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1 , 'M STAFF REPORT CONCERNING APPLICATION FOR A CERTIFICATE OF APPROPRIATENESS Aate: August 6,2004 Application Number: 2003-2004-0803-1 Property Location: 337 West North Shore Drive, South Bend,IN Property Owner: Monica&Maurice Hoban Landmark or District Designation: West North Shore Drive Local Historic District Rating:Significant-11 APPLICATION ITEMS: I Remove over-large yew bushes from the foot of the front path(immediately). 2. Repair or replace brick square between sidewalk and curb. 3. (Over time) implement extensive landscape planting plan, including several trees. (Note: the swimming pool sketched in the plan isnot part of the present application.) An extensive and highly detailed landscaping plan has been submitted,and most of the plan can be, and has been approved by staff. I refer you to the plan itself for a list of proposed plantings. The only portions that cannot be staff approved are (a)removal of a pair of large yew bushes, and(b)planting of several trees. WEST NORTH SHORE DRIVE DISTRICT STANDARDS LC. LAWNS: The current or historic landscaping character of lawns should be preserved. Paving and blacktopping of existing lawns so as to transform them essentially into parking lots or spaces rather than residential lawns must be prohibited. (p. ,18) The lush"English Garden"size and complexity of this garden references an historic period somewhat earlier than the construction of this house. This actually is highly appropriate, since one of the hallmarks of a long established or historic neighborhood is a rich inheritance of gardening styles. RECOMMENDATION The bushes in question are clearly too large for their location, and are crowding and overshadowing the path that they were originally intended to enhance and frame. Digging up the bushes and moving them to another location in the yard would be something staff could approve. However,that may or may not be feasible in this case, and may or may not be congruent with the balance of the landscaping plan. There are fourteen trees proposed,none of which would block or alter significant views and vistas of or from the site. They include one ornamental pear, a dogwood, a hawthorn, four holly, and six yews. All but one of the trees proposed are suitable for the interior of yards in this historic district. The one tree about which we have concern is the Bradford Pear,proposed for the back corner. Bradford Pear trees are a non-fruiting ornamental variety,which has been fashionable in recent years. It grows to a good height, and in the spring is breathtakingly lovely to look at. However,it is pollinated by black flies,and the blossoms emit an odor attractive to flies,not generally considered pleasant for people. More significantly,it has been classified as an invasive exotic species in Indiana woods. There are several other species of either native or ornamental trees that would be appropriate for the planting plan the Hobans suggest. It is our expectation that this planting plan(or parts of it)will be implemented over a period of several years,and that it will therefore be automatically renewed more or less annually, for as long as the Hobans,wish to work on it, without needing to come to the Commission again,unless they do.decide to put in a pool. Staff recommends that the Commission (a)approve the landscape planting plan as submitted, with the exceptions of the proposed Bradford Pear tree,and the pool, and allowing the Hobans the option of either moving or removing the large yew bushes at the foot of their path, and (b) congratulate them on having the loveliest landscape planting plan we have seen.