2- Pre-Design Assessment + Planning

Question 1

All Prereqs/Credits in Pre-Design Assessment + Planning

Answer 1

Pre-Design P2.1: Use an integrative design process (req)
Pre-Design P2.2: Conduct a pre-design site assessment (req)
Pre-Design P2.3: Designate and communicate Vegetation and Soil Protection Zones (VSPZs) (req)
Pre-Design P2.4: Engage users and stakeholders (3 points)

Question 2

P2.1: Use an integrative design process

Intent

Answer 2

Optimize site performance by identifying and executing synergistic opportunities across different disciplines throughout all phases of design and construction.

Question 3

P2.1: Use an integrative design process

Requirements

Answer 3

1. Form an integrated design time.
   - Should include at min the following roles:
   
   • Owner and/or client
   • Professionals knowledgeable in design, construction, and maintenance.
   • Professionals knowledgeable in vegetation, water, soils, landscape ecology, materials, and human health & well-being, selected to meet unique site
2. Develop a collaborative communication process.
   - Develop agreed upon comm. method for team members. Allow all members perspectives.
   - Designated team facilitator to oversee & ensure collaborative process.
3. ID Project sustainability principles & performance goals.
   - ID principles & perf. goals of the project (both short & long term) - include timeline & specific performance measures for each goal to determine when it has been achieved.
   - Designated specific members to track goals.
4. Incorp the principles & goals into a program plan.
   - Develop program plan that at min includes:
   
   • Unique characteristics, opps, constraints of the site.
   • General project parameters (scope, budget, impl. schedule, purpose, and design intent).
   • Diagram or description of the intended function, arrangement, and relationship of desire features and their approximate dimensions.
     - Describe how sustainability principles & performance goals will be incorporated into the design.
5. ID stakeholders & site user groups
   - ID Stakeholders
   - ID range of site users- list the primary & secondary user groups.
6. Plan for construction oversight.
   - Designate a team member, other than contractor, who will be responsible for verifying the site is built per the specs & drawings.
   - Meet with contractor prior to construction to review specs, requirements, and drawings to convey principles & performance goals.
   - Describe agreed upon method whereby changes can be made in the field during construction.
7. Develop a strategy for preparing a site maintenance plan.
   - Include all team members in the development of the site maintenance plan.

Question 4

P2.1: Use an integrative design process

Submittal Docs

Answer 4

1. Integrated design team.
   - table with name of member & expertise
   - Explain anyone fulfilling multiple roles
2. Collaborative communication process.
   - Narrative describing the process
   - List of team members responsible for collab comm.
   - Signatures from all team members
3. Project sustainability principles & performance goals.
   - Narrative describing principles & goals
   - Timeline & specific measures for each goal
   - List of team members responsible for tracking goals throughout the design, construction, and maintenance process
4. Program plan.
   - Sections of the program plan noting unique opps, characteristics, constraints of sites.
   - Narrative text
   - Diagrams / descriptions of the intended functions, arrangements, and relationships of desired features and their approx dimensions.
5. Stakeholders & site user groups
   - List of all Stakeholders
   - List of site users- list the primary & secondary user groups.
6. Plan for construction oversight.
   - Narrative ID-ing the team member responsible for construction oversight & describing the proposed schedule.
7. Develop a strategy for preparing a site maintenance plan.
   - Signatures from all team members acknowl. their participation in the dvlpment of the site maintenance plan.

Question 5

P2.1: Use an integrative design process

Strategies

Answer 5

• Form diverse team of qualified professionals as early as possile.
• Discuss avail resources as part of the site maintenance plan. (short & long term)
• Engage the client in leading / participating in a design charrette with the assistance of the project design team leadership.

Question 6

P2.1: Use an integrative design process

Benefits

Answer 6

• More innovative solutions with diverse team.
• Considering diverse viewpoints & needs leads to more culturally sustainable projects.

Question 7

P2.2: Conduct a pre-design site assessment

Intent

Answer 7

Maximize the opportunities for beneficial site performance by conducting an accurate and detailed assessment of site conditions and exploring options for sustainable outcomes prior to design.

Question 8

P2.2: Conduct a pre-design site assessment

Requirements

Answer 8

With the integrated design team, collect & assess info about the site to help ID opportunities to protect & improve ecosystem services & use sustainable strategies.

• Map & assess site conditions & resources according to outline in submittal doc section. (Not all topics in the outline apply to every site & each site may contain additional important unique elements that are not explicitly addressed here. Include additional topics not listed & provide reasons for not addressing certain topics.)
• Collect additional info on the site & surrounding areas to assess opps for sustainable site outcomes, including non-physical influences that may affect the site design, and potential effects of the design.
• Explain how the identified site conditions & resources will influence the sustainable design of the site.

