Agenda - Council - 12/14/2004 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Ramsey Municipal Center- Site Plan November 24, 2004 Page 3 oi-'7 The current landscaping plan includes seventy-seven (77) lrees. Both the parking 10t planting requirements as well as the overall number of required trees are being satisfied. However, a larger percentage of the trees must consist of coniferous species (at least six [6] more conifers to ensure that 25% of the required plantings are evergreens). Also, with the exception of the Amur Embers Maple, all species included in the landscaping plan are either acceptable or preferred as outlined in the Ramsey Tree Book and all sizes meet or exceed those required by City Code. Amur Maples (Acer ginnala) are considered a prohibited species in Ramsey and thus. the Amur Embers Maple must be replaced with an alterative species. Overall, Staff would prefer to see a larger pool of.species utilized to fulfill the tree requirements. While Quaking Aspen, Northwood Maple and Autumn Blaze Maple are all acceptable species, their numbers should be reduced to allow for greater species diversity (especially the number of Quaking Aspens). At least some of the following species should be incorporated into this plan: Ohio Buckeye (AescMu.y g/abra), Yellow Birch (Betula alteghanien~is), American Larch (Larix laricind), Balsam Fir (Abie.~' bal. s'amea), Blue Beech (Carpinus caroliniana), Kentucky Coffeetree (Gymnoc/adus c~oicus), h'onwood (.Ostrya virgin[aha), and Ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba). The current landscaping plan indicates that a total of 115 shrubs will be installed, comprised of only two (2) species. At least another forty-nine (49) shrubs must be incorporated into the site to fulfill the minimum planting requirernents. Furthermore, a much' larger mix of species, both deciduous and evergreen, is necessary. Hence, the number of Hedge Contoneasters and Taunton Yews must be reduced and the tbllowing species, and/or others from the Ramsey Tree Book, shonld be incorporated into the plan: Winterberry (Ilex verticillata), False Indigo (Amorphafruticosa), Regent Serviceberry (Ame/anchier alnifolia ~Regent'), Glossy Black Choke.berry (Aronia melanocarpa), Darts Gold Ninebark (?hysocarpus opulijb/iua 'Darts Gold'), DwarfMugo Pine (Pinus mugo 'Pumilio'), and Woodward Globe Arborvitae (Thuj'a occidentalis 'Woodwardii'). A revised landscaping plan must be submitted. At a minimum, it should address the concerns with species diversity, the number of coniferous trees, and the shortage of required shrubs. The species palette must include the tbllowing information: Common name, Latin name, size, container, quantity, and any notes specific to the planting stock Architectural Standards: [n accordance with stated goals of the Town Center project, detailed inl:brmation regarding the architecture has been submitted fbr the Ramsey Municipal Center. As previously mentioned, the TCTAC met on November 23, 2004 to review the architecture of the building. In reviewing the architecture for the proposed building, Staff and the TCTAC used the latest draft ol: the '['own Center Development Guidelines. The !:bllowing cominents relate to the design elements contained in the Guidelines. Most of the Development Guidelines are concerned aborn what happens on the main thorought'ares (i.e. Sunwood Drive). The bulk of the tbllowing review is regarding compliance to the Development Guidelines !bt the fac, ade along Sunwood Drive. There was also some discussior~ regarding the building design of the eastern portion of the building along :'5 a t)? n i ~',: .S t.