Activity 3.4.

6 Landscaping (Optional)

Introduction
Landscaping plays a major role in the valuation of property and has many purposes. One obvious benefit of
landscaping is to improve the appearance of a property. Curb appeal can increase the value of the property. However,
landscaping is also a means of managing the natural resources of a site. The design should begin with an evaluation of
the natural elements that already exist on a site. The local codes must be researched to ensure compliance with
landscaping regulations. In addition, the effect of landscaping on the environment should be considered.

To reduce the negative effect of landscaping on the environment, landscaping can be designed to preserve natural areas
and require low water usage, plant selection, and maintenance.

In this activity you will research landscaping code requirements and create a waterwise landscape plan for the Keystone
Library Renovation project. You may wish to refer to the research you performed for Activity 3.4.2 Parking Lot Design
to help you complete this activity.

Equipment
Engineering notebook
Pencil
Individual version of Keystone Library Renovation Preliminary Site (student version)
Internet access

Procedure
1. Research the Noblesville Indiana Unified Development Ordinance
(http://www.cityofnoblesville.org/egov/docs/1102311937181.htm). Review Article 12: Landscaping and Screening
and answer the following.
a. What is the requirement concerning existing plant materials? (Section 4.A.7)
Existing plant material should be incorporated into the landscaping treatment of a site. The preservation of natural
features and landscaping is a criterion for subdivision and planned development review.
b. What landscaping treatment is required for detention/retention ponds? (Section 4.A.10)
Detention/Retention basins and ponds shall be landscaped. Such landscaping should include shade and ornamental
trees, evergreens, shrubs, hedges, turf, groundcover, and other plant materials.
c. What landscape materials are prohibited? (Section 4.B.1.d)
Prohibited landscape materials include rocks, gravel, stone, asphalt, {used in internal and perimeter parking lots areas
and landscape buffer yards;} thorn-bearing plant species and the Juniper plant species. Flowering species such as roses
may be authorized by the Director of Planning and Development.
d. What is the class of the proposed parking lot? (Section 5.B.1)
1. Required parking lot landscaping shall consist of two types: (1) Interior Parking Lot Landscaping and (2) Perimeter
Parking Lot Landscaping as described below. The standards required for these two types of landscaping shall be
determined by the class of parking lot proposed on the site. The parking lot class shall be determined by the total
number of proposed parking spaces for a given use.
a. Class A 0 to 20 spaces
b. Class B 21 to 50 spaces
c. Class C 51 to 200 spaces
d. Class D >200 spaces

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 e. What percent of the parking area is required to be landscaped? (Section 5.C.1)
Class B, 5%
f. What is the maximum parking lot island size? (Section 5.C.1)
750 Square Feet
g. What is the minimum size of a landscape island in a single row of parking? What types of
plantings must it include? (Section 5.C.1.a)
All single row parking landscape islands and peninsulas shall be a minimum of one hundred eighty (180) square feet in
area with a minimum width of nine (9) feet measured from back of curb to back of curb. Each island and peninsula
shall contain a minimum of one (1) canopy tree and five (5) evergreen or deciduous shrubs, or ornamental grasses.
h. What is the minimum size of a landscape island in a double row of parking? (Section 5.C.1.b)
All double row parking landscape islands shall be a minimum of two hundred forty (240) square feet in area with a
minimum width of nine (9) feet measured from back of curb to back of curb. Each island and peninsula shall contain a
minimum of two (2) canopy trees and ten (10) evergreen or deciduous shrubs, or ornamental grasses.
i. What is the requirement at the end of parking rows? (Section 5.C.1.c)
All interior parking rows shall be terminated at both ends with landscape islands. The exterior parking rows abutting
the Perimeter Parking Lot Landscaping Area, which are not adjacent to a structure, shall require the installation of one
additional canopy tree at both ends of the exterior row. All parking islands shall be dispersed so as to define aisles and
limit unbroken rows of parking to a maximum of one hundred feet in length. For calculating purposes, handicapped
parking spaces shall count as one (1) parking space.

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 j. What perimeter parking lot landscaping is required for the Keystone Library Renovation project?
Assume that the property abuts other commercial facilities and public streets. (Section 5.D.2)

k. Is a landscape buffer yard required for the Keystone Library Renovation project? (Table
12.0.7.E)

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2. Research Xeriscape and water-wise landscaping. [Keywords: Xeriscape, seven steps to Xeriscape]. One online
publication that may be useful is the University of Georgia Cooperative Extension publication, Xeriscape: A Guide
to Developing a Water-Wise Landscape. At the date of this writing the document was available here:
www.caes.uga.edu/.../whitfield/anr/documents/Xeriscapewaterwise.pdf. However, the document can be found via
an Internet search.

Describe/define the term Xeriscape.

A style of landscape design requiring little or no irrigation or other maintenance, used in arid regions.
List the seven fundamental Xeriscape areas that must be considered when designing a landscape.

