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Dahlstrom Development LLC #02-2789/02-2840 ‘Stonebay’ Final Development Plan Review October 18,2002 Page 2 Key Issues- for Review There are a number of key issues on which the Planning Commission should focus its review. These are pnmanly items that were not dealt with in depth at the Concept Plan stage, and for which a ^eater level of detail now has been provided at the Development Plan stage of the review process. Various City consultants and staff have reviewed the plans and have made verbal or written comments, summarized below: 1.Wally Case of DSU, Inc. has reviewed the Final Development Plans, specifically the landscape plans. He also was asked to comment on the scale and massing of buildings, open space, circulation, etc. While his written comments will not be available for another week or t%vo. Case did verbally provide his comments to staff in a phone conversation on October 17. He indicated that the proposed landscape plan is very good and substantially exceeds the mimmum requirements of the RPUD District. Case had a number of suggestions and comments about various aspects of the plan. The following is a brief summary of his comments: ^ Landscaping: In general, the landscaping/grading of the site incorporates many retaining walls. Based on the cover sheet key, most of these will be modular block walls, although the detail suggests they will be mostly boulder walls. Which is it, or is there a mix that is not clearly apparent. What is the type of stone to be used in the boulder walls - Limestone? Igneous boulders? Most of the walls appear to be less than 4’ in height; those over 4’ will need to be engineered. Where boulder walls are to be used, the detail suggests a tiering by boulder size, biggest on the bottom, smallest on top. This is conceptually correct, but an experienced boulder wall contractor should be used to ensure attractive, high quality, stable wall systems that don t look “layered”. - The boulder wall along the NW comer of the east Lofts building leaves no pedestrian access above the boulder wall... could this be tweaked, and is it a potential fire access issue? - In general the landscaping plan is excellent, incorporating suitable tree and plant species and seed mixes. The proposed tree sizes are appropriate. Case has some suggestions regarding a few tree or plant species he would rather avoid, and he might suggest more use of native species, but overall the planting plan is very well done. He suggests that pH readmgs be taken before planting so that certain tree species might if necessary be traded out for those most tolerant to actual site conditions... - Note that the shrub beds are not edged, which leads to a softer look but perhaps unkempt until plantings mature. r f