Orange County NC Website
Mr. Murray indicated that sugar maples, willow and other varieties that would have large <br />canopies would be planted. The smaller trees are flowering trees such as dogwood, red bud, <br />crab apple, and crape myrtle. The size of planting would be 1 Y2 to 2-inch caliber at a minimum. <br />After the initial planting each lot will have two shade and two flowering trees at the very minimum. <br />In addition to that, there will be other landscaping features that will be provided for each home <br />which are more foundation plantings and things of that nature. <br />Planning Board member Katz asked about the possibility that the soil may not drain well and <br />that the trees would be planted in soils that tend to remain moist and would therefore lose their <br />oxygen. He asked if the developer actually knew for a fact that the types of trees that they <br />wanted to plant would survive in those types of soil. <br />Mr. Murray stated that the red maple, sugar maple and other trees would do well in this soil. <br />Chair Brown asked for more detail regarding the size of the parks and what would be <br />available in each. <br />Mr. Murray stated that there are four parks in the plan. At the entrance to the community, <br />off of Lawrence Road, there is a small pocket park which would have benches and a hedge <br />surrounding it. It is designed for sitting and enjoying the garden type area or visiting with <br />neighbors. Another park is a children's "tot lot" with small sliding boards and other equipment <br />designed for children from three to seven years old. After that age they lose interest and want to <br />play elsewhere. The larger park is shown on the plan with a wooded buffer. He indicated that <br />some clearing would occur and additional shade trees would be planted. An environment would <br />be provided for picnic tables, badminton, volleyball, horseshoes. A Sunday afternoon picnic for <br />the community could be hosted in this area. This would be approximately 2.7 acres and is <br />connected by sidewalks to several portions of the community. The last park would be a ball field <br />or a soccer field with parking provided. These parks are not lighted. <br />Planning Board Chair Barrows mentioned that at the last Planning Board meeting the <br />question came up about the surrounding neighbors using these park areas. She remembered <br />that at that time the developers said that would be discouraged because these recreational areas <br />would be primarily for the subdivision residents. She asked for clarification about that. <br />Mr. Murray indicated that the intent was not to discourage use by the surrounding <br />properties. He indicated, however, they would not expect people to drive in from across town <br />and have organized soccer games. This is designed more for pick-up-type soccer, or baseball, <br />for the people in the surrounding neighborhoods close at hand, outside of Lawrence Park, but not <br />across town. They have a community in Durham where they were able to have four or five <br />soccer fields. They were able to host leagues, but that can become a large happening and tends <br />to crowd out the immediate residents and neighbors if your not careful. Mr. Murray then <br />distributed copies of a document showing the types of houses that are proposed for Lawrence <br />Park. A copy of this handout is in the permanent agenda file in the Clerk's office. <br />Q:\19981123.doc®