The city of Hermiston wants the public’s input on a proposed ordinance that would set minimum landscaping standards for all new commercial, industrial, and multi-family residential developments in Hermiston.
The open house will begin at 4 p.m. on May 7 at Hermiston City Hall, and run until 6 p.m.
The proposed ordinance would require a minimum of 6 percent of the developed area in the Outlying Commercial Zone (C-2) to be landscaped. The minimum requirement would be 3 percent of the developed area in the Central Commercial Zone (C-1). Properties in the Downtown Commercial Overlay (DCO) would be able to meet the landscaping requirements by using alternate enhancements, such as planter boxes, hanging baskets, decorative lighting, and others.
In the Industrial Zones (M-1 & M-2), the minimum landscaping requirement would be 3 percent, or 10,000 square feet, whichever is less. Industrial sites larger than 5 acres could also plant trees along street frontages to screen the development, in lieu of part of the landscaping requirement.
The only residential properties which would be required to meet landscaping standards are multiple family residential developments such as apartments and duplexes. Multi-family developments would be required to install landscaping on at least 15 percent of the developed area.
The proposed ordinance would only apply to new development within the city. A full copy of the proposed language is available at the city’s website.
Creation of a landscape ordinance is a priority of the Hermiston City Council priority and was assigned to the Community Enhancement Committee (CEC) when it was formed a year ago. Since that time, city staff researched similar ordinances in similarly sized communities and presented initial draft language to the CEC in the fall of 2014. The CEC developed the ordinance further over several months before forwarding a copy to the city’s Planning Commission for an initial review. The Hermiston Planning Commission reviewed the ordinance at their March 11 meeting and made additional comments and changes to the proposal.
After the May 7 open house, the public comments will be reviewed and incorporated in to the proposed ordinance, and the proposal will be presented to the city council. After review, the council will be able to offer additional comments and amendments before sending it to the Planning Commission for a public hearing, or the Council may choose not to move forward with the ordinance.
For more information, call Hermiston City Hall at 541-567-5521.
