Consider Landscape Plan for Gigi's Salon and Spa

The City has received a Site Plan and Plat Application for the property located at the southeast corner of Zeolite Street and Sunwood Drive (the "Subject Property").  The project is proposing an approximately 9,000 square foot building fronting Sunwood Drive with parking to the south, for the future home of Gigi's Salon and Spa (currently operating in a suite just west of the Subject Property).

The Subject Property is devoid of any significant trees, eliminating the need for a tree inventory.  Additionally, there are no wetlands or floodplains on the Subject Property.  Thus, this review is focused on the Landscape Plan only.  The Subject Property is located within The COR, which, as the Board knows, focuses primarily on the public streetscape without specifying minimum standards for planting internal to a project site.  There is already an established streetscape along Sunwood Drive, which will need to be protected throughout the construction process.

The project does include new sidewalk along both Zeolite Street and Veterans Drive, as well as a minimum six (6) foot wide boulevard.  The proposed tree species for the boulevard plants (Skyline Honeylocust along Zeolite Street and Red Oak along Veterans Drive) are both acceptable.  Staff has requested that the proposed shrubs in the boulevard along both streets, and the wood chip mulch ground cover, be eliminated and that the boulevard consist only of trees, sod, and wood chip mulch rings.  This is consistent with The COR Design Framework and matches better with existing development patterns as well.

The project does include parking lot plantings as well as foundation plantings around the proposed building.  Staff has requested that the parking lot islands have wood chip mulch rather than rock mulch to assist with moderating soil temperatures and moisture retention.  The proposed shrubs for foundation plantings are all acceptable, but the planting schedule needs to be updated to specify minimum planting size of at least twenty-four (24) inches.

Sod is proposed around the building and up to the proposed sidewalks.  As noted previously, Staff has requested that sod be shown in boulevard areas as well rather than wood chip mulch.  Seed is proposed east of the building site, which is acceptable and should establish just fine with the required topsoil and the proposed irrigation system for all turfed areas.

All costs associated with this project are the Applicant's responsibility.

Motion to recommend approval of the proposed Landscape Plan contingent upon compliance with the corrections required.