Landscaping Requirement Changes Recommended

Tuesday night, the Leawood Planning Commission sent recommendations to the Leawood City Council on changes to the landscaping requirements for new developments that should greatly improve the survivability rate of trees and shrubs planted in new developments.

Spacing requirements between street trees has been increased from 35’ to 40’ and the required density of other ornamental tree and shrub plantings has been reduced.  In addition, tree replacement requirements on undeveloped heavily treed lots has been modified to facilitate densities of new plantings that will maximize the opportunities for the replacement plantings to survive and thrive. The replacement planting densities required under the current ordinance makes it nearly impossible for landowners to develop privately-owned heavily treed parcels and install new landscaping that is able to survive.