RES 06036 - Laserfiche WebLink

""'. ... The Phase II Specific Plan Area open space is to be organized using various percentages of the above five primary plant communities. The Eastern Area is to have two distinct habitats: 1) Riparian at the pre-treatment marsh: and 2) Oak Savanna at the Knoll. The Western Area is to include the most diverse set of habitats, given a wider range of microclimates influenced by the narrow, linear open spaces, and the presence of the existing Valley Foothill Riparian habitat along the Arroyo de la Laguna, The Central Area is to have a grand open space scale created by long vistas of Oak Savanna and Valley Grassland, framed by Valley Woodland, Valley Forest, and Foothill Riparian communities. Open space is generally to be designed in the form of woods and meadows, The origin of this form emerges from the planting of trees in the proportion of generally seventy percent woodlands to thirty percent meadows, Tree plantings and groups of plant communities illustrated on Figure 4-1 will ultimately form the meadow landscape edges. The woods and meadows will take a somewhat linear shape, tending in generally a north-south direction, following the natural historical watershed patterns, This transformation of the Phase II Specific Plan open space into a mature outdoor arboretum will take many years. Therefore, the planting of many trees as early as possible is emphasized. The woodland landscapes will be composed of Valley Woodland, Valley Forest, and Valley Foothill Riparian habitats. The meadow landscapes will be cultivated as Valley Grasslands and Oak Savannah. Since most of these habitats do not presently exist at the site, the means of creating habitats will be a process of cultivation, as opposed to restoration or preservation. The recreation of a predominately woodland setting composed of habitats that are found on similar sites in the region is the primary objective. Associated with the establishment of plant communities is to be a subtle topographic design that consists of drainage swales and mounds. The swale systcm will facilitate drainagc and improve the quality of surface water runoff. Mounding will additionally allow sub-surface water to flow towards the swales. In effect, this constructed topography will define the limits of the evolving natural setting since volunteer plant species seek optimum growing conditions some plants seek wetter conditions and some seek dryer soils. Thus the cultivation of various woodlands and forests in the open space will take place in harmony with the landform system, Each of the five plant communities will be planted in micro- climates that have unique solar orientation and water requirements similar to their natural settings. Each community will be assigned to zones that are suitable for cultivation, with a particular exposure to the sun, and surface and sub-surface hydrology. This wood and meadow composition will be complemented by the existing and planned future riparian and wetland habitats, each composed of unique plant and animal species. These habitats will also serve to reduce flooding and to improve water quality through natural filtration of storm water run-off. The open space will create the general character and speCific sites for parks, gardens, trails and other community facilities. This framework will define the settings within which the grand Grand Park Design Element 391