Ordinance 309CITY OF CHANHASSEN
• CARVER AND HENNEPIN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA
ORDINANCE NO. 309
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 20 OF THE
CHANHASSEN CITY CODE, THE ZONING ORDINANCE
The City Council of the City of Chanhassen ordains:
Section 1. Article XXV. Landscaping and Tree Removal, Division 1, Generally, Section 20-
1176. Intent, scope and compliance is hereby amended by replacing and adding the language as
follows:
(f) (2) (c) Buffer yard requirements are stated in terms of the width of the buffer yard and
the number of plant units required per 100 linear feet of buffer yard. Each illustration depicts the
minimum buffer yard required between two uses or adjacent to a collector or arterial right-of-
way. The project developer shall be responsible for providing 75 percent of the required
plantings. If abutting property owner(s) desire to bring the buffering to 100 percent of the
required buffer yard plantings, then the adjacent property owner(s) may install the remaining 25
percent of the required plantings on their own property. When the parcel abuts public property,
such as roads or parks, the developer shall be responsible for 100% of the required plantings.
(f) (3) Plant material existing on a parcel which meets the buffer yard planting
requirements of location, size and species may be counted toward the total buffer yard plant
material requirement. Existing natural features such as slopes, woodlands or wetlands which
provide physical separation between developments or between a development and a collector and
arterial road may satisfy the buffering function of the required buffer yard. If approved by the
City, proposed berms 3 feet and higher in the buffer yard may be substituted for up to one-half
('/2) of the required understory trees and shrubs, depending on the length of the berm. For
instance, if a berm runs the entire length of the buffer yard, the understory and shrub plantings
may be reduced by one-half. Any boulevard trees or reforestation plantings required in the buffer
yard can be counted towards required overstory buffer yard plantings if there is insufficient room
for both types of plantings.
(f) (6) Canopy trees are defined as those trees specified as primary or secondary
deciduous trees or conifers in the city's subdivision ordinance. Conifers to be used as overstory
trees shall have a minimum height of 8 feet when planted. Arborvitae shall not be used as an
overstory tree.
(f) (7) Understory trees are defined as those trees specified as ornamental or conifer trees
in the city's subdivision ordinance. Conifers to be used as understory trees shall have a
minimum height of 6 feet when planted.
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Section 2. This ordinance shall be effective immediately upon its passage and publication.
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PASSED AND ADOPTED by the Chanhassen City Council this 14th of August, 2000.
ATTEST:
Scott A. Botcher, City Manager
Nancy K. M cino, Mayor
(Published in the Chanhassen Villager on August 31, 2000)