required for newly planted trees. Any trees that require
guying will be done using nylon straps (or similar) rather than wire in hose.
Guying must be removed after 1-2 years.
6. MAINTENANCE
a. All newly planted trees should have irrigation bags, which are to be filled weekly
during their first growing season.
b. A two-year guarantee for any tree or shrub is required. Replacement of trees and
shrubs that are dead dying or seriously damaged is required for the first two years
after project completion.
c. The owner shall replace dead, dying and/or seriously damaged plant materials of
the approved site plan, within a reasonable time period during the current (or
immediate next) planting season. Any other damaged or missing elements,
including but not limited to fences, bollards, signs, shrubs, street furniture, etc.,
of the approved plan must be similarly replaced by the owner. This will ensure
that landscaping remains in compliance with the final site plan as approved by
the Planning and Development Board.
7. CHANGES TO APPROVED SITE PLAN
a. Notwithstanding any provision in this chapter or any other City ordinance or
regulation to the contrary, an approved site plan may not be modified without
express written approval of the Planning and Development Board except as
approved by the Director of Planning and Development or designee as specified
herein above.
C. CRITERIA FOR AUTOMOBILE PARKING AREAS. All parking areas shall be designed in
conformance with § 325-20 of the City Ordinance. The Board may make such additional reasonable
stipulations as it deems appropriate to carry out the intention of this chapter.
1.PARKING AREAS IN RESIDENTIAL ZONING DISTRICTS
a. In order to protect the character of residential areas, plans for parking areas with the
capacity of three or more cars within residential zoning districts must conform to
either the setback compliance method or, at the discretion of the Planning Board, the
landscaping compliance method described respectively in § 325-20E(5)(a) and (b).
Such plans must also comply with all other general and specific standards of § 325-
20. Where turnarounds, or other maneuvering spaces not required for access to
parking spaces, are provided that meet minimum size for a parking space, they shall
be counted as a parking space for the purposes of this subsection.
2.SCREENING OF PARKING AREAS
a. There shall be screening with a minimum eight-foot-wide planting area or fences
between a motor vehicle parking area and adjacent properties and public ways,
except where there is motor vehicle parking that is shared by more than one property
or where commercial properties abut. In such cases the Board may require
landscaping as it deems appropriate.
3.DIVISION OF LONG ROWS OF PARKING SPACES
a. For parking areas with more than 30 adjacent interior parking spaces in a row,
the design must incorporate planting areas so that there are no more than 10
continuous parking spaces between planting areas.
4.INTERNAL PLANTINGS
a. In motor vehicle parking areas, a minimum of 25% of the interior ground area
(i.e., excluding any peripheral planting area) shall be planting areas that include
trees with a potential mature height of at least 50 feet and a caliper of at least 1½
inchesat the time of planting. Interior planting areas shall be a minimum of 80 ft2
of porous opening with no dimensions being less than 8 ft. The planter shall be
curbed with a minimum 3ft depth of excavation and shall have a minimum
available soil volume of 760 ft3 of sandy loam soil (which may include structural
soil under adjacent pavement) allotted to each tree. See also Ithaca’s Trees
Appendix I: Specifications “Soil Volume for Trees Surrounded by Pavement”
5. PERVIOUS PAVING
a. Applicants are encouraged to design parking areas with pervious paving when
feasible. Use of pervious paving in combination with structural soil that is accessible
to tree roots, a practice that supports the health and longevity of tree plantings, is
encouraged. See also Ithaca’s Trees Appendix II: “Typical Tree Planting Island in a
Parking Lot with Structural Soil”.
b. If porous pavement is used in conjunction with tree planting, less interior parking
area may be set aside for open tree planting islands.