Historically, commercial buildings in the Central Business District are built to the setback, meaning that the buildings are constructed on or extremely close to the front lot line, leaving minimal area for significant landscaping or open space typically required for new development sites. In lieu of the landscaping requirements in Sections 1141.06
-1141.10
, The Landscaping - Streetscape Requirements for the CBD have been established to scale the landscaping to a traditional downtown setting and to create an attractive pedestrian streetscape. The following standards shall apply to all CBD sites, unless otherwise modified by the Historic Lancaster Commission when a site is located within the Historic Lancaster District.
(a) When a front setback is less than three (3) feet, no landscaping shall be required between the front building façade and the front lot line.
Example of clustered/offset shrubs
(b) When the front setback is between three (3) and ten (10) from the front property line, the front setback shall include one of the following:
(1) A minimum of two (2) shrubs for every twenty (20) lineal feet of building façade. These shrubs can be clustered/offset or planted in a continuous hedgerow; or
(2) An ornamental fence or a decorative wall not exceeding three (3) feet in height and extending for the entire length of the front building façade. Outdoor seating may be provided in this area. A break in the fence may be allowed in order to provide adequate pedestrian ingress/egress to the building.
(3) One planter box for every twenty (20) feet of front building façade. Each planter box shall have a minimum soil capacity of ten (10) gallons and shall be planted and maintained with all season plant material to ensure year-round curb appeal. All season plant material shall be defined as those plant materials listed on the Approved Decorative Planter List, as approved by the Lancaster Historic Commission. The Approved Decorative Planter List shall apply to all properties within the Central Business District including those outside of the Historic Lancaster District.
Example of continuous hedge row
(4) A combination of any of the three above options may also be approved by the City Planner.
Example ornamental fencing with optional Example of planter box
outdoor seating
(c) Parking Lot Screening. Any surface parking area adjacent to a public right-of-way shall be screened from the respective right-of-way using one of the following methods:
(1) A thirty-six (36) inch tall, continuous planting hedge and tree combination; or
(2) A thirty-six (36) inch tall decorative wall with fence in conjunction with landscaping; or
(3) A thirty-six (36) inch tall, continuous decorative planter with lattice or other similar design. The decorative planter shall be planted and maintained with flowers that are listed on the Approved Decorative Planter List, as approved by the City Tree Commission.
(4) The height of the required screening shall be measured from the elevation of the adjacent parking area to the top of the screening material.
Example of decorative wall with fence.
(d) Tree Wells. Tree wells are strategically located within the sidewalks along various streets within the CBD. If the site is located in an area where such tree wells are provided, then no additional street trees shall be required. Otherwise, the site shall comply with the Street Tree requirements in Section 1141.05
.
Example of decorative planter with lattice
(e) Buffer Yard. Whenever a proposed use within the CBD abuts the RE, R-LD, R-MD or a one (1) unit dwelling in the TR District, a buffer yard that is a minimum of twenty (20) feet in width shall be provided. It shall contain a minimum of three (3) Large Trees, five (5) Small Trees, and twenty-five (25) Shrubs.
(Ord. 15-23. Passed 8-14-23.)