Question 9

P2.2: Conduct a pre-design site assessment

Submittal Docs

Answer 9

• Comprehensive site amp or multiple maps at same scale / orientation addressing all physical ex conditions on site
• Completed Site Assessment Worksheet (or an illustrated narrative addressing the same topics & describing how each could influence site design.
• Signatures from all integrated design team members stating the site assessment & relevant discussions were conducted collaboratively.

** See this chapter for example of assessment worksheet.

Question 10

P2.2: Conduct a pre-design site assessment

Recommended Strategies

Answer 10

Consult with local experts & community to evaluate existing conditions & ID sustainable strategies.

Evaluate the impact a design approach may have on sustainability during construction opps & maintenance.

Question 11

P2.3: Designate & Communicate Vegetation & Soil Protection Zones

Intent

Answer 11

Maximize the benefits of ecosystem services by designating and communicating to the project team members a site development plan that protects healthy vegetation, soils, and sensitive environmental features.

Question 12

P2.3: Designate & Communicate Vegetation & Soil Protection Zones

Requirements

Answer 12

• ID, map, and protect critical & sensitive existing on-site features in VSPZs
• Ensure the section of the site maintenance plan is complete & describes the on-going management activities to protect the integrity of VSPZs.

Question 13

P2.3: Designate & Communicate Vegetation & Soil Protection Zones

Relevant prerequisites & requirement

Context P1.1
Case 2: sites with farmland soils

Answer 13

95% of all healthy soils designated as prime farmland, unique farmland, farmland of statewide importance, or farmland of local importance.

Question 14

P2.3: Designate & Communicate Vegetation & Soil Protection Zones

Relevant prerequisites & requirement

Context P1.2
Protect floodplain functions
Case 3: greenfields within floodplain

Answer 14

90% of 100-year floodplain area

Question 15

P2.3: Designate & Communicate Vegetation & Soil Protection Zones

Relevant prerequisites & requirement

Context P1.3
Conserve aquatic ecosystems
Case 2: Sites with naturally occurring aquatic ecosystems

Answer 15

Entire delineated buffer, according to aquatic ecosystem classification

Question 16

P2.3: Designate & Communicate Vegetation & Soil Protection Zones

Relevant prerequisites & requirement

Context P1.4
Conserve habitat for threatened or endangered species
Case 1: Brownfields / previously developed sites
Case 2: Greenfield sites

Answer 16

Full extent of identified habitat

Question 17

P2.3: Designate & Communicate Vegetation & Soil Protection Zones

Relevant prerequisites & requirement

Soil + Veg P4.1
Create and communicate a soil management plan

Answer 17

Healthy Soils that will be retained in place - show VSPZs on SMP map

Question 18

P2.3: Designate & Communicate Vegetation & Soil Protection Zones

Relevant prerequisites & requirement

Soil + Veg C4.4
Conserve healthy soils and appropriate vegetation

Answer 18

Min. of 50% of total site area containing healthy soils & appropriate vegetation.

Question 19

P2.3: Designate & Communicate Vegetation & Soil Protection Zones

Relevant prerequisites & requirement

Soil + Veg C4.5
Conserve special status vegetation

Answer 19

One foot (.3 meter) radius for each inch DBH for special status trees.

Question 20

P2.3: Designate & Communicate Vegetation & Soil Protection Zones

Relevant prerequisites & requirement

Soil + Veg C4.6
Conserve & Use native plants

Answer 20

Percentage of existing native plants on site.

Question 21

P2.3: Designate & Communicate Vegetation & Soil Protection Zones

Relevant prerequisites & requirement

Soil + Veg C4.7
Conserve & restore native plant communities.

Answer 21

Percentage of existing native plant communities greater than or equal to 2000 sq feet.

Question 22

P2.3: Designate & Communicate Vegetation & Soil Protection Zones

Mapping requirements (general)

Answer 22

• VSPZs can encompass 1 plant or can include several plants in a group
• VSPZ boundaries for trees should extend out from the trunk, to a min. distance of a one foot radius (measured at ground level) per inch of DBH - or the full lateral extent of the actual root system as determined by ground-penetrating radar or by using the Clark-Matheny method.
• VSPZ boundaries for shrubs should extend out from the stem to twice the radius of the shrub.
• VSPZ boundaries for herbaceous veg should extend to encompass the diameter of the plant.

