Plant materials must be used that meet the standards of the American Nursery and Landscape Association. Minimum sizes are required for shade trees, ornamental trees, evergreen trees, shrubs and hedges. Tree sizes are specified according to first branch height, caliper and spread. Minimum-size shade trees must be 3-in. caliper, 4-ft. first branch height with no specified spread. Near walkways and bikeway trees must be limbed up to 10 feet.

Of special note in the Grosse Ile code are the design standards for berm construction, walls and plantings that help designed landscapes reflect the general dune character of the great lakes.

Favorite Landscape Code

So why is this landscape code such a favorite? The code is what I call reader friendly and it does all of the right things that a landscape code should do to be usable and easily understood by designers.

The Grosse Ile landscape regulations provide detailed technical standards, specifications and tables of sizes, dimensions and types. It is clearly written, organized to perfection and all technical information is easy to find. Illustrations are included for greenbelts, berms, wall types, terraced cross sections, parking details and plant standards all of which portray the technical standards. The Landscape Areas Plan is particularly useful because readers can see the spatial composition of all design components.

Sadly, the one thing lacking from this code are standards for the preparation of landscape plans. In addition, the administrative procedures that make this code work would be better served if they were included directly in text.

Communities around the country, practicing landscape architect and students, should study the structure, content, and technical information set out in this wonderful document.

For more information on the Grosse Ile code, click on ?EUR??,,????'?????<grosseile.com/government/index.html