2.16 Landscape Architectural Design Guidelines: Goals, Objectives, and Policies

2.16 Landscape Architectural Design Guidelines Element

Goals, Objectives and Policies

2005-2015 Campus Master Plan Update

GOAL 1: Create a high quality campus community landscape environment which afford outdoor comfort, security and “sense of place”. Create a rich visual quality exemplifying the diversity of Central Florida's native environments and educational experiences.

OBJECTIVE 1.1: By 2006-2007 the University shall develop and implement a Landscape Master Plan for the University of Central Florida campus.

POLICY 1.1.1: Reinforce the important landscape elements defined in the Master Plan by developing landscape themes supportive of educational, cultural and recreational programs designed to enhance the colligate experience. This landscape can be characterized by:

Creating quads, plazas and common areas for student interaction and places for destination.
With the exception of certain woody ornamental and ground covers, plant species that are indigenous to the natural plant communities of UCF should be used. Where appropriate, native plantings will be used to recreate a semblance of the original scrub and sandhill communities.
Trees planted to highlight and identify various campus signatures or other landscape treatments shall be restricted and reserved for species that are native to the UCF area whenever appropriate.
The use of unusual, non-invasive, and exotic plants will be limited to exceptional landscape situations. Non-invasive, exotic plants will be limited to those species that are able to resist periods of drought and require little use of fertilizer and pesticides.
Existing non-native invasive plants (whether grasses, trees or shrubs) may be designated for removal from the campus grounds if such exotics are listed on the Exotic Pest Plant Council's list of "Florida's Most Invasive Species". Physical Plant will coordinate the removal of any non-native invasive plants with UCF’s Biology Department.
With the exception of Argentine Behia, Burmuda, Centaped, Palsplaum and St. Augustine grass, landscape designs will limited use of shrubs, hedges and other ground covers.
To the most appropriate extent possible, xeriscape principles and practices should be incorporated into landscape design and maintenance.

POLICY 1.1.2: Develop the campus landscape outside of the institutional zone with the following criteria outlined and action items stated within Landscape Master Plan:

Plant palette of indigenous plant material selected for availability and maintenance requirements.
Where appropriate, small groupings of 3 to 5 trees of like species should be used.
Informal and formal groupings of plants can be used to accentuate or establish unique areas of landscaping outside the institutional zone.
Shrub masses will be limited to identify special areas designated to support specific collegial activities.

POLICY 1.1.3: Develop a signature landscape treatment for all of the campus entrances, edges and corners which will reflect the presence and character of the University of Central Florida The signature treatment should consider selecting plants that represent the campuses diverse native landscape.

POLICY 1.1.4: Reinforce and improve circulation hierarchy by developing distinct landscapes for each road type, intersections and any pedestrian/tram/service loop.

Entrance Roads: Medians will be landscaped with low profile flowering perennials, annuals and ground cover.

Edge - Enhance native vegetation with natural random placement of Oaks, Pines, Sweet Bays, Myrtles and other indigenous materials. Refer to Conservation Management Plans.

Primary Loop Road: Median will be landscaped with native low profile plants and groundcover.

Edge adjacent to developed areas: Screen surface parking lots with low mounds, shrubs, and trees.

Edge adjacent to preserve/natural areas: Preserve and enhance existing vegetation with indigenous plant material.

Campus Core Loop and Connector: Align connector with rows of Live or Laural Oaks.

Secondary Road: Align with alternative street tree to contrast with Primary Loop Road.

Pedestrian and Service Loop Road will be aligned with East Palatka Holly, Oaks, select Elm varieties.

POLICY 1.1.5: Follow best practices endorsed by the State of Florida to preserve and enhance existing native vegetation in all areas adjacent to proposed development of the northern entrance road and the completion of the loop road.

POLICY 1.1.6: Maintain and protect the existing natural preserve and proposed arboretum and encourage appropriate access to these areas that will contribute to enhancing the overall educational and colligate experience.

POLICY 1.1.7: Provide tree canopy within islands of no less that 144 square feet in all surface parking lots and maintain adequate sight lines for visual safety needs visibility and efficient security lighting providing on less than 3 footcandles on average throughout the parking area.

POLICY 1.1.8: Tree selection and location shall promote safety and security, enhance natural environment, provide shade for vehicles and pedestrians and minimize maintenance requirements.

POLICY 1.1.9: Reinforce, integrate and improve existing and proposed landscape mall and axis, to experience the campus as a defined sequence of unique landscapes. Define edges of malls with existing plant material specified for each mall outlined within Landscape Master Plan.

POLICY 1.1.10: Incorporate appropriate "theme courtyards" as an opportunity to enhance the overall education and collegiate experience by creating memorable spaces.

POLICY 1.1.11: The University shall develop landscape in housing areas as follows:

Develop courtyards with landscape and hardscape supportive of residence life programs and activities.

POLICY 1.1.12: The University shall show the location of future buildings so as to indicate the open spaces depicted in the Landscape Master Plan.

POLICY 1.1.13: Standardized bicycle rack style and placement shall be used in order to achieve simplicity and uniformity. Selection of the standardized bicycle racks shall be based on efficiency, ease of use, tamper resistance, maintenance, and accessibility. Bicycle facilities should be located convenient to academic and housing areas, in a secure location. Landscape treatment shall consist of canopy trees adjacent for shade and a durable, hard paved permanent surface under the bicycle rack.

