South Livermore Specific Plan

Livermore, California

Specific Plan for 1,900 acres of residential, limited commercial, recreation, and land conservation. Through a Transfer of Development Rights and up-zoning, 1,200 dwelling units were spread over seven sub-areas, leaving 70 percent of the total area reserved in perpetuity for public open space. Detailed landscape and architectural guidelines were developed to help sustain the valley’s distinct rural character.

The Collaborative’s Ignacio Bunster-Ossa led this project while at WRT.

Trails & Boardwalks

Massachusetts

The Collaborative brings decades of experience designing trails and boardwalks that provide sustainable public access to natural and ecologically outdoor environments.

Trail designs range in length and character. For example, the now 8-mile-long Neponset River trail passes restored wetland marshes and upland wildlife habits. The Newbury Court Boardwalk in Concord, MA, designed by Bill Giezentanner before joining the Collaborative, provides an accessible boardwalk for residents of the nearby Newbury Court retirement community and general public to enjoy a walk through a quiet woodland setting. The wooden walk is constructed above ground on metal posts that protect the roots of trees along its path.

Newbury Court Boardwalk – Concord, MA

Tree Conservation Ordinance and Arboriculture Program

City of Sandy Springs, GA

The Collaborative oversaw the arborist and arboriculture program for the City of Sandy Springs, GA from 2011 to 2019. This included overseeing the City’s Tree Conservation Ordinance, Tree Bank, Tree Planting Program, and arborist inspection services.

The Tree Conservation Ordinance is based on Fulton County’s Tree Protection Ordinance. This was developed under the supervision of Angela Parker, the Collaborative’s Atlanta-office Vice President. Subsequently, the Collaborative staff incorporated the ordinance into a Unified Development Code and Tree Ordinance Manual.

Notable elements of the Tree Conservation Ordinance include a residential lot minimum requirement of canopy coverage, tree removal and replacement guidelines, Landmark Tree regulations, and canopy preservation requirements. For example, if any healthy tree (including Landmark Trees) is removed and causes the tree canopy to fall below the residential lot minimum requirement of 35 percent, either new trees must be planted or a payment must made to the City’s Tree Bank for a new tree. Landmark Trees must be replaced at 150 percent of the lost canopy.

The Collaborative arborist Michael Barnett measures caliper of a “landmark tree” requiring mitigation under Tree Conservation Ordinance.

Land Stewardship for Woodsom Farm Park and Amesbury Town Forest

City of Amesbury, MA

The 465 acres of contiguous open space is an ecological treasure for Amesbury and the region, enjoyed by thousands of visitors each year. The Collaborative prepared a comprehensive plan including an inventory of the habitats and their flora and fauna and recommended stewardship actions for each habitat.

Known to be one of the state’s most important nesting habitats for Bobolinks and Eastern meadowlarks defining mowing regimes and controlling dogs were important stewardship strategies. The plan also recommended control of non-native invasive plants and an annual schedule for maintenance activities.

Bartram’s Garden Master Plan

City of Philadelphia, PA

Kaye Lynn Johnson, Collaborative VP for Design, completed the master plan and design for the 47-acre Bartram’s Garden along the Schuylkill River in Philadelphia, PA. The Garden, encompassing John Bartram’s original early 1700s farm, is considered to be the first botanical garden in the United States. The master plan, currently being implemented, interweaves elements of the garden’s history with modern needs and functions. These elements include re-planting a garden and orchard where John Bartram cultivated plants that he gathered from each of the original 13 colonies and re-establishing the waterside entrance to the Garden with a path that extends the Garden’s riverfront.

The master plan also expands the Bartram’s Urban Farm and Community Supported Agriculture program and includes a walking path that interprets the first compromise in the making of the U.S. Constitution. Also included are an outdoor amphitheater, retreat center, outdoor classrooms, recreational boating center, a natural sciences education center and a conference facility.