Chapter 17.08 SITE AND LANDSCAPE STANDARDS

Chapter 17.08
SITE AND LANDSCAPE STANDARDS

Sections:

17.08.010 Intent and Applicability.

17.08.020 Open Space Design.

17.08.030 Landscape Design.

17.08.040 Screens and Fencing.

17.08.050 Outdoor Lighting.

17.08.010 Intent and Applicability

A. Intent. The intent of this section is to:

1. Create an attractive aesthetic environment in the City, and preserve the value of adjacent properties as development and redevelopment occurs.

2. Make more efficient and effective investment in site designs by coordinating open space design across various adjacent development sites, and use buffers and separations when other designs will not maintain compatibility with adjacent sites.

3. Value the design, function, and perceptual impact of open space, rather than simply quantity of open space.

4. Develop different measurements for specific types of formal and natural open space to apply in specific contexts, and ensure that open space is not merely left over or underutilized space.

5. Encourage efficient site design where the layout of sites and buildings can meet multiple requirements and allow open space to serve multiple aesthetic or screening, environmental, and recreational functions.

6. Promote strong and well-designed relationships between development and the public realm.

7. Enhance the environmental and ecological function of unbuilt portions of sites.

8. Reduce the exposure and adverse impacts of intense land uses, activities and site elements on streets and adjacent areas, and mitigate the effects through landscape designs.

B. Applicability. A landscape plan is required in association with a site plan, according to the application requirements in Chapter 17.03 GMC. Specifically it is required for:

1. New uses and buildings in any zoning district except detached dwellings, duplexes or townhouse residences;

2. Any addition to an existing building, structure or site where site grading occurs, but the requirements of this section shall be prorated to that portion of the site affected by development;

3. All elements of an approved landscape plan, including plant materials, shall be considered elements of the project in the same manner as parking, buildings or other details. The applicant and future successors or owners are responsible for the continued maintenance of these features and failure to maintain these features is a violation of the terms of approvals or subsequent permits.

Site and landscape standards may be specifically modified through the planned zoning process in Chapter 17.03 GMC. (Ord. 2518 § 2 (LDC § 8.01))

17.08.020 Open Space Design

All lots shall have access to Open and Civic Space Systems as provided in GMC 17.04.020. Where such spaces are not existing, or are not provided through platting of development plans, additional open spaces should be incorporated into site plans to best meet the intent of this chapter. (Ord. 2518 § 2 (LDC § 8.02))

17.08.030 Landscape Design

A. Planting Requirements. Landscape materials shall be provided and maintained according to the following:

Table 8-1: Landscape Requirements
	Residential Districts	Nonresidential Districts
Frontage	See GMC 17.07.050, Frontage Design, for specific planting specifications for different Frontage Types; and see Chapter 17.04 GMC for streetscape planting requirements.
Foundation Planting	None required	Except for buildings permitted within 10' of ROW, foundation planting areas shall exist along at least 25% of street facing facades and be at least 8' deep.
		1 small tree for every 40 linear feet of foundation.
		1 shrub for every 10 linear feet of foundation.
Parking Areas	1 large or medium tree for each 40 spaces.	1 large or medium tree for each 40 spaces.
	1 shrub for every 5 linear feet of perimeter buffer along frontage/street side.	1 shrub for every 5 linear feet of perimeter buffer along frontage/street side.
	1 large or medium tree for every 50 linear feet of perimeter buffer.	1 large or medium tree for every 30 linear feet of perimeter buffer.
	50% reduction if designed with 2.5' – 4' decorative wall or fence complementing the architecture and materials of the building along the street side.	50% reduction if designed with 2.5' – 4' decorative wall or fence complementing the architecture and materials of the building along the street side.
Buffers	See Table 8-2.
Civic or Open Space	See GMC 17.04.020 and design specifications for Civic and Open Space Systems where applicable.
Other Open Areas Generally	1 tree per 10,000 s.f.
	1 shrub per 5,000 s.f.
	All other permeable surfaces in the open space and landscape plan shall include ground cover to prevent dust and soil erosion, with turf, native grass or shrub areas.

