HomeMy WebLinkAboutDocumentation_Environmental Advisory Committee_Tab 05_1/11/2023Agenda Item #5.
Environmental Advisory Committee (EAC)
STAFF MEMO
Meeting: Environmental Advisory Committee (EAC) - Jan 11 2023
Staff Contact: Jessica Namath Department: Environmental Advisory
Committee
TITLE
Cypress Drive Park Landscape Plan Development
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0443.
BUDGET INFORMATION:
PROJECT NAME: n/a BUDGET: n/a ENCUMBERED: n/a
Proposed: Projected Remaining:
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ATTACHMENTS:
Cypress Drive Park Steps for Plan Completion 010423 (Merged) copy
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Agenda Item #5.
Village of Tequesta
Environmental Advisory
Committee
To:Environmental Advisory Committee Members
From: Thomas G. Bradford, Chair, EAC
Cc:
NA
Date:
January 4, 2023
Subject: Cypress Drive Park; Steps for Plan Completion
At the EAC meeting on December
to speak, to guide the EAC toward completion ofthe assignment given to us by the Village Council
to plan and create a public event to install plantings in Cypress Drive Park. My proposed sequential
plan for completion of Cypress Drive Park more or less follows the criteria used by architects and
their AIA standard approach to begin and end a project. This modified format is as follows:
Pre-Design
T
actual design process begins. In the pre-design phase, also known as programming, the owner and
designer (in our situation typically a Landscape Architect or the EAC) interface with one another
to learn about the needs of the future development. The designer will ask many questions and do
a lot of listening; the designer must under
to invest time and money into a project that does not meet their expectations due to the pre-design
phase missing the mark.
may not have thought this through as we may see below. However, maybe they want the EAC to
do all of that for them?
Here is what we do know:
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Agenda Item #5.
1)The VOT wants the EAC to
landscaping consisting of native Florida Friendly plants that we are to use to create a
community event for residents to come out and plant the native landscaping which the VOT
plans to source from local nurseries.
2) Staff claims there is not a water source for irrigation, but what we see along Tequesta Drive
in the photos I provided previously indicates otherwise. (Does the EAC believe the site
must have irrigation?)
3) The site is littered with heavy duty gravel and discarded rusty steel rails left there by FEC.
(Doesthe EAC believe the site requires clean up removal of gravel and rails?)
4) The site runs from Tequesta Drive to Pineview Road about 912 feet long and 50 feet wide.
In all about 1.034 acres. (Does the EAC want to improve all of the property or just the
northern portion?)
5) I can envision adding some shade trees, hedges and a barrier along the FEC property. What
park should be at this location?
6) In this case, is the creation of a place for people to go to the de facto creation of an
attractive nuisance that dictates the site must provide a barrier along the east property line
of the park property to keep children away from the FEC property?
7) Most of the gravel must be removed from the site. Does the VOT want the gravel? Does
FEC want the gravel? We need to find this out from VOT staff.
8) Does FEC want the discarded rails? The rails are steel and have a high salvage value. Top
soil may be needed. We need to find this out from VOT staff.
9) Does anyone on the EAC know landscape architect Steve Parker to ask if he can help us
delineate where new plantings should go and what he thinks they should be if this project
gets off the ground? Per the Design Development (DD) phase defined below, the designer
is to provide a cost estimate to the owner. In theory, if Mr. Parker will help us, we will
know from him what plants he recommends, their size at time of planting and perhaps he
knows what the current going rate is for such plants. In theory, the cost of labor is covered
if Jessica Namath can help us round up a volunteer group, plus we may have citizens show
up and actually plant something.
10) Any other issues? I attached a xeriscape document to this memo I felt might help us a bit.
designerwill review the existing
conditions of the project site and explore zoning and code regulations. (Our project site conditions
review has been done and enumerated above. As to zoning and code issues, I have done that and
this is what I learned. The property is zoned C-3 - General Commercial which does not allow
parks as a permitted use or a special exception use. It does allow land to be used for government
uses, but the definition of government uses excludes government parks. In addition, the Future
Land Use Map shows the site as being designated as Recreation and Open Space. Thus, there is a
conflict that must be fixed before this project can go forward. See the two referenced links below.)
C-3 Zoning District:
https://library.municode.com/fl/tequesta/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=PTIICOOR_CH78Z
O_ARTVISCDIRE_DIV2SCUSRE_S78-178GECODI
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Agenda Item #5.
Future Land Use Map:
https://www.tequesta.org/ImageRepository/Document?documentId=11413
The designer may produce a preliminary document outlining the spaces and approximate square
footages of various elements by the end of this initial step. If any member of the EAC can draw or
has software to do this it would be beneficial to do so for our conversations with the VOT.
Schematic Design (SD)
In the second phase, the design team translates what they heard from the owner during pre-design
into an initial, conceptual design. The schematic phase is the meat of the general design, without
a lot of detail.
