(EVANSVILLE, IN)-  Tree planting is one way to improve our community and our environment.  So, it is appropriate on this Arbor Day to discuss a new ordinance which requires developers to include trees and green spaces in large, new parking lots.  The Landscaped Islands Ordinance, which was signed by Mayor Jonathan Weinzapfel on March 9th, is in line with the Sustainability Policy implemented by the City in 2007

“Large parking lots are a common part of the landscape of cities across the country.  What we are ensuring with this ordinance is that new parking lots in our community will include green space to make these areas more visually appealing and lessen their negative impact on our environment,” said Mayor Jonathan Weinzapfel.

Aesthetically, landscaped islands help break up extensive areas of pavement in parking lots.  They help reduce heat build-up and the amount of storm water runoff by allowing water to flow into the soil and the plants to absorb it.   Plants actually filter the water by removing pollutants.

Under the ordinance, new developments with parking lots having 30 spaces or more will be required to have landscaped islands at a rate of one island for every 15 spaces.  Developers will also have to plant trees in the islands when the parking lot is 60 spaces or more.  There is also an incentive for developers to exceed those standards by offering a reduction in the total amount of parking spaces they must provide for every island installed that contains a tree.  The deduction is capped at 15% of total parking spaces required.

In addition, the ordinance makes it easier for land owners who want to retrofit landscaped islands into an existing parking lot by eliminating the possible requirement for a parking variance from the Board of Zoning Appeals and only requiring approval from the Area Plan Commission Director for the modified parking plans.

Pursuant to the general provisions for enforcement of the Zoning Code, violations could result in a citation from the Area Plan Commission to the land owners and/or tenants, with the possibility of a $500 fine for a first offense if the violation is not resolved within a reasonable time period.

Discussion about this ordinance began in 2007, when Mayor Jonathan Weinzapfel asked a group of citizen volunteers interested in improving the environment and addressing other quality of life issues facing the community to make recommendations about revising the zoning code.

The new islands and trees that result from this ordinance will not only help add more green space in future developments, but they will also help to accomplish the objectives of Arbor Day by expanding the area of our urban tree canopy.

Contact: Audra Levy,   (812) 436-4962, alevy@evansvillegis.com

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