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COMPOSITE REPORT-Page 2 ` • ' Application No. 6913 REVISED DANE COUNTY PLANNING DIVISION STAFF COMMENTS I. BACKGROUND A. At its May public hearing, the ZNR Committee heard the applicant's request to rezone 11 acres in the 6400 block of Nesbitt Road(Town of Verona) from A-2(8)to C-2 to allow the expansion of a landscaping and snow removal business. The applicant currently operates his business on 6 acres adjacent to the subject property on lands already zoned C-2. The expansion area would be used primarily for outdoor storage of landscaping materials, but may also include an office/storage building (see Exhibit A). B. It its report to the Committee, staff suggested that the applicant prepare a landscape plan for the expansion area prior to approval of the rezoning request to address neighborhood impact and community separation issues. Staff also suggested that ultimate approval be conditioned upon restricting use of the property to the proposed business, implementing the landscape plan, and limiting hours of operation. C. At its May hearing and June 3 work meeting, the Committee postponed action on this request. Also at a June 3 meeting, the Verona Town Board requested that the County hold the item in abeyance pending later Town action. D. Planning staff have worked with the applicant to develop a landscape plan which would address issues raised in our original staff report. On June 10, staff toured the site with the applicant to identify landscaping needs. On June 18, the applicant submitted the attached plan(see Exhibit B). Staff have shared that landscape plan with the Town. II. ANALYSIS A. The landscape plan suggests the use of existing and proposed plantings and berming to screen the property from neighboring uses and enhance the natural appearance along USH 151 to support community separation goals. The plan includes a single row of techny arborvitae along the Nesbitt Road frontage(3-4 feet in height at planting). The plan also includes, along the USH 151 frontage, a staggered row of arborvitae plus an eight foot high, 140 foot long berm to screen parts of the site used most intensively. Although the original staff recommendation did not suggest landscaping on the existing C-2 zoned property, the plan does include some additional landscaping in this area. The June 18 plan satisfies the original staff recommendation for a landscape plan, provided that minor additions outlined in Section III(a)below are incorporated. B. The applicant has requested that the County and Town not require the installation of landscape plantings until Spring 1998. He maintains that the plantings would have a better chance for survival if planted in spring. Given the fact that the proposed landscaping is significant(e.g., over 130 arborvitae) and final approval may not be attained until September, this appears to be a reasonable request. Staff will inspect the site in June 1998 to assure that landscaping has been completed as proposed. C. In its original report, staff suggested that the ZNR Committee consider a condition of zoning approval which would limit the hours of operation on the subject site. The applicant expressed concern that such a limit would severely hamper his snow removal operations which require irregular hours. In reconsideration, staff also question the wisdom or significance of imposing hours of operation on only one-half of a business.