Agenda Information Sheet
DEPARTMENT: Development Services
CM/ ACM: Jon Fortune, 349-8235
Date: February 6, 2017
SUBJECT
Title
Receive a report and hold a discussion regarding the adoption of an ordinance of the City of Denton, Texas, amending Subchapter 35.3 Procedures, Subchapter 35.13 Site Design Standards, and Subchapter 35.23 Definitions and Terms, of the Denton Development Code related to tree preservation and landscape requirements. (DCA17-0005, Tree Preservation and Landscape Requirements Update, Haywood Morgan).
Body
BACKGROUND
The existing tree preservation and landscape requirements ("Tree Code") were adopted in 2004 to promote tree preservation and to facilitate site design and construction that would allow for the long-term viability of trees. While it has served to protect some of the existing tree canopy, additional parameters are necessary to further maintain essential tree cover and to provide clear guidance for tree preservation and mitigation during site development.
Although multiple attempts to revise this section of the Denton Development Code were made between 2007 and 2013, none were successful due to the lack of consensus on the proposed revisions. In its current state, the Tree Code is difficult to navigate, and the formulas identified for determining minimum tree preservation and mitigation for site development are very complex. Moreover, the existing Tree Code provides minimal support to the City's current goals to build a green infrastructure network and to protect and expand tree canopy.
In the fall of 2014, following discussions on the history and status of the Tree Code and related programs, Council directed staff to proceed with a new update to the Tree Code. Proposed revisions to the Tree Code would accomplish the following objectives to:
1. Streamline the code to make it more user-friendly;
2. Align City standards with industry best management practices (BMP's) of the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) an...
Click here for full text