Landscape Master Plan
C. Site Development Criteria

The strategic object of this plan is to create a resilient landscape through revegetation with native plant material to optimize co-benefits, including water quality.

The landscape design guidelines are grouped according to the following five landscape zones:

• Manicured Zone
• Maintained Zone
• Airfield Zone
• Managed Zone
• Coastal Zone

These zone guidelines are intended to be suggestive in nature. Photographs, maps, and illustrations are included to further explain the guidelines and principles expressed throughout this plan. Photographs are shown as examples to depict potential options; they are not final design solutions but provide designers with a greater understanding of the intended landscape character for Tyndall AFB. 

The goals for the landscape character focus on the specifics required for each landscape zone:

• Design Strategy: What the landscape will look like in that zone
• Locations: Where each zone is located on base
• Plant Lists: Typical plant species for use in that zone 

These design guidelines are meant to help designers and contractors have a clear vision of not only what the landscape character is within their construction boundaries, but also how all the construction zones interface with each other. They also explain other areas on the installation that will be preserved, improved, or developed outside of the general rebuilding areas. Tyndall AFB Natural Resources will perform revegetation in forest areas. Any area outside of forest areas must be performed by contract. This will result in the establishment of an overall sustainable and resilient natural landscape for the entire base.

C06.4.1          Landscape Zone Criteria (LaC)

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C06.4.2          Manicured Zone

The Manicured Zone is the most highly maintained landscape on base. It is located between a building’s immediate perimeter up to the edge of the Maintained Zone. The Antiterrorism (AT) Zone is a subzone of the Manicured Zone and extends out 20 feet from a building’s immediate perimeter, as well as at base access gates and other areas as prescribed for security reasons. The Manicured Zone may extend beyond the AT Zone. Landscape in this zone will have vegetation that meets the AT regulations. Vegetation in the other areas of the Manicured Zone that extend beyond the AT Zone must be drought-resistant and contain native trees for shade and ornamental grasses and native shrubs for color and variety. Different plant lists are used for the Flightline and Support Districts because of their different mission requirements. 

Typical Locations

This planting strategy applies to the following locations:

• Within the AT Zone that surrounds a building
• Between the building face and the interconnection with natural landscape of the Maintained Zone

Planting Design Strategy

• Laying out plantings in an informal layout, with smaller formal plantings highlighting building entrances and prominent circulation nodes 
• Spacing plants at regular intervals
• Massing plants by species to achieve a maintained aesthetic

AT Zone Plantings

• No grass, groundcovers, or shrubs higher than 6 inches
• All trees must be limbed clear up to 3 feet

Benefits 

• Reduces maintenance costs
• Increases resiliency to wind and storm
• Slows down stormwater runoff

C06.4.2.1          Plantings Within the Manicured Zone

Plant a mix of native trees, shrubs, and grasses in the Manicured Zone based on the approved specifies identified in the Master Plant Palette. A sample plant list shown in Exhibit C06-6. Arrange plantings in a more formal manner with species grouped together to form patterns and use native grasses that can be mowed.

C06.4.2.2          Building Entrances

Building entrance landscape is within the Manicured Zone typology. 

Yes  No   NA  

                                    LaC 1.  Place landscape so it frames the building entrance and highlights the front entry.

                                    LaC 2.  Use enhanced pavement at Group 1 buildings to form a small gathering plaza as part of the entrance. 

                                    LaC 3.  Provide direct connections from the building entrance pedestrian routes to the base Multi-Modal Spine and/or shared-use paths.

                                    LaC 4.  Use plantings for housing/dormitories that create a safe and welcoming facility entrance.

                                    LaC 5.  Use plantings with color and interest to frame the entrances to Group 1 facilities and buildings of special importance.

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C06.4.3         Maintained Zone Crossings

The Maintained Zone comprises native open upland prairie landscape. The Maintained Zones reduce the amount of existing area that is open lawn space that needs to be mowed. This zone is meant to look native in character and receive minimal maintenance. Nature-based infrastructure such as vegetated stormwater basins and vegetated swales are included in this zone. This area is part of the INRMP and maintained by the FWC. It is subject to either periodic mowing or burning as part of the INRMP guidelines. Areas such as parking area medians, paths, roadways, swales, and open areas beyond the Manicured Zone vegetated stormwater basins and vegetated swales are not part of the INRMP and are maintained under the direction of the 325 CES Operations Flight Grounds Maintenance.

