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HomeMy WebLinkAboutDRB Memo TOWN OF VAIL � 1Vlemorandurrd To: Design Review Board From: Department of Public Works Date: April 4, 2012 Subject: Aspen Scale Mitigation for Vail Transportation Center I. Background Aspen scale is a relatively new pest that is impacted Vail's landscape aspen trees. To date, the insect does not appear to be impacting native stands. Please see the attached information sheet titled "Aspen Scale In Vail" for additional detail. One of the hardest hit areas is the landscaping around the Village Parking Structure. The town is recommending that many of the most heavily impacted trees should be removed. Some trees with lesser infestations will be sprayed as part of the town's tree spraying program. The following information outlines a replanting program for the area around the Transportation Center. More detail will be available by the April 4t" DRB meeting. II. Planting Plan There are five general types of landscape area around the Village Parking Structure/Transportation Center. Four of them will be impacted by the Aspen Scale Mitigation project. The fifth type includes formal flower and shrubs beds located around the center stairs on the south side, the flower beds (annual and perennial) on the north side along the Frontage Rd. These areas are not impacted and will remain in their current conditions. Type 1: Formal shrub and aspen beds In several areas with more formal plantings, many of the aspens are infected. In addition, many of the shrubs have died or have become overgrown. These areas include the walled shrub beds along the south side just east of Slifer Square, the bus "neck down" by the Mountain House, the shrub beds east of the Austria Haus bus stop. This plan will look at renovating those beds. Trees River birch Crab Apple Roses Canada Red Cherry (tree form) Isanti Dogwood Hawthorne Variegated Dogwood White Fir (north side) Snowberry Juniper— low Shrubs Potentilla Type 2: Aspen and spruce plantings These are generally located along the north side, but also include some areas on the east, south east, and west ends. These areas are generally mulched, and have some shrub understory plantings. Trees River Birch Crab apple Woods rose Canada Red Cherry (shrub form) Red Berried Elder Limber pine Peking Cotoneaster Aspen (7 gallon, some could be planted Grape Holly this year, other areas should wait) Potentilla Dogwood Shrubs Lilacs (east and south east) Canada Red Cherry (shrub form) Type 3: Native areas Along the south side of the structure, the south facing hillside is planted with spruce, aspen, lodgepole pine, and some native shrubs. The groundcover consists of native grass. The area includes open pockets for snow storage from the top deck. Many of the original shrubs have died. The plantings are intended to screen and soften the edge of the structure, especially given the 3-story height of the building along East Meadow Drive. Trees Shrubs Lodgepole pine Rocky Mountain Maple Bristlecone pine Native Chokecherry Rocky Mt Juniper Canada Red Cherry (shrub form) Aspen (7 gallon, some could be planted Woods Rose this year, other areas should wait) Red Berried Elder Serviceberry Big Blue Rabbitbrush Potentilla Type 4: West end The west end is similar to the Type 3 plantings. However, the town would like to renew the whimsical annual flower plantings of years past and add new plantings to screen the recently added boiler. Trees Shrubs Crab apple Canada Red Cherry (shrub form) Mountain ash Roses Aspen (7 gallon, some could be planted Peking Cotoneaster this year, other areas should wait) Elder Canada Red Cherry (single stem) Potentilla Lilacs (screens and near entrances) Town of Vail Page 2