Landscaping and Open Space Requirements in the Neighborhood Commercial (NC) District
In the Neighborhood Commercial (NC) district of Concord, development must provide a minimum landscape area of 20 percent of the site, as specified in the development code. Additionally, for residential components, the project must satisfy open space requirements for residential developments as outlined in the city’s open space and recreational facility standards.
Landscaping Requirements
In the Neighborhood Commercial (NC) district, the minimum area of a site required to be landscaped is 20 percent of the total site area [Section 18.165.050]. This requirement is supplemental to any landscaping that may be required for parking lots under Section 18.165.060.
An exception to this 20 percent landscape requirement may be granted by the review authority if the minimum amount of landscaping is determined to be not feasible, such as on very small parcels or parcels developed with no setback requirements [Section 18.165.050].
Parking Lot Landscaping
Parking lots in the Neighborhood Commercial (NC) district must comply with specific landscaping requirements. Parking lot landscaping, excluding perimeter screening, does not count toward the 20 percent landscape area requirement identified above [Section 18.165.060]. Key requirements include:
- Materials: Landscape materials must be evenly distributed throughout the parking lot using a combination of trees, shrubs, and ground cover [Section 18.165.060].
- Perimeter Landscaping: Surface parking areas must be screened from the street. For areas adjacent to streets, shade trees must be provided at a minimum rate of one tree for every 30 linear feet of landscaped area [Section 18.165.060].
- Interior Landscaping: A minimum of 10 percent of the gross area of the parking lot must be landscaped. Trees (minimum 24-inch box) must be planted to achieve 50 percent shading of parking lot pavement within 10 years, with at least one shade tree provided for every five parking spaces [Section 18.165.060].
Residential Open Space
For mixed-use projects in the Neighborhood Commercial (NC) district that include residential units, developers must adhere to the open space and recreational facility standards. Residential developments of three or more units must provide at least 200 square feet of private and/or common open space per dwelling unit, with a minimum of 60 square feet of private open space per unit [Section 18.150.100].
If the residential project consists of 25 units or more, at least one recreational facility (such as a game court, play lot, or exercise room) must be provided [Section 18.150.100].
Summary of Standards for the NC District
| Standard | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Minimum Landscaping Area | 20 percent of the site [Section 18.165.050] |
| Interior Parking Lot Landscaping | 10 percent of gross parking lot area [Section 18.165.060] |
| Residential Open Space | 200 sq. ft. per unit (total); 60 sq. ft. per unit (private minimum) [Section 18.150.100] |
Sections Cited
- Section 18.150.100: Open space and recreational facilities for residential development
- Section 18.165.050: Landscape requirements
- Section 18.165.060: Parking lot landscaping