Typical Locations

This planting strategy applies to:

• Roadway corridors (turf mow strips at the back of sidewalks are excluded)
• Parking area medians
• Building perimeter open areas (beyond the AT Zone)
• Areas where more natural looking planting is desired between buildings

Planting Design Strategy

Plants will be arranged in an organic pattern and spaced at irregular intervals with undefined edges between them. Three planting strategies include:

• Clustering trees along roadways
• Providing open areas of native grass and wildflower mix (with a maximum height of 24 inches)
• Layering a mix of grasses and shrubs

Benefits

• Reduces maintenance costs
• Increases resiliency to wind and storm
• Slows down stormwater runoff

The following are landscape criteria are to applied along Maintained Zones roadway corridors, medians, around building perimeters (excluding AT zones), and other areas where a natural and native aesthetic is desired. Exhibit C06-9 provides an abridged version of the Maintained Zone Plant List. The Master Plant List includes additional approved plants and information.

C06.4.3.1          Parking Area Islands

Yes  No   NA  

                                    LaC 6.  Plant native shrubs and grasses less than 3 feet tall that can withstand periodic flooding.

                                    LaC 7.  Dip parking area islands to the center so they can collect water through curb cuts or other gaps in the curbing.

                                    LaC 8.  Use deciduous and evergreen mix for seasonal appeal.

                                    LaC 9.  Provide swales with an outlet from the parking area to accommodate overflow.

                                    LaC 10.    Comply with IFS requirements for Landscape Treatments, Site and Surface Parking, and Interior Surface Parking Landscaping Requirements.

C06.4.3.2          Trails, Bikeways & Open Areas

Yes  No   NA  

                                    LaC 11.  Provide a plant mix of native trees, shrubs, and grasses on both sides off trails.

                                    LaC 12.  Use grass that can be mowed for the first 5 feet on each side of the trail.

                                    LaC 13.  Use a seed mix of various native grasses, wildflowers, and shrubs in large open areas.  

C06.4.3.3          Roadways

Yes  No   NA  

                                    LaC 14.  Plant the area between the curb and the sidewalk with large and medium trees and a mix of native grasses and flowers (maximum height of 24 inches).

                                    LaC 15.   Use plants that can withstand flooding in roadway swales.

                                    LaC 16.  Mow once a year to reduce weeds and help the wildflowers reseed.

                                    LaC 17.  Plant trees in a staggered, clustered pattern.

                                    LaC 18.  Plant trees at least 5 feet away from utilities. 

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C06.4.4          Airfield Zone

This zone includes the runways in the Flightline District, the natural areas between the runways, and the areas surrounding the runway perimeter extending to the pine forest. The following information has been provided by the Tyndall AFB BASH Team. And changed or substitutions must be coordinated with the BASH Team

Planting in this zone consists of native grass that is mown regularly to keep it low and prevent wildlife habitats. Birds, in particular, are hazardous to the aircraft and present a safety concern. Shrubs, groundcovers, and bunchgrasses used in the Airfield Zone muse be selected and planted in a manner that prevents crowding and eliminates dense landscape that is attractive to birds and other wildlife.

Benefits 

• Increases safety and reduces aircraft hazards
• Slows down stormwater runoff
• Reduces habitat for birds and other wildlife

C06.4.4.1          Airfield Zone Planting Design Criteria

Exhibit C06-12 lists examples of plants and trees approved for use in the Airfield Zone landscape designs.

Yes  No   NA  

                                    LaC 19.  Plant only native turf grasses from the approved plant list. Trees and shrubs are not allowed.

                                    LaC 20.  Verify that all airfield planting is approved by Tyndall AFB.

                                    LaC 21.   Use shrubs that are a mix of deciduous and coniferous species.

                                    LaC 22.   Use shrubs that grow at various heights to prevent uniform and continuous habitat cover.

                                    LaC 23.  Use sterile (non-fruiting) varieties or male varieties of shrubs to prevent seeds and berries from attracting birds and wildlife. 

                                    LaC 24.  Plant shrubs, groundcovers, and bunch grass in groups up to five individuals. Include a maximum of two individual Pinxster azaleas per group of shrubs, groundcovers, and bunch grass.

