17.612.040 Tree shading requirements for parking lots.

A.         Surface parking facilities. Except as provided below, the shading requirement set forth in subsection B applies to all surface parking facilities, including all surfacing on which a vehicle can drive and all parking stalls; all drives and drive-through lanes within the property regardless of length; and all maneuvering areas regardless of depth.

1.       Expansion of existing nonconforming parking facilities. When a parking facility that does not comply with the shading requirement is expanded by an amount, in area or number of spaces, equal to or greater than 50% within any continuous three-year period, the entire parking facility, including the existing area and the expansion, shall comply with the shading requirement. When a parking facility that does not comply with the shading requirement is expanded by an amount, in area or number of spaces, less than 50%, only the expansion must comply with the shading requirement.

2.       Exceptions. The following surfaced areas are exempt from the shading requirement set forth in subsection B: single unit and duplex dwelling parking areas; model home temporary sales office parking areas; temporary commercial building parking areas; parking structures; carports; enclosed parking spaces; truck loading areas in front of overhead doors; truck maneuvering and parking areas unconnected to and exclusive of any vehicle parking; surfaced areas not to be used for vehicle parking, driving or maneuvering, provided they are made inaccessible to vehicles by a barrier such as bollards or fencing; and vehicle display, sales, service, and storage areas, provided that the surface parking area of the use shall comply with the shading requirements.

B.         Tree shading requirement. Trees shall be planted and maintained throughout the surface parking facility to ensure that, within 15 years after establishment of the parking facility, at least 50% of the parking facility will be shaded. All planting, soil volumes, and maintenance shall comply with the parking facility tree shading design and maintenance guidelines.

C.         Parking facility tree shading design and maintenance guidelines. Parking facility tree shading design and maintenance guidelines shall be adopted by resolution of the city council. The guidelines may be adopted following at least one public hearing before the planning and design commission and one public hearing before the city council. Each hearing shall be noticed in the same manner as hearings on text amendments pursuant to chapter 17.916.

D.         Shading calculation. Shading is calculated by using the expected diameter of the tree crown at 15 years. Each planting area shall be of adequate size for the landscaping approved and shall have adequate irrigation for that landscaping. The planning director, in consultation with the city landscape architect, shall establish a list of species appropriate for providing shade in parking facilities, and trees to be planted in accordance with the regulations of this section shall be selected from this list. Landscape and shading plans shall be submitted to the building division at the time of application for building permit, and the plans shall be referred to the planning director for review for compliance with the requirements of this section. As part of this review, the planning director has discretion to modify tree shading requirements under power lines and other obstructions that prohibit strict compliance with shading requirements and to give shading credit for photovoltaic arrays, off-site trees and structures, sidewalk canopies, and other structures, where appropriate.

E.          Installation. Upon completion of the installation of shade trees, the landscape designer shall certify that the shading complies with all requirements of this section. Certification shall be accomplished by the completion of the landscape certificate, pursuant to section 15.92.090.

F.          Maintenance. All trees and associated landscaping, such as shrubs and turf, planted or installed pursuant to this section shall be properly maintained for the life of the facility pursuant to the surface parking facility tree shading design and maintenance guidelines established by resolution of the city council as provided in this section. The maintenance obligation provided herein applies to all parking facilities subject to the shading requirement, whether approved prior to, contemporaneously with, or after the effective date of the parking facility tree shading design and maintenance guidelines. Any required trees or other plantings that die or are improperly maintained shall be replaced with healthy specimens of similar species and size, provided that replacement trees shall not be required to exceed 48 inch box size. Removal and replacement of trees that have caused damage to sidewalks or other infrastructure shall be reviewed and approved by the city arborist prior to tree removal. (Ord. 2013-0020 § 1; Ord. 2013-0007 § 1)