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NFP board discusses creating a recommended native‑plant guide to speed landscape plan reviews
Summary
Board members discussed drafting a context‑sensitive recommended species table and other resources to help applicants substitute native plants or approved non‑invasive alternatives, and to reduce uncertainty during site plan review.
Members of the NFP Review Board spent substantial time on June 24 discussing ways to reduce applicant uncertainty about acceptable native species and to improve the NFP guidance. Board members and staff agreed that a consolidated, context‑sensitive table of recommended species and local nursery resources would aid applicants and speed reviews.
Staff told the board they are drafting updates to the NFP guide and can incorporate external resources such as the Wildflower Association of Michigan’s native plant nursery list. Board members noted three plant species in the current 1900 Belfort Street landscape schedule—summer sweet, birchleaf spirea and inkberry—appear to be non‑native, and the applicant agreed to substitute native alternatives. Paul Warnock, the project landscape architect, and the applicant agreed to propose replacements at the applicant’s next submission.
Board members suggested the guide should be pragmatic and context sensitive, listing species by use case (for example salt‑tolerant street hedges, screening species, or wet‑bank plantings) and noting procurement availability and maintenance considerations. One board member pointed out the ordinance currently requires native species unless the board approves noninvasive non‑native plants on a case‑by‑case basis; members said a recommended list would preserve that flexibility while reducing repetitive discussion at meetings.
No formal action or ordinance amendment was taken at the meeting; staff said they would continue drafting the guide and include external resources and nursery lists for the board’s review at a future meeting.
