The intent of the requirements contained within this section of the Highland Village Overlay Zoning District is to ensure that pedestrian access for the residents of the city is accommodated and enhanced by nonresidential development within the city. It is also the intent of these requirements to ensure that the floodplain areas, floodprone areas, and drainageways located within this overlay district are maintained or enhanced in terms of their ability to contribute to flood management.
All nonresidential development within the Highland Village Overlay Zoning District must be integrated with the city's park and open space network, including the inland trail, as described in the park and open space master plan of the comprehensive plan. This shall include the provision of public spaces and the construction of trails that would connect to the defined inland trail system (also referred to as a system of linear parks within the Highland Village Subdivision Ordinance). Public or common uses and open space should be connected together via the trail system to promote pedestrian usage through the district, as well as from adjacent residential areas. Public space, common use, open spaces, public places, as area focal points, and public amenities used herein interchangeably shall mean areas designated for pedestrian travel and recreation on private property. In addition, utilization of open space must be enhanced through the provision of amenities. Compliance with the requirements of this section (section
89) shall be a condition of site plan and general development request approval.
a. Outdoor and open space.
Development within the Highland Village Overlay Zoning District should make a positive overall contribution to the city by providing defined public places and activity centers so that varied activities are encouraged within this area. This can be accomplished through the incorporation of open spaces that become public amenities and that provide interest within the area at the pedestrian level.
1. Outdoor seating.
Any establishment serving food for consumption on-premises is encouraged to provide an outdoor seating area and shall be approved with site plan. The outdoor seating area may be included as a portion of the seven percent open space requirement as stated in section 89.a.2 below.
2. Additional open space required.
An additional seven percent of open space is required in addition to the landscape, setback and parking lot island requirements. The additional seven percent may be located adjacent to the required setbacks or landscaping at the ROW and property lines or in front or in some cases to the side of the structure. The additional open space percentage may not include the building footprint or vehicular parking lot. This area and the associated amenity(s) shall be approved on the site plan.
At least one of the following amenities shall be located within the additional seven percent open space area and count towards the required percentage:
- | Water feature, such as a fountain or detention pond with constant water level |
- | Plaza or courtyard with an art sculpture piece |
- | Outdoor patio or gazebo with seating area |
- | Pedestrian walkways, connectivity with the city's inland trail system |
- | Other areas for pedestrian congregation, as may be approved on the site plan |
3. Locational criteria.
The location of public spaces and trails/pedestrian walkways shall be consistent with the conceptual locations shown on exhibit D [on file in the office of the city secretary].
b. Other requirements.
1. Retention/detention ponds.
It is anticipated that flood mitigation measures, including the construction of retention/detention ponds, will have to be utilized within the Highland Village Overlay Zoning District, as required by the director of public works. Retention/detention pond areas shall be designed as freeform shapes to blend with the natural landscape, and shall be an integral part of the overall site design concept. Natural rocks and boulders with spillways of natural rock shall be used to create visual appeal and to create an amenity for the development.
(a) Any necessary retention/detention pond area shall be constructed in conjunction with and as an amenity to public open space areas (refer to section 89.a) and shall maintain a constant water level.
(b) In addition to engineering review, plans for retention/detention pond areas shall be designed by a licensed landscape architect and shall be reviewed and approved by the director of parks and recreation or his designee.
2. The Inland Trail system.
In keeping with the city's park and open space master plan, it is envisioned that within the marketplace overlay zoning district area, people will be able to move freely throughout the area without the use of an automobile due to an emphasis on trails/walkways that would connect with the city's inland trail system. The overall concept for the secondary trail is shown on the map attached [to the ordinance from which this article derives] as exhibit D, and an easement for access into the secondary trail system shall be provided in accordance with the conceptual locations shown.
(a) It is the responsibility of the developer to ensure that the secondary trail constructed as part of each development meets the following requirements:
(1) Allows pedestrians to have accessibility between public streets and the building without having to walk through a surface parking lot.
(2) Protects pedestrians from vehicular intrusions with landscaping, curbs, bollards or other elements integrated into the site design.
(3) Connects with existing or future city-owned trails without physical barriers.
(4) Provides access to open space areas provided as a result of development (refer to section 89.a).
(5) Traverses each development in such a way that allows for the free movement of pedestrians.
(6) Provides an opportunity for trails constructed as a result of future development to connect to said trail.
(b) The city shall specify the proposed dimensions of the trail constructed as part of each development, in accordance with exhibit D of this ordinance [on file in the office of the city secretary]. The developer shall then provide the city an easement to the common area or property upon which the trail is constructed. The owner may offer to construct the trail at an alternative site that reasonably meets the same needs of the city, however, the city shall have the authority to determine the adequacy of the alternative site. Secondary trails shall be of a suitable size, dimension, topography and general character to meet the design criteria specified in the parks and open space master plan for the city's inland trail system (referred to as linear park facilities in the parks and open space master plan), as may be further specified through administrative guidelines.
