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Public hearing on Land Use Ordinance Amendments Relating to the Tree Protection and Replanting Standards
PURPOSE: The purpose of this item is for the Board of Aldermen to consider potential text amendments to the Land Use Ordinance to update the tree protection and replanting standards to reflect current urban forestry standards including the use of canopy cover for compliance with shade requirements. A draft ordinance has been prepared. The Board must receive public comments before taking action on the draft ordinance.
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DEPARTMENT: Planning
CONTACT INFORMATION: Christina Moon - 918-7325, Randy Dodd - 918-7326, David Jantzen - 918-7431, Mike Brough - 929-3905
INFORMATION: At its January 22, 2013 meeting, the Board received a staff report on potential approaches for tree replacement as a result of development. Current provisions in the Land Use Ordinance (LUO) related to trees and other vegetation are found in Article XIX, Part II, Screening and Trees. Regulations focus on three particular areas: 1) protecting trees during construction, particularly large and/or rare specimen trees; 2) using trees for visual screens to separate different classes of land uses; and 3) installing trees for shade within parking areas.
Provisions in Section 15-318 of the LUO, Protection of Trees During Construction, speak to required measures to protect trees during construction and to replace trees greater than 18 inches in diameter which were identified on the plans as being retained but have subsequently died. Subsection 15-318(b) includes more specific requirements as to how a replacement tree must be equivalent of the original tree that it replaces. Provisions in Section 15-319 outline situations where the Town may require a developer to post a security to cover the potential replacement of certain large or rare species trees. Additional recommendations regarding tree protection can be found in Appendix E-1 and to a lesser extent in s...
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