Landscape Committee
Please click on the links below to review the details of the Landscape Proposal under consideration for the 2020 annual meeting.
CSCA 2021 LANDSCAPE REVITALIZATION PRESENTATION
CSCA LANDSCAPE CONCEPTUAL DESIGN STATEMENT
CSCA RFP LANDSCAPE DESIGN-IMPLEMENTATION
LANDSCAPE IMPROVEMENT FAQ’s
Q: How did this proposal come about?
A: This proposal is the result of four years of work by the Carrollsburg Square Condominium Association’s Landscape Committee and Board of Directors, with the purpose of improving the health, function, and appearance of our common area landscape. As such, it represents CSCA co-owners’ thinking, research, discussion, consensus-building, and planning.
Q: What was the process?
A: Over the last four years, the Landscape Committee:
• Identified goals
• Assessed the state of our existing landscape;
• Developed the criteria for improvement;
• Solicited proposals from landscape companies;
• Gave recommendations to the Board of Directors for how to proceed.
Q: Why did it take so long?
A: The Carrollsburg Square Condominium Association’s Landscape covers a large, complex area and required us to think and plan accordingly. The process was further complicated and delayed by:
• St. Matthews/Velos development
• Fios cable installation
• Other utility work
• Emerging needs such as increased foot traffic resulting from neighborhood development
• Covid-19
We are confident that the amount of time and thought devoted to it have added value and strength to the plan and made it worth the wait.
Q: What are the advantages of doing the project all at once rather than in stages?
A: We explored both approaches and found that by doing the project all at once:
• Final costs would be lower: Often, project costs have a tendency to go up, not down; we would only have to pay once for permitting; bringing in work crews and equipment; and there would otherwise be additional costs for revisions, because project circumstances and requirements can change over the course of years.
• Overall owner satisfaction would be higher: All owners will benefit, all at the same time, from attractive common areas that reflect the value of our property.
Q: How was Denison Landscaping selected? Were there competing bids? What experience do they have in projects of our scale?
A: The Landscape committee formulated the request for proposals and sent it to both full service landscaping businesses and landscape architect firms, which were suggested by CSCA co-owners.
Denison Landscaping was selected because it is a well-established, family-owned company that provides a wide range of services, from design, to plant growing, to installation. Because they have the staff, facilities and equipment to do most of the work, subcontracting is minimized, thus enabling CSCA to better anticipate, monitor, and control costs.
Q: What are the provisions and costs for regular maintenance (trimming, weeding, mulching, watering) and how will the costs be allocated?
A: Regular maintenance is, and will remain, contracted by and paid for, through our condominium association management and the fees budgeted and allocated for this purpose.
Q: What are the projected long-term maintenance costs? How does this compare with our current landscaping budget?
A: Long-term maintenance costs will not be adversely affected because:
1. We will be replacing older existing plants that are in poor condition and would have to be replaced through the Repair and Replace budget item anyway. Healthy plants will either remain where they are or transplanted, as appropriate.
2. New plants and their locations have been planned to reduce watering and maintenance requirements, as well as impact on the environment. Hardscape has been designed to prevent soil erosion and water run-off.
Q: How were areas for improvement prioritized?
A: The Landscape Committee conducted walk-throughs and site analysis, in consultation with the Landscape Designer.
Q: What is the schedule by street/address?
A: The project will start in Spring 2021. The Landscaper will work with the CSCA Board to create a detailed work schedule.
Q: What if I have a special need for the area in front of my house? Will this be considered and moved up in the schedule?
A: Health, safety, and infrastructure concerns are typically addressed day-to-day by the CSCA Board of Directors and management company. Owners should bring any such issues to their attention as they occur.
Q: Will I get to keep my (fill in blank - favorite tree, bushes, lawn, etc.) in front of my house?
A: Although the revisions are planned for Common Property Areas, we realize the attachments that can literally grow up between people and plants. Therefore, we encourage owners to identify those plantings they want to remain, and we will try to incorporate them.
Environmental Committee
Water conservation is one of our top priorities as a community. Please Click Here to find out what you can do to conserve.