POLICY 1.1.14: Public transportation facilities should be sited to allow for visibility and ease of access, both pedestrian and vehicular. The design of the shelter should be consistent with UCF’s architectural guidelines. Landscape treatment should provide shade if not provided by shelter.

POLICY 1.1.15: Emergency access shall be kept clear of any impeding landscape.

POLICY 1.1.16: All trash collection facilities shall be screened from pedestrian or vehicular traffic with either fence or wall consistent with UCF’s architecture guidelines.

POLICY 1.1.17: Maintenance facilities shall be screened from pedestrian or vehicular traffic with fence or wall.

POLICY 1.1.18: Projects with an associated public art budget and campus art projects should be coordinated within the design process and University of Central Florida’s Public Art Committee to facilitate location, theme, and integration.

POLICY 1.1.19: The summary analysis of existing landscape and hardscape conditions and quality prepared within the Landscape Master Plan shall be used to determine deficiencies to be added to University’s Physical Plant Division’s landscape improvement projects list.

POLICY 1.1.20: Within one year after adoption of Landscape Master Plan, the campus master plan shall be amended to include revised design concepts and standards.

OBJECTIVE 1.2: Modify and adopt a revised landscape design guideline upon Master Plan adoption.

POLICY 1.2.1: In concurrence with the Landscape Master Plan incorporate use of landscape material that blends with the natural, native surrounding plant palette.

POLICY 1.2.2: Within one year after adoption, the campus master plan shall be amended to include the revised plant material list and additional treatments as stated within Landscape Design Guidelines.

POLICY 1.2.3: The University shall monitor conformance of future construction projects with revised Landscape Design Guidelines and Landscape Master Plan through University design review procedures.

OBJECTIVE 1.3: Adopt standards for overall campus furnishings, lighting fixtures and graphics depicted within Landscape Master Plan.

POLICY 1.3.1 Projects which may enhance campus safety, and handicapped accessibility shall be identified and prioritized according to the following:

Visibility;
Pedestrian/vehicular/bicycle conflicts;
Enhanced lighting; and
Removal of barriers.

POLICY 1.3.2 The University of Central Florida’s Directors of Facilities Planning and Physical Plant will establish administrative procedures within the University's administrative structure (e.g. a design review process) to ensure the coordination of the landscape, furnishings and graphics on the campus is in accordance with the adopted guidelines. Within one year after adoption, the campus master plan shall be amended to include these procedures.

OBJECTIVE 1.4: Adopt standards for campus edge treatments.

POLICY 1.4.1 In accordance with the Conservation Management Plan and Landscape Master Plan, the University shall preserve existing natural buffer areas along campus edges. The University shall prohibit development within the 200' buffer area and establish understory (e.g. shrubs and ground cover) plantings of indigenous plant material in natural arrangements in areas where it has been removed.

POLICY 1.4.2 Create a signature architectural and landscape entry statement that enhances and an institutional entrance that contrasted with the natural buffer/campus edge.

OBJECTIVE 1.5: Adopt standards for landscape edge treatments surrounding ponds, lakes and stormwater features.

POLICY 1.5.1: Retention lakes and drainage elements shall conform to the requirements of the local water management district regarding side slopes and wetland mitigation areas.

POLICY 1.5.2: The configuration of retention lakes shall be natural and curvilinear in outline. Rectilinear and pure geometric forms are not permitted. Wherever possible, side slopes shall vary and provide smooth transitions to existing grades. Gentle landforms around the lake shall reinforce the “natural" context.

POLICY 1.5.3: Whenever possible, retention areas shall be incorporated into one single basin instead of multiple basins. Larger basins are more efficient relative to space and volumetrics. Single basins also avoid the appearance of the project area surrounded by a “depressed moat".

POLICY 1.5.4: Landscape treatment for retention lakes shall respect maintenance and access setbacks but otherwise be set into a natural, existing vegetative context or planted with native material.

OBJECTIVE 1.6: Implement the landscape concept plan by allocating proportional campus landscape costs to programmed building costs and by seeking supplemental funding allocated for landscape improvements.

POLICY 1.6.1: Landscape budgets shall be an integral and inviolate portion of new construction budgets, and shall be based upon a percentage of total construction costs. Funds allocated for landscape improvements shall not be redirected to fulfill funding shortages in other areas of the construction project.

POLICY 1.6.2: Landscape improvements that are independent from new building construction shall be considered as stand-alone or independent projects with respect to funding and capital expenditure programming .

POLICY 1.6.3: Apply the following descending priorities for implementing components of the Landscape Master Plan.

Priority 1
Entrances and Intersections
Priority 2
Malls and Courtyards
Priority 3
Service/Pedestrian/Tram Loop
Priority 4
Loop Road
Priority 5
Parking Lots

POLICY 1.6.4: By 2006-2007 the University shall establish policies and procedures to retain landscape architects independently of architects for campus building, for the design and implementation of components of the Landscape Master Plan. The adopted campus master plan shall be amended to include these procedures.

POLICY 1.6.5: The University shall seek separate funding mechanisms and revenue sources specifically targeted for landscape improvements as outlined in Master Plan.