Existing Conditions

In Oakwood, landscape elements define the business district not only along Far Hills Avenue but also within the neighborhoods. In the Far Hills Avenue Business District, the grand line of trees in the center median announces the presence of the district, encourages traffic to slow down, and softens the harsh look and sound of the heavy flow of traffic. Within the neighborhood business areas, trees are also utilized to help the businesses blend more readily with the surrounding architecture.

Trees help to create a more pleasant place to stop, and landscaped medians provide a safe divider between traffic and cruise lanes. Landscape is also used to define edges, borders, and entrances. In addition, landscape elements screen parking lots, utilities, and service areas.

Much of the character of Oakwood is established by the consistent use of trees, plants, and grass, which substantially contribute to the look and feel of the districts. For example, rows of tall, shaped, hedges symbolize a long established and rich landscape, such as can be found in old English suburbs and towns.

Border Conditions. Borders are those elements that separate different conditions and help to define the areas and the transitions between areas. For example, the border between a parking lot and a side street can be a planting strip containing a variety of plants that minimize the visual impact of pavement and rows of vehicles. Within the Far Hills Avenue and neighborhood business districts, many types of border conditions are present. In some cases, the elements used to define a border enrich the character of the districts, but other instances demonstrate that the absence of well articulated edges detracts from the overall look and feel of the districts.

Between buildings and street frontages: Borders provide buffers between buildings and streets that are pedestrian-oriented and serve as a marker for building entrances. Where buildings are set back from street frontages, lawns and other landscape elements—such as rows of shrubs—occupy the space between building and street. Plantings, street furniture, and canopies help to mediate between large-scale commercial buildings and the pedestrian by providing a buffer zone of pedestrian-scaled elements. The setback also provides space for an articulated entry sequence which can enhance the style and image of a building. The most effective setbacks and landscape borders utilize plants in a range of sizes for variety and to establish a rhythm along the street.

Between parking lots and the main thoroughfare: Borders reduce the visual impact of parking lots. Plants are present to screen parking areas, to soften their impact, to place a border between pedestrian and parked vehicles, and to enrich the visual appearance of the business districts. Borders of parking lots along Far Hills Avenue in Oakwood are most often planting beds with a variety of low profile plants and low fences.

Between parking lots and side streets: Used in these areas, borders reduce the visual impact of parking lots. Planting areas are present to screen parking areas, to soften their impact, to place a border between pedestrian and parked vehicles, and to enrich the visual appearance of the district.

Between parking lots and adjacent residences: Borders used in these areas provide a visual screen and a definite edge. Developed and shaped rows of hedges provide an excellent soft, visual screen that effectively marks the edge and forms a barrier, without presenting a hard and uninteresting facade. Hedge rows also have a