Schematic Design typically includes preliminary site plans, and if a building, floor plans, sketches,
3D renderings, and basic exterior elevations. HVAC, plumbing, and electrical system designs are
launched during SD. The whole purpose is to start putting on paper what the designer heard from
the owner during pre-design, which in our case is not much, and ensure the concept aligns with
Design Development (DD)
The entire project's design takes a significant leap forward during Design Development. Utilizing
the SD documents and the feedback provided by the owner, the designeradvances the plans with
more detail, interior layout and room sizes, a structural foundation and design, material and finish
selections, and further development of building systems. A similar process can occur for
landscaping too.
A cost estimate is a critical component of Design Development. As the plans and specifications
(essentially the plan in narrative format) come closer to the final design, ensuring the project
inish selections can significantly
This could be true for native plants too.
Along with the near-final set of plans, many designers offer the owner a complete 3D model of the
project during DD or even a virtual tour of the space being developed. This is a great tool for
homeowners building or remodeling their home, but not necessarily needed for our simplistic
project.
Construction Documents (CD)
All of the pre-design, schematic, and design development work takes its final shape with the
Construction Documents phase, the largest phase of the design process. The designer finalizes
details and technical information into a complete package of drawings and specifications. The
Construction Documents serve two primary purposes: permitting and bidding. An updated cost
estimate is typically provided during CD.
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Agenda Item #5.
Permitting
When the design team completes their CDs, they submit them to the city, county, or other authority
having jurisdiction (AHJ) where the project will occur. The AHJ and relevant building departments
review the documents for code compliance. Depending on the nature of the project and its location,
permitting can be one of the slowest phases of the design process. Not a likely problem for us for
a simple ultra-passive park.
Bidding
The Bidding phase is precisely what it sounds like: soliciting bids from contractors to perform the
scope of the Construction Documents.
Selecting a contractor to perform the work can take on various forms. Public works projects must
follow specific laws and/or rules regarding contractor selection, while private owners have more
flexibility. uirements and staff will likely do
this for us. Private owners may select a familiar contractor they trust or solicit bids from multiple
contractors, but favoritism falls by the wayside for public projects. Tract record, price, meeting
pre-construction written terms, conditions and the ability to start work and finish work to meet the
are about all that matter when awarding a public sector contract. Think
deciding factor.
The designer still plays a vital role during the Bidding phase. As contractors put together bids, the
designer may be called upon to provide answers to questions about the plans and specifications
that the public entity may receive from the prospective bidders. Proposed questions and answers
are provided not just to the bidder that posed the question, but to all persons or entities that picked
up a bid package. This is a critical piece to ensuring bid accuracy.
Construction Administration (CA)
The design is complete, permits are in hand, and a contractor is selected. The contractor breaks
ground and begins construction.
The designerdesigner
verifying that the contrac
working relationship between the contractor and designer is vital to the project's success. I have
always taken the position that we want every party to the process to be successful, financially and
otherwise and it has worked well for me. Most jurisdictions today require a complete set of as-
built drawings for any new infrastructure placed on, over or under government property and right-
of-way to be used in the in-house GIS system.
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Agenda Item #5.
Craig R. Miller
Parks & Open Space Manager
www.cpnmd.org
tƌğƓ ğƓķ 5ĻƭźŭƓ ǤƚǒƩ \[ğƓķƭĭğƦĻ
Base designs on sound landscaping principles.
Implement the seven basic principles of Xeriscape:
1. Planning and Design 5. Efficient Irrigation
2. Soil Improvement 6. Mulching
3. Plant Selection/Zoning of Plants 7. Appropriate Maintenance.
4. Appropriate Use of Turf
The original definition of Xeriscapeative L
\[źƭƷ ǤƚǒƩ \[ğƓķƭĭğƦźƓŭ Dƚğƌƭ
Maintenance Am I trying to reduce the amount of time I spend working in the yard?
Water use Do I want to reduce my outdoor water consumption? (I hope so!)
Play areas Is my yard an important play area for children, dogs, and/or adults? Can I decrease the size of the
play area?
Sun and shade Does my yard have enough shade or too much shade?
Irrigation system Do I plan to install an irrigation system? For an existing system, can I reconfigure the system
for the new landscape?
Aesthetics Do I want more flowers? Do I want more trees? Do I want a vegetable garden? Do I want to add a
patio or moss rocks or semi-permanent outdoor furniture? Where do I want to spend time in the yard?
Climate and region How can I create a landscape that takes full advantage of the climate and region in which I
live?
Budget How much money do I want to spend on my landscaping project?
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Agenda Item #5.
5ĻǝĻƌƚƦ ğ \[ğƓķƭĭğƦĻ ağƭƷĻƩ tƌğƓ
Once you have evaluated your current landscape and given some thought to the goals of the landscaping project
you are ready to develop a master plan. This plan should be as complete and detailed as possible.
