> STANDARDS   > SUBMITTAL FORMS   > POSTING PERIODS		ARC STANDARDS SECTION 4 LANDSCAPE DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION 4.1. OVERVIEW This section outlines the procedures and requirements for making application to the ARC for new landscaping work. 4.1.1 Guiding Documents a. Declaration of Covenants, Conditions and Restrictions of March 10, 1975 including but not limited to Article VI. b. Supplementary Declaration of Covenants, Conditions and Restrictions including the development guide for the Specific Filing. c. Official Development Plan for Genesee. d. Final Plat for the Specified Filing. e. Design Standards of 1998. 4.2. BASIC DESIGN GUIDELINES 4.2.1. General Landscaping shall be in accordance with the Supplementary Declaration. The goal is to preserve the natural foothills environment by minimizing disruption through thoughtful, sensitive, and context-considerate landscape design and installation. As a general rule, the committee will exercise more stringent controls on areas visible from roads and nearby home sites. 4.2.2. Trees, Shrubs and Ground Covers The use of native plant materials or approved non-native plant materials is required. Information regarding acceptable plant material is published in the Native Plants of Genesee booklet. Copies of this booklet are available through the Foundation office. 4.2.3. Tree Removal Permission must be obtained from the ARC for the removal of any trees with a trunk diameter of greater than two (2) inches and shall be made in accordance with the provisions of the Application for Tree Removal Form (Form # TRF.013). A copy of this form can be found in the Appendix. 4.2.4. Native Grasses and Re-vegetation Prompt re-vegetation of disturbed areas is required to control erosion and to provide a finished appearance. All disturbed areas and other locations where additional grass is desired shall be seeded using the seed mix specifically formulated for Genesee. This seed, along with recommendations for planting, are available at the Foundation office, or an equivalent approved by the ARC. 4.2.5. Turf Grass Seed and Sod The use of irrigated and mowed turf grass may be approved in limited areas only. If such turf grass is proposed, it must be submitted for approval as part of a landscape design and located where it is not visible from roadways or Open Space. 4.2.6. Non-Plant Landscape Materials Non-plant landscape materials refers to all man-made and natural construction materials which might be incorporated into a landscape design, (e.g., concrete, stone, and masonry paving, wood benches, sculptures, yard ornaments, and landscape lighting fixtures). Natural construction materials include imported rocks and boulders. All non-plant landscape materials shall complement the natural landscape as well as the material, color and texture of the adjacent dwelling. 4.2.7. Landscape Irrigation Both native and non-native plants will benefit from judicious application of water to aid in healthy establishment, once established, properly selected plants will continue to grow with natural precipitation. Although an irrigation plan is not specifically required as part of a landscape submittal, the applicant shall indicate if the proposed planting will include a permanent irrigation system and shall designate the type of system. 4.2.8. Water Features Water features such as ponds, streams, waterfalls and fountains shall be integrated into the natural landscape. Formally structured fountains must be enclosed within an interior courtyard. The depth of any pond or stream shall be no greater than two (2) feet. Pumps and mechanical equipment shall be the submersible type or shall be completely enclosed in a structure approved by the ARC. 4.2.9. Retaining Walls Retaining walls shall be as low as possible and integrated into the overall site development plan. Terracing shall be used in order to minimize each wall's height. Walls shall compliment the natural surroundings and the materials, colors and textures of the dwelling. 4.2.10. Exterior Lighting If new exterior lighting is part of the landscaping, a lighting plan must be submitted. All exterior lights are subject to the approval of the ARC. Approval will be based on the visual impact of the lights on the lot, on neighboring lots, dwellings, roads and Open Spaces. Exterior lighting shall be subdued. Subdued lighting is defined as light fixtures with low wattage lamps, installed for the purpose of illuminating entrances, decks and driveways. Acceptable fixture types include fully recessed downlights, low voltage landscape lighting, step lighting or pathway lighting, and wall bracket lights with a completely shielded light source. To preserve the dark skies, the upper portion of globe-type or similar fixtures shall be shielded so as to prevent excess light from escaping upwards. No permanent exterior lighting of any dwelling shall be installed or maintained on any dwelling or other improvement on a lot, the light source of which is visible from a neighboring Lot or lots, the general or special common properties, or roads, or which lighting is not otherwise in conformity with these standards. 