Mayor Sanger requested a moment of silence in regards to the recent tragedy in Florida. PUBLIC REQUESTS AND PETITIONS

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PUBLIC HEARING AND ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 405 (ZONING REGULATIONS) OF THE CLAYTON CITY CODE BY ADDING A NEW ARTICLE XXX: TREES AND LANDSCAPING REGULATIONS, AND AMENDING AND/OR REPEALING VARIOUS SECTIONS OF CHAPTERS 405, 410 (OVERLAY & URBAN DESIGN DISTRICTS) AND 415 (SUBDIVISION REGULATIONS) TO UPDATE CROSS REFERENCES TO SUCH REGULATIONS

Mayor Sanger opened the public hearing and requested proof of publication. City Manager Owens reported that the City’s tree removal and replacement policy has been in place since 1999 and was established in response to an increase in development activity and the loss of trees in residential neighborhoods. The policy applies to residential and non-residential projects subject to Site Plan Review, and requires that when trees of one caliper inch or more in diameter are removed, they are to be replaced on-site with similar species. If the amount of caliper inches removed cannot be replaced on site, a contribution to the City’s Forestry Fund at a rate of $120 per caliper inch is required. In 2008, the City created the Landscape Plan Guide to

06-14-16 BOA Minutes June 14, 2016 Page 2 of 12 assist developers and design professionals in the preparation of landscape plans associated with certain development projects. The guide specifies when a landscape plan is required, the City’s tree removal and replacement policy, the review and approval process, the components of a landscape plan, and an approved tree list. Since the adoption of these policy guidelines, staff has continually evaluated their effectiveness and impact on the development process and the City’s urban forest. Staff has observed that the current guidelines

• Do not provide flexibility in tree replacement requirements; • Have a disproportionate impact on sites with more and/or larger trees; and, • Have resulted in sites being overplanted with understory trees. An attempt to update and codify new tree and landscape regulations in 2012 ultimately was not adopted by the Board of Aldermen (a comparison of the existing guidelines, the 2012 update and the current draft regulations is included as Exhibit C). The purpose of the new regulations is to

• Establish minimum landscape standards; • Provide standards for the protection, preservation and replacement of trees; • Reduce tree loss and damage during construction; and, • Promote tree species diversity; and to maintain adequate tree canopy coverage citywide. The regulations are a hybrid approach based on lessons learned from first-hand administration of the City’s current guidelines, newly available tree canopy data, industry best practices, input from the community, and professional expertise from the City’s contracted landscape architect.