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DESIGN GUIDELINES: SECTION FOUR - LANDSCAPING

 

The landscaping guidelines are designed to maintain overall visual continuity within the Technology Corridor. The intent is to reflect the traditional character of the Corridor while providing an atmosphere which is supportive of the needs of high technology industries. The use of setbacks and the open space system of the Technology Corridor provide the bufferyards between properties. It is important that the existing vegetation in these areas remains largely undisturbed. Area of landscaping emphasis are overall site, access points, parking areas, and buildings. In all areas a detailed landscaping plan should show the quantities, sizes, and types of plants to be used.

SITE

The landscaping of the site should seek to preserve the natural environment. Special attention should be given to buffering adjacent uses and sites.

Guidelines

· Existing vegetation on a site should be preserved as much as possible.

· Indigenous plant materials should be used to preserve the natural quality of the area.

· The landscaping plan for the site should be planned as a total experience. There should be continuity in the plan as the pedestrian or motorist travels through the site.

· Buffer materials and berms should be used to minimize noise, to provide transitions between land uses and to screen parking areas.

ACCESS

The landscaping of the entrances to the site and the entrances to buildings leaves a first and last impression of the Corridor. As such, special attention should be given to entryways.

Guidelines

· Landscaping should be used to accentuate entryways to the site and the building(s) and to provide areas of shade for pedestrians and vehicles.

· The arrival areas should be landscaped to make an introductory statement about each site.

· A transitional zone consisting of landscaping and sidewalks is recommended between the building and the parking lot.

PARKING

One of the most important site elements to be landscaped is the parking area. Landscaping should be used to control the extremes of the parking lot micro-climate. Landscaping should soften the visual impact of row upon row of automobiles. Care must be taken to ensure that parking lots do not detract from the objective of blending new development into the natural setting. Where possible, it is desirable to have the parking lot screened from the view of public rights-of-way.

Guidelines

· Five percent of the parking area must be landscaped.

· Parking lot configurations should respond to site conditions.

· Landscape islands should be used to break up rows of parking spaces.

· Trees and plants used near parking lots should not have high potential of causing damage to parked cars.

· Landscaping should be employed to discourage cut-through traffic on a site.

· Trees should be planted to provide adequate amounts of shade for vehicles and pedestrians.

BUILDINGS

The landscaping of areas immediately surrounding buildings is an important factor in both visual quality and energy conservation. The landscaping of these areas need not detract form the architectural style, but rather, complement it.

Guidelines

· Minimize shading of south-facing facades in winter; maximize shading of south-facing facades in summer.

· Landscaping should be used to screen mechanical equipment or other unsightly exterior building elements.

· Entrances to buildings should be accented by plantings.

· Landscaping should buffer the building from the microclimate of the parking area.

· Landscaping should complement the visual quality of buildings.