Business & Tech

Goodbye, Barren Parking Lots: New Landscaping Standards Pitched in Prince William County

Board of Supervisors to weigh changes in Tuesday meeting.

Asphalt is functional in a shopping mall parking lot, but it has never been pleasing to the eye.

On Tuesday, the Prince William County Board of Supervisors will consider new landscaping standards, including an increase in plants in and around parking lots and specific landscaping guidelines for shopping centers.

As currently proposed, the new rules would increase the plant requirements for most developments from 50 per 100 linear feet to 80 per 100 linear feet. There are also guidelines for the the size of planting spaces, plantings around the building and the diversity of plant types.

See the proposed landscaping standards and the complete agenda for Tuesday's meeting.

The new standards would also set fresh requirements for shopping centers. It would put the minimum landscaping at 17 percent of the site's impervious areas: the building, sidewalks, parking and other paved surfaces. It would also require landscaping in the interior of the parking lot.

If approved, new buildings at existing shopping centers will also be expected to adhere to the new standards.

The BOS will hold a public hearing on this and other items at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday in the board's chambers at 1 County Complex Court.


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