PURPOSE:

The purpose of this report is to review the proposed landscape plans for the Burbank Medical Plaza project which is located on the northwest corner of Alameda Avenue and Buena Vista Street.

BACKGROUND:

On February 8, 2005, the City Council approved Planned Development (PD) 2003-3, a request to construct two (2) medical office buildings totaling 155,000 square feet in addition to the existing 72,000 square foot medical office building on the site. The proposed project involves the construction of a 55,000 square foot cancer center, a 100,000 square foot medical office building, and associated parking garages. (Exhibit A) As part of its approval, the City Council established Condition of Approval No. 26 which reads as follows:

�         Prior to issuance of any building permits, with the exception of interior tenant improvements, the developer shall submit a comprehensive landscape plan for the review and approval of the City Council with particular consideration given to the treatment of parking structure facades facing residential buildings along Buena Vista Street.

On September 27, 2005, the City Council was presented with landscape plans for the project. At that time, the Council expressed concerns that the proposed plans did not provide enough buffering along the Buena Vista Street frontage. As a result, staff was directed to work with the developer to enhance the landscaping treatment along Buena Vista Street and bring the item back to the Council for its review at a later date.

DESIGN CONCEPT:

Subsequent to the Council�s approval of the project, the architecture of the Cancer Center and parking structure have been further defined. The project landscape architect, Troller Mayer Associates, has revised the planting plan that was presented to City Council in February to accommodate these changes in the architecture of the buildings. However, the landscaping continues to utilize the same plant palette and design approach, consistent with the plans presented in February, as well as a unified design scheme for the site. 

The Council expressed particular interest regarding the landscaping treatment along Buena Vista Street. The intent of the design is to 'green' the parking structure on Buena Vista with vines and further soften the frontage with Evergreen Canary Island Pines and deciduous Liquidambars, which are both suitable for the planting beds between the buildings and sidewalk along Buena Vista. The Liquidambars will give fall color and, in combination with the Pines and existing street trees (Camphors, Magnolias and Pistache), offer an interesting variety of color and texture.  It is the landscape architect�s belief that the combination of these new trees and the existing street trees will provide a good screen between the buildings and the adjacent community.

MODIFICATIONS TO PREVIOUS PLANS:

While the overall landscape design concept is consistent with the plans that were presented to the City Council on September 27, 2005, several changes have been made to further enhance the landscaping along the Buena Vista Street frontage. Nine (9) additional canary island pines have been added to the project. Seven (7) of these new trees are located along the elevation of the existing building with the remaining trees being planted at the southeast corner of the cancer center.

Additionally, in response to concerns raised about the size of the existing trees, the proposed trees have been increased in size from twenty-four (24) inch box to thirty-six (36) inch box. Since these trees typically take some time to establish roots prior to growth, the larger planting size will ensure additional height throughout the process.

ANALYSIS/CONCLUSION:

The landscape plans were reviewed by the Parks, Recreation, and Community Services Department. Based upon this review, it was determined that the proposed sizes and types of trees were adequate to provide buffering for the adjacent residential properties along Buena Vista Street. Additionally, Parks and Recreation staff feels that the elevations and rendering provided are accurate depictions of the landscaping after five (5) years of growth.

Staff is supportive of the revised landscape plans that have been submitted for the project. The revised plans, in concert with the existing mature street trees, will provide a substantial landscape buffer of the project as viewed from Buena Vista Street while maintaining the architectural integrity of the Cancer Center and existing medical office building. The proposed screening of the Buena Vista Street is much denser than originally proposed and will provide substantial screening of the building.

RECOMMENDATION:

Staff recommends that the City Council review the landscape plans and offer recommendations as necessary.

LIST OF EXHIBITS

Exhibit A          Ordinance #3665 dated February 8, 2005 with conditions of approval

Exhibit B          Landscape plan and renderings

go to the top