Planning a new development, townhouse project or major renovation in the City of Boroondara? Landscape design can play an important role in the planning approval process, particularly for developments in established suburbs such as Camberwell, Balwyn, Balwyn North, Kew, Hawthorn, Canterbury, Surrey Hills and Glen Iris.
Boroondara is known for established gardens, mature trees and leafy residential streets. As a result, landscape plans for new developments need to do more than show a few plants around the building.
They should demonstrate how the proposed landscape responds to the site, the architecture and the surrounding neighbourhood.
Boroondara Council states that some planning permits require a landscape plan as a permit condition.
Council also specifically requires landscape plans for proposals involving:
• multi-unit developments
• mixed-use developments
• larger non-residential developments
Council recommends engaging a landscape architect or landscape designer to prepare the plan. (City of Boroondara)
This means that if you are proposing townhouses, apartments, a commercial development or another substantial project, landscape design should ideally be considered early rather than added after the architectural plans are complete.
Don't Squeeze a Large Tree Into a Tiny Space
This is one of the most common landscape-design problems we see on development sites.
A plan might nominate a canopy tree, but the available soil area may be surrounded by:
• basement structures
• retaining walls
• driveways
• paving
• services
• building foundations
A tree that looks acceptable as a small symbol on a drawing still needs enough space to develop successfully.
For Boroondara projects, we recommend coordinating tree locations with the architect before the building footprint and basement are completely fixed.
That gives the project team a better opportunity to provide meaningful deep-soil planting areas.
Garden Beds and Soil Matter
Boroondara's published guidelines go beyond plant names.
Council asks landscape plans to address elements including:
• soil preparation
• garden beds
• lawn areas
• planter-box construction
• planter drainage
• mulch
The published guideline specifies a minimum acceptable mulch depth of 75 mm. (City of Boroondara)
These details are important because a landscape plan should be capable of being constructed—not simply look good during the planning assessment.
Coordinate Landscaping With Driveways and Hard Surfaces
On townhouse developments, one of the biggest landscape constraints is often the amount of land occupied by:
• driveways
• visitor parking
• garages
• pathways
• patios
• bin storage
• services
Boroondara's guidelines require landscape plans to identify relevant built elements such as pathways, driveways, courtyards, parking areas, stairs, fences, retaining walls and paved surfaces. (City of Boroondara)
The landscape designer therefore needs the latest architectural drawings.
Working from an outdated site plan can create conflicts between proposed planting and the final building design.
At Lanso Design, we prepare landscape plans for homeowners, architects, building designers, town planners and developers working throughout Boroondara.
One of the useful things about Boroondara is that Council publishes relatively detailed landscape-plan guidance. Council says landscape plans should generally be drawn at a scale no greater than 1:200 and should integrate landscaping with the proposed building design. (City of Boroondara) A comprehensive landscape plan may need to show the following.
The plan should clearly identify existing vegetation that will be:
• retained
• removed
• protected
during construction
For existing trees, information can include the tree species, canopy spread and other relevant characteristics. (City of Boroondara)
This is particularly important in established Boroondara neighbourhoods where mature vegetation can contribute strongly to streetscape character.
A detailed planting plan should identify proposed:
• canopy trees
• small trees
• shrubs
• groundcovers
• lawn
• garden beds
• planter boxes
Boroondara expects a plant schedule showing information such as botanical and common names, quantities, mature dimensions and planting sizes. (City of Boroondara)
Rather than selecting plants purely for appearance, the landscape should respond to available space, sunlight, soil, drainage and the architecture of the development.