Question 23

P2.3: Designate & Communicate Vegetation & Soil Protection Zones

Mapping requirements (general)

Answer 23

*Soils and vegetation within VSPZs must not be disturbed or compacted during
construction.
*Management activities within VSPZs must not reduce the function and resiliency of
wetlands or aquatic ecosystems.
**Invasive species present within VSPZs must be treated using equipment that can be
carried in and out of the zone on foot or will not otherwise detrimentally affect soil
compaction.
*Only minimal impact site development is allowed within VSPZs. No more than 10
percent of the total area of all VSPZs can contain minimal impact site development.
*Construction impacts from overall site development must not decrease the capacity of
VSPZs to support the desired vegetation. For example, construction activities outside of
a VSPZ should not change drainage patterns and microclimate effects within the VSPZ.
*Protect VSPZs from equipment parking and traffic, storage of materials, and other
construction activities with a fence or other physical barrier that cannot be easily
moved. (Use a wildlife-permeable barrier as appropriate).
*Communicate the locations and protective measures of VSPZs to construction and
maintenance personnel. Outline consequences to contractors if they do not respect
VSPZ boundaries.

Question 24

P2.3: Designate & Communicate Vegetation & Soil Protection Zones

Submittal docs

Answer 24

• Site plan showing all VSPZs according to the requirements.
• Photographs of protection signage
• Construction documents describing all minimal impact site development occurring within VSPZs
  Specifications describing the location & protective measures of VSPZs
• Narrative describing:
  
  • Sq ftge of each VSPZ designated on site.
  • How VSPZs will be preserved during construction (fence, etc.)
  • Other protective treatments & restoration activities planned for any areas within VSPZs
  • Efforts to educate all construction personnel about VSPZs

Question 25

P2.3: Designate & Communicate Vegetation & Soil Protection Zones

Strategies

Answer 25

• # of roadways crossing VSPZs should be minimized.
• Structures that cross a VSPZ should be designed to minimize their impact on terrestrial & aquatic habitat connectivity.
• Additional planting within VSPZs must be done with care, because tree roots typically are located at the surface.
• Perennial plantings within VSPZ should be done manually.
• Annual plantings discouraged within VSPZs.
• Planting within 1 foot radius per inch DBH should be avoided. Planting here runs risk of damaging tree roots & soils.
  
  • Planting should be limited to 25% of the area under the tree canopy or area listed above.
• Protect root zone of trees found on site.
  
  • Protect groups > individual trees.
  • Design utility access away from soil & roots of trees.
  • Reduce the need for utility trench work through strategic placement of utilities.
  • Where utility trench work is necessary, use air excavation to expose tree roots without damaging them.
  • If applicable, use directional boring technology.
  • For trees, ground-penetrating radar (GPR) or air excavation can be used to determine the location of tree roots.
• consult with local experts in plant health
• Min. impact site development should not require power equipment. Low impact construction is critical to the integrity of VSPZs.

Question 26

C2.4: Engage users & stakeholders
Intent

Answer 26

ID specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, and timely project goals by engaging site users and stakeholders during the design process to supplement professional expertise with local knowledge.

Question 27

C2.4: Engage users & stakeholders
Points Avail

Answer 27

3 points

Question 28

C2.4: Engage users & stakeholders

Requirements

Answer 28

Engage potential site users & stakeholders during these phases:

1. Site assessment process & program plan
   - ID specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, and timely project goals
   - ID needs of the user groups
   - Ensure site assessment section is complete & describes process of engaging site users + stakeholders.
   - Provide multiple schematic design alternatives and associated outcomes using visual representations.
2. Design development presentation & review
   - Invite site users & stakeholders to the DD presentation & review
3. Present the design to the public
   - Present the design to the public in at least 2 forms (ex- website, comm meeting, newspaper article, etc.)

Question 29

C2.4: Engage users & stakeholders

Submittal Docs

Answer 29

1. Site assessment process & program plan.
   - List of stakeholders & site users (ID-ed in P2.1) who participated in program plan & site assessment process.
   - Narrative outlining the programmatic and functional needs of the various stakeholders & user groups based on their input.
2. Schematic design review
   - Copies of the SD alts provided to participants
   - Narrative of associated outcomes of each design alt that was shared
   - Summary of feedback
3. DD presentation & review.
   - Copy of the design development presentation given to participants.
   - Narrative describing how the design reflects stakeholder feedback (if feedback was not incorporated, state why).
   - Summary of feedback on design.
4. Present the design to the public:
   - Copy of site design presented to public.
   - Narrative describing the opportunities