DIVISION OF ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES ZOTA: TREES AND COMMERCIAL LANDSCAPING Planning Commission Work Session Thursday, January 18, 2024
DES ZOTA: Trees and Commercial Landscaping
Agenda ▪ Introduction - Our "Why" ▪ ZOTA Phase 1 - Proposal ▪ ZOTA Phase 2 - Goals • Tree Protection Standards • Mitigation Fund ▪ Workgroup Detail ▪ Next Steps ▪ Questions & Comments
DES ZOTA: Trees and Commercial Landscaping
Introduction – Our "Why"
DES ZOTA: Trees and Commercial Landscaping
Introduction – Our "Why"
DES ZOTA: Trees and Commercial Landscaping
Introduction – Our "Why" ▪ The Division of Environmental Services (DES), in coordination with the Division of Planning, reviewed Lexington’s Zoning Ordinance and Land Subdivision Regulations. ▪ Articles reviewed within the Zoning Ordinance were Articles 5 (enforcement), 18 (landscaping), 26 (tree protection standards). ▪ DES' goal was to update processes, landscaping and tree protection standards, in accordance and support of the goals and objectives of the 2045 Comprehensive Plan.
DES ZOTA: Trees and Commercial Landscaping
Phase 1 – Articles 5 and 18 ▪
Phase 1 proposal includes: • Article 5 (Administration, Enforcement and Violations) o Add the Division of Environmental Services to the list of enforcement agents of the Zoning Ordinance. o Update enforcement parameters to match KRS 100. • Article 18 (Landscaping and Land Use Buffers) o Update zone-to-zone landscape perimeter requirements to match Vehicular Use Area requirements. o Update landscaping plan requirements. o Require low-impact landscaping and percentage of native species to be planted in new development.
DES ZOTA: Trees and Commercial Landscaping
Phase 1 - Landscape Corridor Ordinances ▪ Repeal and remove references to landscape corridor ordinances in Article 18 and in city's Code of Ordinances. ▪ Instead, insert language to reference the city’s Planting Manual or related master plans. ▪ There are seven landscape corridor areas: • • • • • • •
Downtown Corridor Georgetown Road Harrodsburg Road Man O' War Boulevard Newtown Pike Old Frankfort Pike Richmond Road
DES ZOTA: Trees and Commercial Landscaping
Phase 1 – Article 26 ▪ Phase 1 proposal also includes (Cont.): • Article 26 (Tree Protection Standards) o Update the purpose to focus on discussing trees' positive impact and benefits. o Update significant tree definitions. o Update tree protection plan requirements. • Replace gender-specific language with gender neutral language.
DES ZOTA: Trees and Commercial Landscaping
Phase 2 - ZOTA ▪ A second phase ZOTA is recommended to ensure that city ordinances encourage environmentally-friendly and more sustainable development. Lexington-Fayette County Comprehensive Plan 2045: Theme B: Protecting the Environment o Goal 1: Protect water resources by improving urban stormwater and sanitary sewer infrastructure.
o Goal 2: Identify and mitigate local impacts of climate change by tracking and reducing Lexington-Fayette County's carbon footprint and greenhouse gas emissions and commit to community-wide new zero greenhouse gas emissions by the year 2050. o Goal 3: Apply environmentally sustainable practices to protect, conserve, and restore landscapes and natural areas.
DES ZOTA: Trees and Commercial Landscaping
Phase 2 - Tree Protection in Article 26 ▪ Update enforcement capabilities. ▪ Expand upon the definition of protected and significant trees to include all trees (not specific species). ▪ Increase tree permitting and removal standards.
DES ZOTA: Trees and Commercial Landscaping
Phase 2 - Mitigation Fund in Article 18 ▪ If a tree or cluster cannot be replaced due to constraints, a fee for canopy replanting could be paid into a designated fund. • There are a few instances in which we could allow a fee-in-lieu to be paid, however, this is still under consideration.
DES ZOTA: Trees and Commercial Landscaping
Workgroup Detail – Thank You ▪ Staff: • Director Jennifer Carey (DES), Director James Duncan (Planning), Harold Baillie (Planning), Ben Cornett (DES), Valerie Friedmann (Planning), Autumn Goderwis (Planning), Michael LeMaster (DES), Demetria Kimball-Mehlhorn (DES), Eve Miller (DES), Chris Taylor (Planning), Boyd Sewe (Planning), Eric Sutherland (DES), Traci Wade (Planning), Heather Wilson (DES).
▪ Feedback from: • Corridors Commission • Greenspace Trust
DES ZOTA: Trees and Commercial Landscaping
ZOTA Phase 1 Next Steps ▪ February 2024 - Language Draft
▪ March 2024 - Public Outreach and Feedback ▪ April 2024 - ZOTA Filing ▪ May 2024 - Planning Commission Presentation ▪ Summer 2024 - Urban County Council