3. Preservation of existing trees.
Preservation of trees within the overlay district shall comply with the requirements of section
32 of the Highland Village Ordinance No. 95- 699, as modified herein. Trees in excess of six inches in caliper and, all trees within the areas shown on exhibit E [on file in the office of the city secretary] shall be preserved to the maximum extent reasonable and feasible. The developer and the builder shall use best good faith efforts to preserve areas in which large clusters of trees are located. Indiscriminate clearing or stripping of trees of any caliper within the marketplace overlay district is prohibited. Any part of a site not used for buildings, parking, driveways, walkways, utilities and approved storage areas shall be retained in a natural state, or reclaimed to its natural state, to the greatest extent feasible, or shall be attractively landscaped in a manner that adds aesthetic value to the development. A tree mitigation plan shall be submitted for approval with the site plan. All requirements in section
32, Ordinance No. 95-699 shall be met. Replacement trees shall be required for trees which are removed. For trees which exceed four inches in caliper total of caliper inches shall be calculated and newly planted four-inch trees shall total the corresponding caliper inches. For example removal of two 16-inch trees requires eight four-inch trees to be planted and shall be submitted for location approval with site plan. Replacement trees shall not be considered as part of the required landscape plan for the site/development.
c. Landscaping.
(1) All properties located within the marketplace overlay zoning district shall comply with the landscaping requirements contained within section
32 of Ordinance No. 95-699, except as provided below. Compliance with the requirements of this section (section
89) shall be a condition of site plan and general development request approval.
(a) Shade trees. At least 60 percent of all required trees planted throughout the development shall be shade trees, as such are defined in Ordinance No. 95-699.
(b) Street buffer trees.
Street buffer trees are required to be planted adjacent to any public right-of-way and shall be spaced one tree for every 30 feet of frontage and shall be of at least a four-inch caliper. Evergreen and/or ornamental trees shall be planted in addition to the required shade trees. Evergreen and/or ornamental trees should be utilized to screen service areas, or to screen/buffer adjacent properties. Ornamental trees shall be used to accent the building and overall development. Existing trees located in parking lots shall not be accepted as credits in lieu of street buffer trees.
(c) Street buffer tree location.
Street buffer trees shall not be located within any public right-of-way or utility easement.
(d) Lot landscaped area.
Each lot shall provide a minimum of 15 percent landscaped area that shall include a combination of trees, shrubs, plantings, ground cover and grass.
(e) Site landscaped area.
The entire site shall provide a minimum of 20 percent landscaped area that shall include a combination of trees, shrubs, plantings, ground cover and grass.
(f) Landscape buffers.
Landscape buffers (exterior parkways) shall be provided adjacent to a public right-of-way at a minimum of 20 feet and a minimum of 20 feet landscape buffer (interior parkway).
(g) Berming.
Berms shall be used to screen parking areas (refer to section 86.a.5. of this ordinance). Berms shall not exceed a 3:1 slope. Berms located within parking lot islands or medians shall be crowned for positive drainage, with the highest point along or near the center of the island.
(h) Utility easements.
Any landscaping located within utility easements is subject to approval by the respective company. The landscaping of utility easements should be consistent with the development.
(i) Parking lots.
Landscape areas located within parking lots shall be an area not less than 80 square feet in area. These areas shall be no less than five feet in width.
(j) Parking lot islands/medians.
Parking lot islands or medians shall be placed at least every ten spaces without a break. Parking lot islands or medians shall be located to help define parking areas and assist in indicating traffic circulation patterns. Consideration for the protection of existing trees and/or clusters of trees will be given.
(k) Landscaping within parking lot islands/medians.
A combination of shrubs and ground cover plantings shall be required in all islands and medians. Trees are required at the end of each parking row within the island or median. Trees in this location shall be no less than three inches in caliper.
(l) Seasonal plantings.
The use of seasonal color and xeriscape in plantings shall be required throughout the development.
(m) Pedestrian access.
The trail system and other elements for pedestrian access/circulation on the property are preferred within exterior landscaped areas and may be included in the interior landscaped areas to serve as visual amenities. Pedestrian access between properties, as previously mentioned in section
89 of this ordinance, shall be a condition of site plan approval.
(n) Foundation plantings.
Foundation plantings are required around no less than 50 percent of the perimeter of the building or structure.
(o) Plan requirements.
Landscape plans shall be designed by a landscape architect and shall be reviewed by the director of parks and recreation or his designee.
(p) Condition of landscaped areas.
All landscaped areas shall be maintained in a clean, sanitary condition. Landscaped areas shall be trimmed, free of weeds, with trees, ground cover and grass in a healthy, living and growing condition at all times.
(q) Plant materials.
A landscape plant materials list is attached hereto [to the ordinance from which this article derives] as exhibit G, which is a list that has been reviewed and approved by the director of parks and recreation.
d. Entry/gateway features.
The intersection of F.M. 407 and F.M. 2499 (northwest and northeast corners) [is] considered a gateway to the City of Highland Village and should be an enhanced intersection with the use of landscaping and lighting, and entrance monuments, including signage. Developments located on the northwest and northeast corners are encouraged to incorporate entrance monuments and enhanced landscaping to provide an entry or gateway feature into the city. These plans shall be approved with the site plan for the development. City of Highland Village has the option to participate with the developer to further provide enhancements to the intersection.
(Ordinance 01-872, sec. 1, ex. A (9), adopted 11/13/01; Ordinance 03-906, sec. 1, ex. A, adopted 2/11/03)