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Landscape Code Amendment for Improved Aesthetics and User-Friendliness

This amendment aims to enhance the landscaping aesthetics and user-friendliness of the current landscape code. It includes larger landscape islands, increased flexibility, simplified text, and specific standards for different scenarios. Public and stakeholder involvement has been integral throughout the process.

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Landscape Code Amendment for Improved Aesthetics and User-Friendliness

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  1. Chapter 11 Landscape Code Amendment City Council Public Hearingon October 18, 2016

  2. Public and Stakeholder Involvement • Sept. 8, 2015, City Council directed Staff to proceed updating Code • Dec. 2015, after staff had prepared a draft ordinance we sent it to Flagler County Association for Responsible Development (FCARD) • Spring 2016, staff and FCARD went through the draft line-by-line • June 16, 2016, City-wide press release • Since then, draft code available on City’s website for comments • PLDRB and BEAC held joint workshops on June 22, June 29 and July 13 • Aug. 4, PLDRB recommended approval of Amendment to City Council

  3. Key Public and Stakeholder Comments • Shade trees need larger Islands and spacing • Landscape standards are not flexible enough • Code not user friendly • Landscape plantings too dense • Ensure we maintain our beautiful landscaping – “wow” factor • More flexibility regarding necessary field changes for irrigation • Excessive mitigation for single-family tree removal • Maintenance and enforcement issues • Single-family landscape requirements too extensive • Landscape buffers too wide

  4. Solutions 1) Improve landscaping aesthetics 2) More user-friendly 3) Increase flexibility 4) Single-family homes 5) Maintenance and enforcement 6) Buffers

  5. Increase Landscaping Aesthetics • Increased minimum size of landscape islands for shade trees • Increased spacing of shade trees to relieve overcrowding and improve tree health • Added specific design standards so ponds and lakes will have natural shapes • Added specific plantings standards for temporary sales trailers • Required owners to remove invasive plant species

  6. Larger Landscape Islands = Healthier Shade Trees Large 4’ Wide Small Moderate

  7. Overcrowded Crepe Myrtles/Oaks Along Palm Coast Pkwy

  8. Overcrowded Oaks 25’ Apart

  9. Oak Shade Trees 50’ Apart Growing Together

  10. User Friendliness 1) Reformatted and modified text throughout • Simplified the determination of buffer standards (from 3 steps to 2 steps) • Clarified Tree Bank Fund (contributions, tree costs, and uses) • Removed confusion between screening and visual buffers (created definitions/standards for low, medium and tall screens) • Created specific design standards relating to visibility at intersections

  11. Increase Flexibility • Created specific standards for industrial projects • Increased options for providing required foundation plantings • Option of creating an Alternative Landscape Betterment Plan • Less strict options for expansions of existing sites • Created 10% tolerance levels on plant sizes due to plant variability and 20% tolerance levels during times of extremely limited plant availability

  12. Single-Family Homes • Reduce planting and replacement sizes for trees • Allow homeowners to have more understory trees • Specific and simple standards for foundation shrubs • Understory trees may replace wrapping of building corners • If FPL over-prunes or damages a tree, it may be removed without a permit or mitigation

  13. Improve Maintenance and Enforcement • Trees must be allowed to grow naturally and not be over-pruned • On commercial sites and multi-family projects of 25 or more units then tree trimmers must be trained by City or certified • Owners and tree trimmers would be jointly responsible for not following trimming standards • Before a commercial building or parking can be expanded all required plantings that are dead or damaged must be replaced • Clarified numerous provisions of Landscaping Chapter to assist Code Enforcement

  14. Over-Lifted Tree (L) / Over-Pruned Understory Tree on (R)

  15. Buffers • Eliminated some buffer shrub plantings adjacent to lakes or preserves so views are not blocked • On most specially designated roadways front buffers would be reduced from 35’ to 25’ and on non-designated roads front and side street buffers would go from 20’ to 10’ • On some specially designated roadway segments with quality tree canopies front buffers would remain at 35’

  16. Proposed Roadways with 35’ Front Buffers Palm Coast Parkway east of I-95 Palm Harbor Parkway south of bridge Colbert Lane for the first 2200’ south of Palm Coast Pkwy SE

  17. Views of Olive Garden’s 20’ Buffer Along SR 100

  18. Target’s 20’ Buffer Along SR 100

  19. PLDRB and BEAC Recommendations • PLDRB recommended City Council approve the ordinance as attached • BEACdiffers with PLDRB and recommends different buffer standards 1) Minimum spacing of 30’ in lieu of 50’ for shade trees in buffers 2) Type A Buffer along non-specially designated roads remain at 20’ instead of going to 10’ 3) Type E Buffer against adjacent properties remain at 25’ instead of going to 20’

  20. Council Member DeLorenzo’s Proposal • A new paragraph for this language was added as Section 11.03.01.M. Landscape Review for Single-Family Subdivisions by Certified HOAs

  21. Questions ?

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