The LAC Planter Plan APPROVED
Allow us to bring your attention to the plan that the Olmsted Society focused much effort on over the course of the last few months: the design, planting, and long term maintenance of the planters in the Central Business District (CBD) of Riverside, which has now been approved.
The following is a brief synopsis of events leading up to this important vote, and the key background issues for your information:
- The 2008 Village of Riverside approved budget contains a line item amount of $25,000 for planting and maintenance of planter beds in the CBD. The vote on this item in late ‘07 is split evenly among the 6 Trustees, and Village President Wiaduck breaks the tie in favor of the measure. The LAC, under the leadership of chairperson Jacqueline Paine, is put in charge of the planning effort. However, use of the $25,000 is made contingent upon the LAC’s ability to synthesize the many existing plans and present a low-maintenance, on-time and on-budget solution that the Board can approve. Potential costs for professional assistance in preparation of the plan are explicitly excluded from the $25,000 budget amount.
- At the November 2007 FLOS Board Meeting, the Olmsted Society is approached by the Landscape Advisory Commission with a request to fund professional landscape design services which would benefit the planning of the CBD planters. While no monetary support is granted (the request for financial support far outreaches FLOS funding capacity), the Society welcomes the idea to improve the appearance of the CBD, and sees an opportunity to advocate for a plan that is complimentary to Olmsted’s vision of a continuous and integrated planting approach. FLOS offers its expertise and time to the LAC in delivering a plan that will be beautiful, create community pride, and be embraced by all stakeholders alike: residents, Village government, civic organizations, and business owners.
- From December ‘07 through March ‘08, the LAC and members of the Public Works Department meet almost bi-weekly to work on the plant list and planter design, as well as implementation and maintenance strategies. FLOS is present at the meetings and participates actively in the discussions. In order to assure that sufficient funds are set aside from the $25,000 budget for contracted maintenance in lieu of further increasing the workload of the Public Works Department, the LAC decides to limit the amount of planters to be implemented this year. They are primarily located along Longcommon, just North and South of the train tracks. On February 21, the LAC creates an initial planter design based on the previously established plant list.
- After having received FLOS Board approval to fund a professional peer review, FLOS submits the peer review design comments to the LAC on March 7. The review, which is prepared by Mauro Crestani from Lenet Crestani Tallman Design Group, a licensed landscape design company, is well received by the LAC. Mauro is a former Riverside resident, who has spent many years as a LAC Commissioner. His professional qualifications and sensitivity to Olmsted’s vision for Riverside are held in the highest esteem of many of our Society’s members.
- At the March 11 ‘08 LAC meeting, FLOS offers to fund revisions to the design and production of landscape plans and renderings, pending FLOS Board approval. At a special FLOS Board meeting on Sunday, March 15, additional funding is approved.
- On Wednesday, March 26 ‘08 the LAC unanimously approves the plan, as presented in the renderings attached (north and south).
- On Monday, April 7, 2008 the Board of Trustees at the Committee Of the Whole (COW) meeting passed the CBD Landscape plan spearheaded by the Landscape Advisory Commission (LAC), see renderings (north and south — CAUTION, these are very large, detailed renderings that may take a moment to download.)
Thank you to all that attended. Spring has sprung in Riverside!
Sincerely,
James D. Reynolds, President
Tom Jacobs, Vice President
