The purpose of the Entry Corridor Overlay District is to promote attractive development and redevelopment along the main commercial corridors of the City. The implementation of this overlay zone will help make the community more attractive and livable; improve and maintain property values; enhance the appeal of the City to residents, tourists and other visitors; and promote increased economic activity. (Ord. 2015-04, 6-2-2015)

The Entry Corridor Overlay District is an overlay district, in that the standards set forth herein are in addition to those of the underlying zoning district. (Ord. 2015-04, 6-2-2015)

The Entry Corridor Overlay District includes those properties identified as such on the official zoning district map of the City of Cody. Furthermore, any development or redevelopment project that is partially within the Entry Corridor Overlay District shall be subject to the regulations of this chapter as if it were fully located within the district. (Ord. 2015-04, 6-2-2015; amd. Ord. 2017-02, 3-7-2017)

Any redevelopment or new development within the overlay district, whether conducted within a building or outdoors (e.g., vehicle display), shall be subject to the full provisions of this chapter; with the following exceptions:

   A.   Residential buildings with less than four (4) dwelling units shall be exempt from the requirements of this chapter.

   B.   Replacement of a building, or portion thereof, due to its destruction from accidental fire, explosion or other casualty, act of God, the public enemy, or intentional acts other than those caused directly or indirectly by the owner shall be exempt; provided a building permit for such replacement is obtained within three hundred sixty five (365) days of the destructive event. This exception applies only to the extent and size of the previously existing building.

   C.   Redevelopment of less than ten percent (10%) of a building, and new development that increases building size or outdoor use area by less than ten percent (10%), need not comply with the requirements of this chapter. The percentage shall be calculated from the date of adoption of this chapter.

   D.   Redevelopment of ten (10) to seventy five percent (75%) of a building, and new development that increases building size or outdoor use area by ten (10) to seventy five percent (75%), need only provide landscaping according to the requirements of section 10-17-5 of this chapter in proportion to the percent of redevelopment/development. The percentage shall be calculated from the date of adoption of this chapter. (Note: Redevelopment of more than 75 percent of a building, and new development that increases building size or outdoor use area by more than 75 percent shall fully comply with the landscaping requirement of section 10-17-5 of this chapter.)

      1.   Construction or remodeling for the purpose of conducting a new classification of land use on a property that contains a pre-existing use; or,

      2.   Removal of an existing structure, or structural portion thereof, and replacement with new construction.

   A.   Landscaping Requirements: Landscaping shall be provided within the entry corridor overlay district in the following manner:

      1.   A minimum of five percent (5%) of the subject property shall be landscaped, except as noted below. For purposes of calculating the size of the subject property, any undevelopable land (e.g., hillside) shall not be included. Existing landscaping that is healthy and otherwise meets the standards of this chapter may be counted toward this requirement.

      2.   The required landscaping shall be primarily located in the front of the property and should typically be along the street frontage, in landscaped islands, and next to the building.

      3.   Landscaping materials shall be of sufficient size, number, and variety to give a three-dimensional presence (height, width, and depth) to the landscaped area(s).

      4.   Suitable landscaping materials include trees, shrubs, ground cover, flowers, ornamental grasses, decorative rock, landscape boulders, water features, works of art, and other similar materials approved by the planning and zoning board.

      5.   Trees shall be of good quality and measure in size a minimum of one and one-half inch (11/2") caliper (tree diameter, measured 6 inches above ground) if deciduous, and a minimum of four feet (4') in height if evergreen. Tree seedlings and whips may supplement larger trees, but alone shall not be considered sufficient where trees are used to comply with subsection A3 of this section.

      6.   All vegetation is to be climate and location appropriate, such that it will grow and thrive where planted.

      7.   All landscape plants shall be provided with a method of irrigation.

      8.   Up to one-fourth (1/4) of the required landscaping may be located in the public street right of way when the street is improved with curb, gutter and sidewalk and not identified for future widening on any WYDOT or city transportation improvement plan. Any landscaping within the right of way further requires an encroachment permit from WYDOT or public works, as applicable.

      9.   Protection of utility lines in landscape areas shall be accomplished by complying with the requirements outlined in title 7, chapter 4 of this code.

      10.   If a final certificate of occupancy for the project is desired prior to completion of the landscaping, the property owner or lessee shall provide a financial security in such form and amount acceptable to the city to guarantee installation of all landscaping by a date agreeable to the city, based on the specific characteristics of the situation. If weather is not a factor, a typical deadline will be ninety (90) days from the date of occupancy. If weather precludes installation, the deadline shall not be later than June 15 of the next growing season.

   B.   Maintenance Required: All landscaping required by this chapter or previously approved site plans is to be maintained in a healthy, weed free, manner. Dead and severely diseased vegetation shall be replaced with similar types of healthy living plants, or as otherwise authorized by the planning and zoning board so that the intent of the landscaping plan is met.

   C.   Plans: Landscape plans shall be submitted to the city for all landscaping required pursuant to this section. The plans shall be drawn to scale and depict the type, number, sizes and approximate locations of all landscaping materials. Review and approval of landscaping plans shall be by the planning and zoning board. Landscaping plan review is to be conducted in conjunction with required site plan or landscape and architectural review, when such review is required. If no other review is required, the landscape plan review may be conducted independently by the board. The planning and zoning board has authority to approve, deny, or require modifications to landscaping plans, based upon the standards of this chapter. (Ord. 2015-04, 6-2-2015)