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John,

As an entry-level LA, I would like to see ASLA develop a system in helping “new to the industry” workers understand where they should be knowledge wise and how to reach the next step.

A lot of us are computer savvy these days and I would like to see emails informing us of free learning sessions about specific topics that we (entry-level) e…[Read more]

I would look into finding a program that specializes in healthcare projects. At Arizona State, there was a Health Environment (or something to that nature) Course that specialized in healthcare design.
I say that because that is the kind of work our firm is doing and that market will not go away. So I would just do a quick google search if there a…[Read more]

Go with a MBA or a Real Estate Development with an environmental slant

I know. Like I’ve said before I’ve worked on a couple of projects in Rifle, sort of in your area. The gas station and car dealership clients were the toughest in terms of bare minimums becoming maximums. I blogged the original article on my site http://www.nickaceto.com and will follow when they post your response. Well done.

http://www.grist.org/list/2011-12-21-cops-mock-seattle-jogger-nearly-killed-by-a-truck
Stay in your house or your car, folks. No walking, biking or jogging. If you do walk, bike or jog you will get hit by a car, and, of course, that will be entirely your fault, because drivers have a basic right to speed and not pay attention. If you must go out,…[Read more]

In my limited experience it seems landscape code is typically written for the gas station chains, ie conocos and kum and go’s rather than private local developers who want to do good projects.
 
Hi Nick.  You comment is true in many more progressive areas.  We live in the OutBack.  Watch out for the kangaroos.  Are you packing enough water when…[Read more]

EXCELLENT rebuttal Rick.

Very well written. In my limited experience it seems landscape code is typically written for the gas station chains, ie conocos and kum and go’s rather than private local developers who want to do good projects.

Hey Rick. This may be a helpful example of a more progressive city direction.  This commission is slowly getting more sustainable site planning and landscape policies into city codes.  There was actually an incentive program that gave priority permitting review to projects that were attempting to meet a list of sustainable guidel…[Read more]

Excellent rebuttal, Rick.  We should talk.  I have some very interesting situations that are very closely mirroring your efforts in the City of Delta.  My practice is vested in the City of South Lake Tahoe, CA.  Incidentally, also situated on Highway 50.  You may want to call them on the fact that it appears the City Manager is “putting toge…[Read more]

Here’s the link to the newspaperr with the cited article:   http://www.deltacountyindependent.com/news/top-stories/24846-city-hopes-to-make-regs-more-business-friendly.html
 
Here was my letter to the editor which they said they will print next week:
     It was with concern and dismay when I read the DCI’s front page story on December 14th con…[Read more]

How is a ‘risk/reward’ contract much different from a ‘hard bid’ or fixed quote contract?

With a quick search I found a discussion on risk/reward contracts based on a software vendors perspective at softwareceo.com. A member posted this reply in response to a similar query:

“Having managed many large scale fixed price software implementation…[Read more]

Do you mean like when a developer ask for a deal on a site master plan, with so called promised “CD work” for the site in the future? If not, please disregard my future ramblings….
In the good old days I would have to say RUN!  I found that anytime I was promise something if I gave them a good deal – they would just shop it around to the lowest b…[Read more]

It is just as strict as ever in my area. The only thing thing that I have seen that is economic crisis driven mitigation is that the state granted a blanket extension on Orders of Conditions so that projects that have been permitted won’t expire from delays on financing. ie, subdivisions that were required to have the infrastructure constructed in…[Read more]

I think many places are coming to realize that the code really doesn’t help things. You cannot really quantify your way to good design. You can get ‘nicer’ landscape often with fewer trees and shrubs if they are placed correctly. Spacing a tree ever 25′ doesn’t mean that much, and even total vegetaitive cover (while allowing more flexibility)…[Read more]

I have recently worked on a design for a commercial project in a Chicago suburb with a very strict landscape code and as part of my due dilligence was in contact with the city planning staff/landscape architect.  (The project is a redevelopment of vacant office building.)  During our discussions he suggested that I could modify their buffer req…[Read more]

I’m not sure how scientific this is, but it’s an interesting tool.
http://www.treebenefits.com/calculator/

As landscape architects we are generally on the fence on this argument. Developers only build where it is financially viable and having too restrictive of a landscape code potentially can be enough to be the “straw that breaks the camels back”. However, with most developers not all, the minimums become the maximums and then you are left with a…[Read more]

Can we see a link to the article and your rebuttal?

John,
 
I totally agree with your perspective. I think you misunderstood me. That sounds like something that I would write, actually.
 
Marc was quoting me. I did not intend that to mean LAs doing it all by themselves. I meant it to mean that LAs need to consider all aspects in land development while implementing their designs rather than bein…[Read more]

I think Marc was referring to Masters of the Land.
 
The approach you take as ‘vital team member’ will forever relegate us to third-party status. LAs today need be either be in the project lead, or share in control of the project with the architect. We do the site, they do the building.
We already have engineers trying (and suceeding) in doing…[Read more]