Landscaping regulations have been updated to provide more flexibility and accurately reference existing Town landscaping standards. Buffering regulations have also been expanded to require larger areas between residential development and abutting commercial and industrial parcels.
Xeriscaping Regulations
Xeriscaping is a natural approach for constructing low maintenance, water efficient and sustainable landscaping which often includes but is not limited to the usage of xeric adapted plant species, gravel gardens or rock gardens. The current Land Use Bylaw requires 100% xeriscaping in non-residential areas, however that standard is quite restrictive and not always met. To provide more flexibility, in the new Land Use Bylaw we are proposing to encourage xeriscaping, and also directly reference the Town of Cochrane Naturescaping Standards, which outlines appropriate species to help decrease water consumption.
Current: 100% xeriscaping required for all non-residential developments
Proposed: Xeriscaping shall be encouraged to reduce watering requirements, and all landscaping shall conform to the Town of Cochrane naturscaping
Industrial Landscaping Regulations
Current landscaping standards for industrial districts have proven to be cumbersome in some areas, where there is a shortage of industrial lands available for development. The new regulations decrease the total amount of area that needs to be landscaped, while still ensuring that landscaping is focused along public streets.
Current: Minimum of 20% of the gross site area must be landscaped in the Business Industrial District, with one tree required per 35m2 of landscaped area.
Proposed: Minimum of 10% of the gross site area must be landscaped in the Business Industrial District, with one tree or two shrubs required per 35m2 of landscaped area.
Buffering
Landscaping buffers visibly screen and separate land use districts from one another to mitigate noise, lighting and other nuisances. Current buffering regulations are non-specific and don’t provide much guidance, so they have been expanded to ensure that buffers of a minimum size are required when residential districts abut non-residential districts.
Current: Landscaping to provide a visual buffer between residential and non-residential uses shall be required
Proposed: A minimum 3m wide buffer will be required between residential and non-residential (commercial, industrial, urban service) district.
- In addition to a landscaping buffer, any industrial district that is adjacent to a residential district must be screened to a minimum height of 1.8m by fences, privacy walls, earth berm, gates, or landscaping.
- Additional buffering and screening may be required by the Development Authority if deemed necessary.