design elements - San Jacinto Texas Historic District

LA
09
Street trees provide architecture and interest
to the street and roadway and create a virtual
and physical buff er between the road and
sidewalk giving pedestrians a greater level of
safety and comfort.
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LA IN LI CI AM
Provide street trees to buffer the sidewalk and pedestrians from
the roadway.
Base quantity, spacing, and species of
trees in part upon the context (Freeway,
Main Street, etc.)
Plant trees on both sides of the street and,
if applicable, in street medians.
Limb up trees to a height of 8 feet and
ensure at least 10 feet between intersections
and trees to maintain visibility of signs,
signals, cars, and pedestrians.
Select a variety of species of street trees
rather than a monoculture of single
species, which is more susceptible to an
epidemic of disease or infestation and
complicates replacement eff orts.
[
Suggested Strategy:
]
Urban Tree Plantings
(Appendix A)
90 │ BEST PRACTICES
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Space street trees and groups of trees on
average 30’ to 40’ on center, depending
on the context; groups of trees may add
interest and diversity to the streetscape.
Clusters, or a double allee’ of street trees,
as opposed to a single row, can provide
immediate visual impacts in those areas
of the right-of-way that allows suffi cient
room for a sidewalk and trees.
Along highways, roadside trees should be
introduced beyond the roadside swales
and other drainage facilities.
In constrained areas street trees can be planted in tree wells.
Trees shade outdoor sidewalk cafes.
Trees and planting beds separate the car ‘habitat’ from pedestrian ‘habitat.’
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