LANDSCAPING AND TREE PROTECTION
ZONING ORDINANCE TEXT AMENDMENT
Planning Commission Work Session
Thursday, May 30th, 2024
DES ZOTA: Landscaping and Tree Protection
Outreach & Engagement
▪ Public Engagement:
• Corridors Commission
• Greenspace Trust
• Lexington Tree Board
• Trees Lexington
• Environmental Commission
• Bluegrass Youth Sustainability Council, Fayette-County Public Schools
• Local Landscape Architects and Engineering Firms
• Builders Industry Association of Central Kentucky
▪ Events:
• Trees Lexington Tree Giveaway
• Reforest the Bluegrass
• Plants and Prints
• Streetfest
• Mayfest
DES
ZOTA: Landscaping and Tree Protection
Article 18 – Landscaping and Land Use Buffers
▪ Section 18-4. Landscape Materials
• Proposal from April 12th, 2024:
o Mulch use around trees, shrubs and other planting materials shall be a minimum of three (3) inches deep and installed per the Planting Manual.
• Update on May 6th, 2024, Proposal:
o Mulch use around trees, shrubs and other planting materials shall be placed at a depth of two (2) to four (4) inches and installed per the Planting Manual.
• This will resolve concerns and is in alignment with the current version of the city’s Planting Manual.
DES
ZOTA: Landscaping and Tree Protection
Columnar Tree Clarification
▪ Section. 18-4. Landscape Materials
• Columnar Trees are prohibited for required landscaping in Article 18.
▪
Section 26-5. Tree Canopy Standards
• Columnar Trees are allowed for tree canopy (at 100 sqft.) in Article 26.
DES ZOTA: Landscaping and Tree Protection
Columnar Tree Clarification, Cont.
Normal Canopy Trees
Large mature trees being used on commercial lots for shade and VUA.
Columnar Trees
Lost opportunity to plant large trees, no utility lines. Provides almost no canopy coverage.
DES ZOTA: Landscaping and Tree Protection
Article 26 – Tree Protection Standards
▪ Section 26-2. Interpretation and definitions
• Update tree definitions, including significant tree and tree stands for preservation and protection.
DES ZOTA: Landscaping and Tree Protection
Feedback
▪
Topics for Review:
• Article 5:
o Clarification of the enforcement process, including abatement.
• Further clarifications in Article 18:
o Various landscaping definitions.
o Interior and perimeter VUA distinctions with vegetative open space requirements.
o Proper usage of columnar trees.
• Definition of significant tree and tree stands in Article 26.
DES ZOTA: Landscaping and Tree Protection
ZOTA Phase 1 & 2 Distinction
Phase 1:
Codify Division of Environmental Services as EnforcementAgents of the Zoning Ordinance
Update Enforcement Structures
Update Landscape Plan Requirements
Update Landscape Perimeter
Requirements to Match
Vehicular Use Area
Requirements
Update Tree Definitions and Plan Requirements
Phase 2:
Landscape Corridor Ordinances
Native Species Planting
Planting Manual
Update Tree Enforcement Capabilities
Review and Revise Tree
Protection Regulations
Create Mitigation Fund
DES ZOTA: Landscaping and Tree Protection
ZOTA Phase 1 Timeline
▪ March & April 2024 – Conducted Public Outreach ▪ May 2024 - ZOTA Filing ▪ July 2024 - Planning Commission ▪ Fall 2024 - Urban County Council
DES ZOTA: Landscaping and Tree Protection
Workgroup Detail – Thank You
Staff:
• Director Jennifer Carey (DES), Director James Duncan (Planning), Harold Baillie (Planning), Ben Cornett (DES), Autumn Goderwis (Planning), Tracy Jones (Law),
Demetria Kimball-Mehlhorn (DES), Michael LeMaster (DES), Eve Miller (DES), Chris Taylor (Planning), Evan Thompson (Law), Boyd O. Sewe (Planning), Eric Sutherland (DES), Traci Wade (Planning), Heather Wilson (DES).
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