Landscape Architect Articles

More Shade and Greenery for Fayetteville, Ark.08-04-06 | News

More Shade and Greenery for Fayetteville, Ark.

Fayetteville, Ark. developers will need the seal of approval of a registered landscape architect if the changes to the landscape codes pass the city?EUR??,,????'???s ordinance review committee and city council. This scenic shot is War Eagle Mills in Fayetteville.

The Fayetteville, Ark. Planning Commission on July 24, 2006 unanimously passed landscape requirements to make the city a bit greener and cooler. One amendment to the codes stipulates all tree planting locations ?EUR??,,????'??shall attempt to achieve shade for parked cars, benches and pedestrian walkways by locating trees on the southern or western parts of the development areas.?EUR??,,????'?? The proposals include plantings for detention ponds and a requirement for one tree per lot in new residential subdivisions.

Three landscape architects were quoted by the Northwest Arkansas Times regarding the new coding proposals:

?EUR??,,????'??Quality of life is always a very elusive and difficult thing to define and I think you?EUR??,,????'???ve gone a long way to actually do that in these regulations,?EUR??,,????'?? offered Fran Beatty of Fayetteville, a member of the ASLA Arkansas Chapter.

Kim Hesse, a LA and developer, explained that landscape architects offer an overall viewpoint.

?EUR??,,????'??We are trying to not just look at the plants or choose which plants are best in certain locations. We are trying to look at the entire site and the impact that site will have not only on the structure and developers but for the residents who use that site.?EUR??,,????'??

Hesse noted the additions to the code may appear to add costs for developers but will add livability to subdivisions and large scale development.

Landscape Architect Melissa Evans told the paper the changes were good for the city and created a more user-friendly code.