In general, species for meeting the landscape requirements shall be based on the Great Trees for the Kansas City Region incorporated as an Appendix C to this Code. Although Appendix C does not offer a list of medium trees, it should be understood that trees expected to mature to a range of 30 – 50 feet in height and 30 – 50 feet spread based on anticipated growth patterns and planting context can be considered as medium trees. Examples may include Quercus lyrata (Overcup Oak), Ostrya virginiana (Hophornbeam) and Koelreuteria paniculata (Golden Raintree).

Figure 8-1 Landscape Requirements

This illustration depicts the requirements of commercial and residential landscape requirements.

B. Buffer Planting. The following planting requirements shall be located along the perimeter of sites to buffer more intense uses and to design effective transitions. The buffer width exists independent of and may include any setback, parking perimeter buffer or other open space requirement. The plant requirement is in addition to any other required plants.

Table 8-2: Buffer Planting Requirements
Subject Property Level	Buffer Planting Requirement	Adjacent Property Level
Level 1 – A, RE, R-1, R-2	None	N/A
Level 2 – R-3, R-4, R-5	1 tree (large, medium or small) per 50 linear feet.	Level 1
	1 shrub per 10 linear feet.
	At least 8' perimeter depth.
Level 3 – RM-P, C-O, CO-A, C-1, C-2, C-3, REC	1 tree (large, medium or small) per 40 linear feet.	Level 1 and 2
	1 evergreen per 30 linear feet OR a 6' solid fence with plant materials to the outside.
	1 shrub for every 10 linear feet.
	At least 12' perimeter depth.
Level 4 – M-1, M-2	1 tree (large, medium or small) per 30 linear feet.	Level 1, 2 and 3
	1 evergreen per 15 linear feet OR a 6' solid fence with plant materials to the outside.
	1 shrub for every 10 linear feet.
	At least 20' perimeter depth.

C. Tree Diversity. The required trees planted shall promote diversity with the following species selection criteria.

Table 8-3: Tree Diversity
Required Trees	Diversity
5 – 10	At least 2 genus
5 – 10	No more than 50% of any one species
11 – 20	At least 3 genus; AND
	At least 5 species
	No more than 33% of any one species
21 – 50	At least 3 genus; AND
	At least 5 species
	No more than 20% of any one species

D. Plant Specifications. Required planting shall meet the following specifications at planting:

Table 8-4: Plant Specifications
Type	Specification
Large or Medium Tree	2" caliper
Small Tree	1.5" caliper
Evergreen	5' minimum height
Shrub	18" minimum height
Ground Cover	50% coverage at planting;
Ground Cover	Full coverage within 2 growing seasons
Turf	All proposed or required turf areas shall be sodded

All landscape materials shall meet the American Standards for Nursery Stock, published by the American Nurserymen’s Association, and be selected for its native characteristics or survival in the climate for the Kansas City region, and be planted and maintained per ASNS specifications.

E. Credits for Existing Vegetation. Preservation of existing landscape material that is healthy and of a desirable species may count towards these requirements, provided measures are taken to ensure the survival of the vegetation through construction and all other location and design standards are met. Credits shall be on a one-for-one basis, except that landscape material more than twice the specified size or otherwise of exceptional quality may be credited on a two-for-one basis. (Ord. 2584 § 1; Ord. 2518 § 2 (LDC § 8.03))

17.08.040 Screens and Fencing

A. Screening. All of the following shall be screened from streets or adjacent property with dense evergreen vegetation, a decorative opaque fence or wall complementing the architectural details and materials of the building, or architectural features of the building, or a combination of these:

1. Electrical and mechanical equipment such as transformers, air conditioners, or communication equipment and antennas, whether ground, wall or roof mounted; provided however, that ground-mounted equipment associated with Detached House or Duplex building types does not require such screening from adjacent property;

2. Permanent outdoor storage areas;

3. Trash enclosures;

4. Delivery and vehicle service bays, except that bays do not need to be screened from adjacent property with the same or more intense zoning;

5. Nonresidential parking lots within 30 feet of residential lots.

B. Fencing. All fencing for screening, security, or privacy shall meet the following standards:

1. Front Fencing. All fencing in front of the front building line shall:

a. Be limited to no higher than four feet; and

b. Shall have a void of at least 33 percent up to four feet, so that a four-foot-high picket fence shall have a picket-to-void ratio of 2:1 or greater transparency.