You may not complete the entire plan in a single year. It may take many years. By creating a master plan you can
progressively work to achieve all of your landscape goals.
what trees and plants you intend to use, you can include a place for planting beds and trees in your drawing.
{ƷğƩƷ ǞźƷŷ ŷĻƩĻ
Start with a simple base map of your property lines.
You can use the original site survey as a starting point.
You will need to measure from the property lines to your house, as well as all the exterior walls of your house.
You will also need to measure other impervious surfaces, such as sidewalks, decks and driveways.
y in
your plan.
well. This means that every 10 feet of actual measure equals 1 inch on your plan. So if your property is 50 feet
wide by 100 feet
sidewalks, driveways, etc. You also need to show direction on your plan by drawing an arrow indicating north. This will
help you select plants appropriate for specific exposures. Some of the other things you should include on your base plan
are:
The location of spigots, downspouts and external electrical outlets.
Fences, walls and other structures
Existing lawn, garden, shrub masses and flower beds
Trees (both yours and your neighbors, if they shade part of your yard)
Site conditions, views, exposure, slopes, drainage
Existing utilities, sprinkler system
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Agenda Item #5.
5ĻƭźŭƓ LƭƭǒĻƭ Ʒƚ /ƚƓƭźķĻƩ
Turf areas You can save water by limiting turf to only those functional areas needed for walking, sitting,
playing, recreation, picnicking, etc. Nonfunctional areas can be covered with drought-tolerant grasses (Buffalo
grass, Blue grama), xeric planting beds, alternative groundcovers, or hardscapes. Avoid using turf in areas less
than 10 feet wide and on steep slopes.
Planting beds These areas add beauty and shape to your landscape. This is a great opportunity to use native
plants, trees, and shrubs.
Landscaping shapes and forms Irregular designs, narrow strips of turf or plants, and small areas can be difficult
to mow and water efficiently with an automatic system. However, these forms may be irrigated more
successfully with drip or manual techniques. Design your landscape forms to maximize water efficiency.
Hardscapes These include walkways, patios, driveways, etc. Consider using flagstone, gravel or other porous
materials to keep water in the garden rather than in the gutter.
Grading and drainage Your soil type and any slopes will affect water infiltration and runoff rates. By reducing
or eliminating slopes you can reduce runoff and preserve topsoil.
It is difficult to water and mow grass that is planted on a steep slope. If your yard includes a steep
sloped area, consider terracing to allow heavy rains to soak in rather than to runoff and cause erosion.
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Agenda Item #5.
Include decorative berms, swales and buffer zones to direct water flow to cultivated areas. Design
landscapes to harvest water to avoid losing runoff, especially around hard surfaces (patios, driveways,
sidewalks, etc). Be careful not to create steep, hard-to-manage slopes when designing berms.
Sun and shade Keep track of areas in your yard that receive morning, noon, and afternoon sun (and shade).
Some plants prefer sunny spots while others thrive in shade. You can plan your planting beds accordingly.
Water use zones Divide your plant materials into three categories: low water use (fed primarily by rainwater),
moderate water use (requires occasional watering), and high water use (requires regular watering). To reduce
water use, minimize usage of high water use plants and turf in your landscape plan.
Design the site for efficient irrigation, including both state-of-the-art irrigation technologies and management
practices. Landscape plans should also include specific irrigation plans.
Obtain at least one soil nutrient analysis prior to completing a project design. Obtain more tests for sites with
variable conditions or where imported topsoil is used. Ensure soils are properly prepared and amended during
landscape installation.
Group plants with like water needs together. Plants located within the drip line for large trees and shrubs
should have similar water requirements as the trees and shrubs.
Select plants that are well adapted to the climate, topographic and geologic conditions of the site. Native plants
and plants with documented lower water requirements should be given priority in landscape design.
Maintenance issues If you want to reduce required regular maintenance in your landscape, select low
maintenance plants. Fast growing turf grass requires regular mowing, fertilizing, and aeration. Low water use
grasses, groundcovers, and plants will require substantially less maintenance.
Where possible, retain significant native vegetation that is already adapted to the site.
Consider using groundcovers with lower water requirements for slopes and hard-to-mow locations.
When designing plant placement on slopes, place lower-water demand plants at the tops of slopes and higher-
demand plants at the bottom.
Incorporate trees into the landscape to provide shade, reduce stormwater runoff, stabilize soil, conserve water
and protect against wind. A goal of at least 20 percent canopy coverage for Front Range communities is ideal.
Use organic (e.g., wood mulch) materials to reduce weeds while still allowing water and air to penetrate the soil.
Restrict the use of weed barrier fabrics and rock to non-crop areas.
Cost Your budget may be the single biggest constraint on your landscape plan. Consider implementing the
plan slowly to spread the cost over several years. Remember, a low water use landscape will save you money in
the long run with reduced water, fertilizer, and maintenance costs.
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