The surface parking lot layout has been revised to provide additional pervious area and more tree canopy cover. Three parking spaces were removed to make room for the large growing canopy trees. These additional plantings will cause the number of off-street parking spaces on the rear surface lot to be reduced to 50. There will be a total of 177 of the 185 spaces provided.
New Tree Selection:
Princeton American Elm (instead of Frontier Elm) planted in the large islands.
- listed as a recommended tree in the "DDOT – Urban Forestry Public Realm Handbook".
- a proven high resistance to Dutch Elm disease, grows rapidly, is well adapted to urban conditions and has a high drought tolerance.
- will be 12 feet tall when planted, reaching 40 to 50 feet tall by 30 feet wide in 20 years.
Number of Trees in Plan:
Seven Princeton American Elm trees planted in the large interior and perimeter islands, and two Crepe Myrtle trees for a total of 9 deciduous trees.
- a ratio of 1 tree for every 5.4 spaces in the 50 space parking lot.
- 10 large growing evergreen screening trees planted along the north curb line of the parking area, adjacent to the residential properties.
- existing 114 space Safeway parking lot has 15 trees in and around it for a ratio of 1 tree for every 7.6 spaces.
- Dynamite Crepe Myrtle Trees, planted in the narrower islands, will be 6 feet tall when planted, reaching a mature size of 15 to 20 feet tall by 8 to 10 feet wide.
- Emerald Arborvitae Evergreen trees will be planted between the western property line and the parking lot, reaching a mature height of 15 to 20 feet.
- Carolina Hemlock and Cryptomeria Japonica trees, planted as an evergreen buffer along the north curb line will be 12 feet tall when planted, reaching an ultimate height of 30 to 50 feet.
- For the overall project, including adjacent public space and WMATA property, more than twice as many trees will be planted as those being removed (36 trees removed, 75 trees replanted).
Sustainability:
The following strategies are being implemented to create a sustainable design:
- The pavement area has been reduced, the tree canopy has been increased and light colored concrete has been selected to reduce the site’s heat island effect.
- The storm water management system is designed to reduce the overall rate of site runoff, taking the runoff for a 25 year storm event to the equivalent of what would be leaving the site during a 2 year storm event if it were a vacant field (as opposed to the already existing impervious commercial development).
- Storm water will be treated for quality and pollutants will be removed from the runoff through the use of media cartridges installed within the underground storm water management system.
