Title
Conduct a Public Hearing to Consider/Discuss/Act on the Request by the City of McKinney to Amend Landscape Requirements, Tree Preservation and Appendix A (Plants Approved For Landscape Requirements) of Chapter 146, of the Zoning Regulations
Summary
MEETING DATE: October 28, 2014
DEPARTMENT: Engineering
CONTACT: Emily Braht, RLA, Landscape Architect
STAFF RECOMMENDATION:
· Staff recommends approval of the proposed amendments to Landscape Requirements, Tree Preservation and Appendix A (Plants Approved For Landscape Requirements) of Chapter 146 of the Code of Ordinances.
ITEM SUMMARY:
· Staff is proposing a series of amendments to the Landscape Requirements, Tree Preservation, and Appendix A (Plants Approved For Landscape Requirements), Which responds to the revised City of McKinney Drought Contingency Plan, continuing drought conditions, and simplification of the Tree Permit application.
· The proposed amendments represent Staff's effort to modify existing regulations (which led to frequent requests to modify landscape installations due to drought conditions) to be more reflective of the State's current drought conditions.
· Modifications have also been made to the Landscape Requirements removing evapotranspiration (ET) weather based controllers from the ordinance due to redundancy with the Landscape Water Management Regulations.
· Modifications of the Tree Preservation occurred with the update and simplification of the tree permit applications from three different types of Tree Permit applications to one type.
· At the request of the City Council, Staff has added additional drought tolerant plant material to Appendix A (Plant Approved For Landscape Requirements), request was generated from the revised McKinney Drought Contingency Plan.
· Staff has worked with the Stonebridge Ranch HOA regarding their comments and suggestions on this item.
· The attached redline copies of the ordinance highlights the proposed changes.
FINANCIAL Summary:
· The design and utilization of drought tolerant plants will help generate a positive financial return for property owners. Reduced water costs and the use of hardier plant material that will withstand the heat and drought with less plant loss contribute to the positive financial return.
BOARD OR COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION:
· The recommendation of the Planning and Zoning Commission will be forwarded to the City Council for final action at the November 18, 2014 meeting.