                                    LaC 25.  Plant shrubs a minimum of 10 feet from any other group of planting. 

                                    LaC 26.  Maintain all trees in the Flightline in accordance with airfield obstruction standards.

                                    LaC 27.  Do not plant sycamore trees within 1,250 feet of the nearest runway center line.

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C06.4.4.2          Airfield Zone Multi-Modal Spine Design Planting Criteria

On the southern side of the Flightline District is the Flightline Multi-Modal Spine. This corridor is within the manicured landscape zone, but because it is within the Flightline District it has specific landscape restrictions that must be followed. This area includes trees and shrubs, but of a species and character that does not attract birds. 

Benefits 

• Reduces maintenance costs
• Increases resiliency to wind and storm
• Slows down stormwater runoff
• Reduces habitat for birds and other wildlife
• Provides much needed shade for length of walkway/building connector

Yes  No   NA  

                                    LaC 28.  Select and plant trees and shrubs in a manner that reduces attractiveness to wildlife. 

                                    LaC 29.  Select tree species that are columnar in shape with vertical branching structures that minimize perching and nesting opportunities for birds. Use sterile (non-fruiting) varieties of trees.   

                                    LaC 30.  Select trees that have varied canopy types and heights at planting and at maturity. Design tree spacing so the crowns have a minimum separation of 15 feet once trees are mature. Install trees so canopy overlap into the clear space is not possible during any season.

                                    LaC 31.  Plant shrubs a minimum of 10 feet from any trees. 

                                    LaC 32.  Select shrubs that are a mix of deciduous and coniferous species. Use sterile (non-fruiting) or male varieties of shrubs to prevent seeds and berries from attracting birds and wildlife.   

                                    LaC 33.  Verify that all planting is approved by the BASH Team.

C06.4.5          Managed Zone

The Managed Zone encompasses all perimeter areas upland of the peninsula coastline, as well as large open areas in between facilities on the base located beyond the Maintained Zone. This zone includes areas of pineland plantations, mesic/wet slash flatwoods, wet prairie, freshwater wetlands, and inland ponds and lakes. This area is primarily controlled by standards set forth in the INRMP.

Planting Design Strategies

• Restoring damage to the base’s forest habitat caused by Hurricane Michael
• Reducing fire hazards
• Restoring natural esthetics destroyed by wind
• Implementing low-intensity frequent fire as a management tool to restore and/or maintain the structure and function of the longleaf pine ecosystem and to reduce the wildfire hazard risk
• Improving habitat for wildlife

Benefits

• Increases resiliency to wind and storm
• Slows down stormwater runoff
• Enhances wildlife habitat

Resources

See Section B04, Integrated Land Management, for Restorative and Resilient Base Restoration approach.

C06.4.5.1          Managed Zone Planting Design Criteria

Yes  No   NA  

                                    LaC 34.  Align planting within the Managed Zone with the INRMP and support the installation’s ecosystem initiatives as a part of a broader integrated resilient environmental infrastructure system.

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C06.4.6         Coastal Zone

The Coastal Zone encompasses all areas from the ocean shoreline back to the second line of defense, which includes sand beaches, coastal dunes, coastal wetlands, salt marshes, estuaries, coastal dune lakes, and coastal upland. The Coastal Zone provides critical natural infrastructure supporting mission readiness, overall resilience of built infrastructure, and a wealth of natural resources. This complex unique coastal ecosystem provides numerous year-round recreational opportunities vital to the health and well-being of Airmen and their families. The preservation, conservation, and enhancement of these critical waterfront ecosystems positively supports the many aspects of the base’s current and future missions through a more resilient natural infrastructure.

Planting Design Strategies

• Arranging plantings in naturalized groupings
• Selecting plant species that support existing coastal zone plant communities
• Limiting impact of construction/installation impact within the environmentally sensitive Coastal Zone

Benefits

• Reduces maintenance costs
• Increases resiliency to wind and storm
• Slows down stormwater runoff
• Enhances wildlife habitat

Resources

See Section B05, Coastal Zone for overall Coastal Zone strategies.

C06.4.6.1          Coastal Zone Planting Design Criteria

Yes  No   NA  

                                    LaC 35.  Align planting within the Coastal Zone with the INRMP and support the installation’s ecosystem initiatives as a part of a broader integrated resilient environmental infrastructure system.

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