2. Other Street-Side Fencing. All fencing adjacent to a street-side lot line (not including front lot line) shall:

a. Meet the standards above for front fencing; except that street-side fencing more than six feet from a pedestrian facility in the public right-of-way and behind the front building line may meet the standards for rear and side fencing in subsection (B)(3) of this section.

3. Interior Rear and Interior Side Fencing. All interior rear and side fencing located behind the front building line shall:

a. Be limited to no higher than six feet, or up to seven feet in all nonresidential districts;

b. May have a solid screen.

4. Other Fencing Design Standards.

a. Any fencing that could potentially create a sight obstruction for vehicles crossing pedestrian areas or entering the street may require greater transparency or additional location restrictions to allow for safe sight distances for the vehicle.

b. All fencing located along adjacent lot lines shall be constructed so that either:

(1) The face of the fence is on the property line; or

(2) The face of the fence is at least three feet from the property line. Any areas set back three feet or more from the property line, which could become enclosed by other similarly located fences, shall provide at least one gate for access and maintenance equipment.

c. All fences shall be constructed so that the finished side faces adjacent property or any public right-of-way.

d. Fences shall be constructed from materials as follows:

(1) Any fence or wall constructed within 15 feet of the street right-of-way shall be limited to decorative or ornamental fencing and screening materials complementing the architectural style and materials of the principal building. The following materials may be considered to be decorative or ornamental:

(a) Wood or vinyl simulating wood;

(b) Wrought iron or aluminum simulating wrought iron;

(d) Vinyl.

(2) Fence materials that are not considered to be decorative or ornamental, including chain link (with or without slats), welded wire and similar materials (including any of these materials that are vinyl coated) are permitted as follows:

(a) In all residential districts, in the rear or side yard only with a maximum height of four feet;

(b) In the M-1 and M-2 districts, in the rear and side only, but no closer than 30 feet from any public street;

(3) Electrified fencing in the RE or A districts only, and only when associated with a permitted agriculture use of the property.

C. Visibility at Intersections. Screens and buffers shall be located and designed to maintain proper lines of sight at all intersections of streets, streets with alleys or driveways, and internal access streets as provided in GMC 17.04.010(D). (Ord. 2587 § 1; Ord. 2550 § 1; Ord. 2518 § 2 (LDC § 8.04))

17.08.050 Outdoor Lighting

A. Mounting Height. All exterior lighting shall be limited to the mounting heights specified in the following table:

Table 8-5: Maximum Lighting Mounting Height
Driveways and parking areas	37.5' in C-2, C-3, M-1, or M-2 districts
Driveways and parking areas	25' in all other districts
Pedestrian walkways, plazas or courtyards	16'
Facade lights	Below the eave or cornice line, provided the light is directed downward
Other site lighting	12'

B. Shielding. All exterior lighting shall be shielded as specified in the following table:

Table 8-6: Required Shielding
Watts (or Equivalent Lumens) or Mounting Height	Shield Type
Watts (or Equivalent Lumens) or Mounting Height	Full Cutoff a	Cutoff b	Semi-Cutoff c
All lights mounted above 25'; OR All lights above 450 watts	required	prohibited	prohibited
All lights between 100 watts and 450 watts	permitted	required	prohibited
All lights between 55 watts and 99 watts; OR Any light mounted between 12' and 25'	permitted	permitted	required
All lights mounted below 12' AND less than 55 watts	No shielding is required; all shielding types permitted.

a Full cutoff fixtures emit 0% of their light above 90 degrees and 10% above 80 degrees from horizontal.

b Cutoff fixtures emit no more than 2.5% of their light above 90 degrees and 10% of their light above 80 degrees from horizontal.

c Semi-cutoff fixtures emit no more than 5% of their light above 90 degrees and 20% of their light above 80 degrees.

C. General Standards. In addition to the mounting height and shielding standards, exterior site lighting shall meet the following general standards:

1. All lighting shall be designed and located to not provide direct light or glare onto any adjacent property.

2. All lighting shall be reduced to levels necessary only for security purposes within one hour after closing of the business.

3. All facade lighting and/or other externally illuminating lights shall use shielded, directional fixtures, designed and located to minimize uplighting and glare. (Ord. 2518 § 2 (LDC § 8.05))