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Print three copies of your project site plan (including property lines, building, patios, driveway, and walkways) without
detailing. Then complete the following:

Basic Use Areas

3. Using one of the site plans, create a bubble diagram
of the basic use areas (public, private, and service)
for your project similar to figure 6 of Xeriscape: A
Guide to Developing a Water-Wise Landscape.
Label this Basic Use Areas and then sign and
date. Note: You may have more than one of each
use area.

Water Use Areas

4. On the second site plan, sketch a bubble diagram of
water-use zones (low, medium, high) for your
project similar to figure 7 of Xeriscape. Use high-
water-use areas sparinglyonly at the entrance or
outdoor entertainment areas. Label this Water Use
Areas and then sign and date.

5. On the third site plan, sketch a concept (master) plan for your project home similar to figure 8 of Xeriscape. Label
this Landscape Concept Plan and then sign and date.
Include symbols for individual shrubs and trees and label each as a deciduous or coniferous tree or
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 shrub.
Turf areas and beds of seasonal color may be indicated with a bubble for each location.
Include hardscape (walkways, patios, decks, walls, or fences).
Locate at least one focal point in the design. Label it as such.
Indicate the function of each plant, bed, or turf area on the map (i.e., screen neighbor, aesthetics, wildlife
habitat, sound control, provide shade, create windbreak, seasonal color, fragrance, divide space, hide trash
receptacles, etc.).
Landscape Concept Plan

6. Incorporate your design into your Keystone Library Renovation Preliminary Site plan.
7. Research potential hardscape elements for your design. Use the Internet and other resources to choose appropriate
materials for your parking area, driveway, walkways, and other hardscape elements. Create a document that
provides pictures of each hardscape material you plan to use in the landscape. Some websites that may help are
listed below.
Hardscapes for Sustainable Landscapes: Patios, Decks, Walkways, and Driveways
http://ir.library.oregonstate.edu/xmlui/bitstream/handle/1957/19604/ec1535.pdf
Library of Selected Hardscape Material http://www.camberlygardens.com/index.html?
body=/Camberly_hardlib.html
Decorative Concrete Photo Gallery http://www.concretenetwork.com/photo-gallery/
8. Find the Hardiness Zone in which your project falls by accessing the online USDA Hardiness Zone Map
(http://www.usna.usda.gov/Hardzone/ushzmap.html). Create a document with a close-up map of the appropriate
region. On the map, locate your project and identify the applicable hardiness zone. Include a header with your
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 name, project name and date, source of information, and Project Location and Hardiness Zone.

9. Identify potential trees for your project using the Arbor Day Foundation website at http://www.arborday.org/.
Search the site for the Hardiness Zone Map. Using the appropriate ZIP code (46060 is a Noblesville, IN ZIP
code), find the most popular trees for your hardiness zone. Print this list of trees.

10. On the same site, search for the Tree Guide and use the search feature to find at least two of these ten trees in the
database. Create a document which includes a picture of at least two of these trees that you may consider using in
your landscape plan. Next to each tree image, record the following: name, height, spread, growth rate, soil, sun,
shape, and whether the tree is deciduous or coniferous. Include a header with your name, project name and date,
source of information, and Popular Tree Characteristics.

11. Visit the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center Recommended Species page
(http://www.wildflower.org/collections/). Print out the printer-friendly species list of native plants. Browse the list
and highlight at least one species each of trees, shrubs, herbs, and vines that will thrive in each of the water use
zones (high, moderate, and low) using a different color highlighter for each water use zone. Alternatively, you can
use the Narrow Your Search tool to identify species that will thrive in specific growing conditions.

12. Create a document that includes an image of each species that you highlighted and specifies the plant characteristics
and growing conditions for each. Include a header with your name, project name and date, source of information,
and Recommended
Native Plants.

13. Using the criteria you

listed for step 4,
choose appropriate
plants for your project
landscape design. Try
to limit the number of
plant species used and
consider site
orientation factors as
well. Create a
Landscape (Planting)
Plan in Revit.
Show existing
trees to be
removed, if
applicable.
Show existing
trees to remain, if
applicable.
Show all new
vegetation. Label
all species on the
plan.
Include a planting
schedule which shows the number of each species.
Conclusion Questions
1. Why does it matter if a site is landscaped?
Landscaping site can not only add attraction to the site, but also change the water flow and drainage of the site,
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including runoff and groundwater, as well as add vegetation and more purpose to the ground that is being landscaped.
2. How can landscaping improve the aesthetic appeal of a site and the structures on the site?
Landscaping adds appeals by incorporating nature into the otherwise industrial look of buildings and their
surroundings. It could be grass, plants such as; trees, flowers, shrubs, etc. But, vegetation in an form can add appeal to a
site, which is why it is important to think of this while creating a building in a site.

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