Waiver Request for OTOW Drone Flying Field Landscaping Requirements

Original title: OTOW Flying Field - Improvement Plan 000435 - Waiver Request to Improvement Plan in Review Parcel #: 35300-000-00 # WaiverPIR-000965-2026 Kimley-Horn and Associates LDC 6.8.4 Non-residential development CODE states For non-residential development, at least 20 percent of the land to be developed shall be landscaped. A. When a project area is less than the size of the overall parcel to be developed, the required landscape area calculation may be reduced to apply to the project area as authorized by the County Landscape Architect. All other requirements directed by the Board, DRC, or included in this division shall apply. B. Landscape areas shall include:(1) Buffers;(2) Landscaping required for parking areas;(3) Building landscaping; and (4) Service and equipment area screening. C. Landscape areas may also include planted stormwater management areas with a depth of four feet or less. D. Credit towards the landscape area requirements may be allowed for all or part of preserved native habitat if the applicant demonstrates that it includes one or more of the following:(1) Tree clusters including native vegetative communities are protected from development impact. (2) Vegetative areas with native understory flora are protected from development impact. APPLICANT requests a waiver to the landscaping requirements for this project. The proposed use as a temporary drone flying field includes minimal parking and open-air pavilions in lieu of enclosed structures, with no lighting and no nighttime activity proposed. The site is internal to the OTOW DRI and 500 feet from any external property lines. The preserved trees will satisfy the required shade tree count. Additional landscaping would interfere with the intended drone flying area.