4.3. SUBMITTAL REQUIREMENTS 4.3.1. Submittal of Documents Plans, specifications and other descriptive documentation shall be submitted to the ARC in accordance with the following submittal and review procedures. All materials submitted shall remain the property of the ARC. An Improvement Submittal Form (Form # ISF.009) and the Landscaping Checklist (Form # LSC.011) shall be completed by the applicant at the time of submittal. Incomplete submittals will be disapproved by the ARC. Copies of the Submittal Form and the Checklist can be found in the Appendix. a. Document Submittal: Detailed and dimensioned drawings shall include: 1. A site landscape plan drawn at no less than 1" = 20'-0" scale, indicating the location of the dwelling; the locations, size and common vegetative name of all new plant materials (trees, shrubs and ground covers); showing existing and proposed grading and topography in the area of new landscape construction at maximum two (2) foot contour intervals; an indication of the approximate size, location and type of existing plant materials; indicating the areas to be irrigated, if any, and the method of irrigation; showing the location of drives, retaining walls, erosion control features, paved walkways, stairs and railings. All disturbed areas are to be re-vegetated with native seed mix and all such areas shall be indicated on the site plan. 2. Exterior details of construction including retaining walls, walkways, stairs, and railings. 3. Exterior materials and colors shall be indicated on the drawings with samples of each provided. Color and material samples shall be a minimum of fifty (50) square inches. All samples must be identified with manufacturer's name, color name, color number and the light reflective value (LRV). 4. Exterior lighting "cut sheets" from the manufacturer describing all proposed exterior lighting, including a fixture drawing or photograph, shall be submitted for approval. 4.3.2. Posting of Property The Genesee Foundation will post the property once the submittal documents are received at the Foundation office. The posting will be for a minimum of ten (10) calendar days prior to the meeting, at least six (6) days of which must be days when the Foundation office is open. The posting sign will indicate the following: a. The Lot and filing number of the posted property. b. That documents have been submitted for the property and such documents are available for public review in the Genesee Foundation office. c. The date the property is posted, the final date of the posting period and the date of the ARC meeting at which the submittal will be considered. 4.3.3. Community Comment Written comments regarding the posted property may be submitted by any Foundation member, or their representative, at the Foundation office during the posting period and up to 12 noon of the day prior to the ARC meeting which follows the posting period. Members may also present verbal comments during the ARC meeting at which the submittal in question is being reviewed. 4.3.4. Review of the Submittal After the posting and comment period the ARC will review the submittal and provide a written response to the applicant within ten (10) working days after completing the review but no later than thirty (30) days after receipt of the submittal. The submittal will be approved with no conditions, approved with conditions listed or disapproved. Submission of the Notice of Commencement of Improvements (Form # NCI.006) will be deemed an acceptance of any conditions imposed by the ARC. 4.3.5. Re-submittal of Documents In the event of disapproval of the submittal by the ARC, the applicant may submit modified documents following the same procedure as an original submittal. At the time of the disapproval, the ARC will determine whether reposting of the property will be required for a re-submittal. Reposting the property for five (5) days duration, at least three (3) of which must be days the Genesee Foundation office is open, is required for re-submittals. Approval with conditions listed is not considered to be a rejection and will not require reposting. 4.3.6. Completed Work a. Upon completion of the new landscaping work or any other improvements for which Final Approval was given by the ARC, the applicant shall give written notice to the ARC by completing and signing an Owner's Notice of Completion Form (Form # ONC.008). A copy of this form can be found in the Appendix. b. Thirty (30) to sixty (60) days following receipt of the Owner's Notice of Completion Form (Form # ONC.008), the ARC shall visit the site and look at the completed work. If the ARC finds that the work was not completed or does not comply with the approved final documents (including any conditions imposed by the ARC), it shall notify the applicant in writing of such non-compliance. The notice shall specify, in reasonable detail, the particulars of non-compliance and shall require the applicant to provide a means of remedial action. Failure of the ARC to notify an owner of non-compliance after the inspection does not constitute a waiver of any rights of the ARC or the Genesee Foundation to enforce or compel compliance in the future and should not be deemed as evidence that the construction complies with the approved plans or the ARC's requirements. 4.4. FORMS AND CHECKLISTS TO BE COMPLETED The following five (5) forms must be completed by the applicant in order for the ARC to approve the project 4.4.1. Improvement Submittal Form (Form # ISF.009). 4.4.2. Tree Removal Form (Form # TRF.013). 4.4.3. Landscaping Checklist (Form # LSC.011). 4.4.4. Notice of Commencement of Improvements (Form # NCI.006) 4.4.5. Owner's Notice of Completion Form (Form # ONC.008). Copies of each document are included in the Appendix. Loose sheet copies may be obtained at the Foundation office. The applicant must provide all of the information requested on each form. Items shown on the checklist that are not part of the submittal shall be marked "not applicable" on the form. ARC STANDARDS   > Architectural Definitions   > Section 1: General Architectural Review Committee (ARC) Procedures   > Section 2: Design and Construction of New or Replacement Dwellings   > Section 3: Construction or Additions, Decks, and Patio/Deck Covers   > Section 4: Landscape Design and Construction   > Section 5: Ancillary Improvements   > Section 6: Construction Regulations Questions? Comments? arc@geneseefoundation.org