Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout06-14-17 Planning and Economic Development Committee Meeting Agenda1                                  Ͳ                                                                                          Ͳ   n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a  n/a 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 x ƒ x ƒ x ƒ x ƒ x ƒ x ƒ x ƒ x ƒ x ƒ x ƒ x ƒ x ƒ x ƒ                  x x x x                                  ʊ ʊ 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: ƒ“Minimum Spacing for Street Trees” ƒ“Typical Tree Planting in Ordinary Soil” ƒ“Typical Tree and Shrub Planting in Continuous Bed” ƒ“Typical Tree Lawn Planting Detail” ƒ“Structural Soil Break-out Zone from Narrow Tree Lawn to Adjacent Property” ƒ“Typical Tree Planting Pit with Structural Soil along Sidewalk” ƒ“Typical Tree Planting Island in a Parking Lot with Structural Soil” ƒ“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: ƒnot be planted within 20 feet from the corner of intersecting streets ƒnot be planted within 35 feet in front of a stop sign ƒnot be planted within 15 feet from hydrants ƒnot be planted within 15 feet from a utility or street light pole ƒnot be planted within 15 feet of a driveway or curb cut ƒLarge 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 ƒSmall 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: ƒAll planting beds for shrubs shall to be excavated to a minimum depth of two feet. ƒTree 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 ƒAll 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” ƒB&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. ƒAt 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. ƒGuying 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.