17.45.090 Modification of Landscaping Requirements.
(1) The city planner may authorize reduced width of plantings or may waive some of the landscaping or screening requirements in the following instances:
(a) Topography. When the existing topography of the subject property or the adjoining property decreases or eliminates the need for screening.
(b) Views. When the modification will be more beneficial to the adjoining property than the required screen by causing less impairment of view or sunlight.
(c) Change in Use. When it is reasonable to believe that the adjoining property will be redeveloped in the foreseeable future to a use that would require no, or a less intensive, buffer.
(d) Excessive Requirements. When the application of the requirements of this Chapter would result in more than twenty (20) percent of the site area being landscaped. Required parking lot landscaping shall be counted as a percentage of overall required landscaping. In such cases, the city planner shall modify these requirements so that not more than twenty (20) percent of the site must be landscaped, provided that the landscaping and corresponding setbacks required are those that most reasonably satisfy the purposes of this Chapter.
(e) Existing Vegetation. When the inclusion of significant existing vegetation located on the site would result in as good as or better satisfaction of the purposes of this Chapter.
(2) The city planner shall take into account any written statements submitted by adjoining property owners in making a decision to modify landscaping requirements.
(3) The decision of the city planner regarding alternative landscaping shall be final unless an aggrieved person appeals that decision to the hearing examiner under the procedures as set forth in Chapter 17.185. (Ord. 22-2 §8, 2022; Ord. 03-33 §23, 2003; Ord. 02-32 §8, 2002; Ord. 87-9 §1, 1987).