§ 512. Alternative Compliance.

A.

Intent. The Landscape Requirements are intended to encourage development practices which are conscious of the character of the City and its ecological processes. Conditions associated with individual sites may under certain circumstances warrant approval of alternative methods of compliance. Conditions may arise where normal compliance is impractical or impossible, or where maximum achievement of the Purpose and Intent of this Article can only be obtained through alternative compliance. It is not the intent of this section to allow alternative compliance on the basis of economic hardship. In the event that such conditions are present, the Planning Commission or their designee shall have authority to adjust the requirements of this article as provided below in accordance with the following:

1.

Request for Alternative Compliance Review. Requests for alternative compliance must be made in writing at the time of application and may be granted for any permit application to which the Landscape Requirements apply, when one or more of the following conditions are met:

(a)

Improved environmental quality would result from alternative compliance.

(b)

Topography, soil, vegetation, drainage or other site conditions are such that full compliance is impractical.

(c)

Spatial Limitations, unusual shaped pieces of land, or unusual servitude requirements may justify alternative compliance.

(d)

Public safety considerations make alternative compliance appropriate.

(e)

Public Improvement (i.e. streets, water, sewer, etc.) projects make alternative compliance appropriate.

(f)

The site is part of a development for which a master plan has been submitted which makes adequate provision for landscaping.

The above conditions must be substantiated as part of the written request for Alternative Compliance.

(2)

Methods of Alternative Compliance.

(a)

Reduction in the amount, or variation in types, of required landscaping

(b)

Reduction of buffer widths.

(c)

Modification of required structures (i.e. fences, walls, berms, etc.)

(d)

Modification in configuration or amount of required parking to accommodate landscaped islands

In all instances, at the discretion of the Planning Administrator, such requests for alternative compliance may be referred to the Planning Commission for review and approval.