Redevelopment Economy Development CDBG Housing Public Finance

Pleasant Hill BART

Specific Plan

Landscaping

The landscape of the Station Area should serve as a unifying element which helps define major public routes and spaces and integrates the individual building designs of the area. The landscape should also be designed to retain ties to the area's natural history and to retain compatibility with the existing landscape program. The following landscape policies shall apply.

Policy 1. The existing native oaks massed in the central open space and utility corridor and scattered as major individuals throughout the remaining Station Area shall be retained and protected from encroachment by structures and paving damaging to their root structure. Hard surface areas shall be restricted and no change in finish grade shall be permitted beneath their drip line. Surface drainage shall be maintained to promote healthy root growth. Development in the Specific Plan area shall comply with the County's Tree Preservation Ordinance (see Appendix B). Protected Trees, as that term is defined in the County's Tree Preservation Ordinance, that have a circumference exceeding 20" measured 4.5' from the ground shall be replaced at a ratio of 2:1.
Policy 2. The existing stream bed identified in the Urban Design Policy Diagram, Figure 7.4 shall be retained in its present configuration and the existing stream side vegetation maintained. Wherever feasible, the creek side shall be integrated into a continuous pedestrian circulation system serving the redeveloping areas. Paths shall be integrated into the stream corridor so that they only minimally disrupt oak tree roots.
Policy 3. A unified street planting pattern shall be maintained for all streets as diagrammatically indicated with a formal tree planting designation in the Urban Design Policy Diagram, Figure 7.4. The street tree shall be Platanus Acer folia (London Plane Tree). Other tree specimens may be appropriate for street tree use, and may be appropriate and encouraged. Spacing between trees shall be generally between 22 and 30 feet except where vehicular circulation requirements preclude it or underground utilities interfere.
Policy 4. Informal tree and shrub planting shall be included as generally indicated in the Urban Design Policy Diagram, Figure 7.4 to screen residential areas.
Policy 5. All Protected Trees, as that term is defined in the County's Tree Preservation Ordinance, shall be inventoried as part of any final Development Plan application.
Policy 6. Tree planting should be integrated with open space, landscaping and pedestrian circulation plans to unify the Station Area and circulation among the subareas.