Legislative Update for Delaware Landscape Architects

Two pieces of legislation expected in the Delaware legislature will affect that state's landscape architects according to a legislative report by the PA/Del ASLA Chapter.

The Delaware Section of the American Society of Landscape Architects Pennsylvania/Delaware Chapter has recently updated its members on two pieces of proposed legislation affecting the state's landscape architects.

First, the Delaware Board of Landscape Architecture has proposed amendments to the state's licensure rules in order to better organize and clearly establish the standards governing the practice of Landscape Architecture in the State of Delaware.

A public hearing will be held on February 9, 2012, at 9:15am in the second floor conference room B of the Cannon Building, 861 Silver Lake Boulevard, Dover, Del., where members of the public can offer comments.

Persons wishing to submit written comments may forward these to the Board at the following address: Delaware Board of Landscape Architecture, 861 Silver lake Blvd, Cannon Building, Suite 203, Dover, DE 19904.

In a separate effort, the Delaware Board of Landscape Architecture is preparing a draft of revisions to Title 24 code governing the practice of Landscape Architecture in order to address two issues:

1. The Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) is revising the State of Delaware's Sediment & Stormwater Control regulations. The new regulations will change the language concerning the professionals who are accepted to prepare stormwater management and erosion control plans from specifically listing professional engineers, professional land surveyors and registered landscape architects to plans prepared by ''any registered professional whose code identifies them as being qualified to perform these services.''
2. The State of Delaware's definition for the practice of landscape architecture must be updated so that it is in compliance with The Council of Landscape Architecture Registration Boards Model Law, which includes ''designing land forms, storm water drainage, soil conservation and erosion control methods''. The Board is also considering to what extent the Delaware Landscape Architecture practice will include the ''preparation, review and analysis of land use master plans, subdivision plans, and preliminary plats.''

Title 24 changes governing the practice of Landscape Architecture will require legislative approval and necessitate a separate public hearing in the future. Officials from the Pennsylvania/Delaware Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects will post when that hearing is scheduled.

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