6.3. SR 03-12-2012 - Laserfiche WebLink

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With these in mind, staff proposes a modular approach, with the idea that the pieces are interchangeable and the textures in the individual intersections can be adjusted to meet space, visibility and contextual constraints. At this stage, staff is merely looking for direction in term of features, scale and budget. Medians. Staff proposes a row of trees along the center, with a center mulch axes. The trees are envisioned in one of two ways, either: 1. One shade tree per 40-feet of median length, or 2. Groups of nine trees spaced equally along the median The groups would be three overstory, three ornamental, then three overstory. Overstory tree species are appropriate for street environments, and ornamentals provide color and texture. The center mulch area could be low growing or existing native plants, rock or wood mulch. The idea behind the center mulch area is to prevent the need for time-consuming mowing between the trees. Mulch would have to be updated over time whereas rock would not. Outside the center mulch area is turf-grass or a low grow seed mixture. The modular plan is shown as exhibit A. Costs have been calculated for trees and mulched area. In areas where the median has been planted with prairie plantings, those plantings could be retained entirely (save for the areas planted with trees), retained in the center, or could be removed entirely. It is unlikely that the existing vegetation in these areas can be transplanted. Intersections. For the intersections, staff again proposes a modular approach. Each intersection quadrant would consist of three tiers. Tier 1, closest to the back of curb, would be either payers/ pavement (to facilitate walkixig were adjacent to crosswalks) turf, rock or mulch (where not adjacent to crosswalks). Tier 2 would consist of flowers and mulch. The flowers could either be annuals (managed by a garden club or similar volunteer) or perennials, planted once. Tier 3, furthest from the back of curb, would consist of low shrubbery, specimen trees, boulders or rock signage. Staff has prepared a sketch of the area for demonstration purposes. The anticipated costs are based on bids for the public works facility and conversations with a local hadscape supplier and do not constitute a bid by any one company. Further, these costs do not include irrigation, manual or automatic, soil amendments if necessary, edging, landscaping fabric or lighting. With Council direction, it is hoped that these costs will be better understood through the consultation with a landscape architect. Relocation of prairie areas Staff recognizes that the ornamental grasses along the Orono Parkway median have been the subject of much attention in the past several years, and that they cause concerns from a traffic visibility standpoint in late summer. Last summer, the solution was the mow the grasses in August after they had bloomed. Left unchanged, staff expects the Orono grasses to remain an object of ongoing concern. In the past, there seemed to be a concern that removal of the grasses was a statement made by the city, ignoring the benefits of the grasses and the significant time and money city staff and volunteers have spent into these areas. The Orono median represents approximately one acre of grassed area. C:\Users\jmiller\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\Temporary Internet Files\Content.Outlook\GWL3I79K\Planning Update.docx