Chapter 5 Article X - Tree Preservation of the City's Code of Ordinances

1. Chapter 5, Article X
Tree Preservation Amendments
Presented By: Jason Lutz
Community Development Services Director
City Council Meeting
Agenda Item #7
October 26, 2015

2. SUMMARY
 Per Council’s request staff reviewed the
City’s regulations concerning tree
removal in order to determine if any
modifications or amendments could be
made in order to help achieve the City’s
goals concerning “Beautification”.

3. BACKGROUND
 On September 14, 2015 City Council
considered proposed amendments to the
Code of Ordinances regarding “Tree
Preservation”.
 Council requested additional information
concerning the overall cost to citizens
based on the amendments and what tree
regulations other communities employed.

4. 4
POLICY ANALYSIS
 Under the current regulations any tree
removed classified as a “Heritage Tree”
must be mitigated by planting additional
trees on the property or off-site on a 1:1
ratio and pay a permit fee of $125.
 Current codes do not allow the applicant to
pay a fee in lieu of mitigation.

5. 5
POLICY ANALYSIS – PROPOSED
AMENDMENTS
 Sec. 5-156. - Heritage tree removal mitigation.
(a)(3) Proposed planting shall be permitted
on the following properties:
(b) (Deleted) Public property as
designated for park use, or
 (c) (Deleted) Public right of way where
approved.

6. 6
POLICY ANALYSIS – PROPOSED
AMENDMENTS
 Sec. 5-156. - Heritage tree removal mitigation.
 (a) (4) (Deleted) Planting of trees within the
public right-of-way must be completed by a
licensed company which would provide a
minimum one year warranty for replacement and
replanting if necessary.

7. 7
POLICY ANALYSIS – PROPOSED
AMENDMENTS
 Sec. 5-156.
 (Added) (a)(4) A property owner or
authorized agent required to provide
mitigation shall plant additional trees on the
property for which mitigation is required in
accordance with Sec. 5-156(a), or shall pay
a fee in lieu of planting additional trees in
accordance with the following:

8. 8
POLICY ANALYSIS – PROPOSED
AMENDMENTS
(Added) 1. A fee of three hundred dollars ($300.00)
shall be paid per inch of required
mitigation for each heritage tree
removed.
2. For residentially zoned properties (SF-A,
SF-B, 2F-C, and MF-D districts) a cap
for mitigation fees shall be two thousand
dollars ($2,000.000) per each heritage
tree removed.

9. 9
POLICY ANALYSIS – EXAMPLE
 24” Oak Tree (Heritage Size) – Residentially
Zoned Property
- Current code would require mitigation, with a
minimum of 6 trees to be planted (on or off
site), at a cost of $5,088.00 (848.00 per tree).
- Proposed code would require mitigation, with
a minimum of 6 trees to be planted (on site),
at a cost of $5,088.00 or a fee of $300.00 per
inch (capped at $2,000 per tree)

10. 10
Tree Removal Cost
 24” Oak Tree (Heritage Size)
- A tree of this size would cost between $1,200
- $2,000 for removal.
- The cost would depend on a multitude of
factors including:
 Height
 Location on property
 Number of trunks/main limbs

11. 11
COMMUNITY COMPARISON
CITY
TREE
MITIGATION
NOTES
Olmos Park No
Requires certain numbers of trees based on Land Use &
Building Size (Zoning).
Terrell Hills No
Requires certain numbers of trees based on Land Use &
Building Size (Zoning).
Wind Crest No Prohibits certain types of trees.
Hollywood Park No
Castle Hills Yes
Requires a 1 to 1 ratio on tree mitigation. No fees in lieu of
mitigation.
Shavano Park Yes
Requires a 1 to 1 ratio on tree mitigation for Protected
Trees. Require a 3 to 1 ratio on tree mitigation for Heritage
Trees. No fees in lieu of mitigation.
Schertz No
Leon Valley Yes
Requires certain numbers of trees based on Building Size
(Zoning).
San Antonio Yes
Same as proposed amendments for Alamo Heights with
additional fees based on lot size.

12. 12
PUBLIC NOTIFICATION
 Appropriate notice was posted on the City
website.
 Responses received:
 Support: (0)
 Oppose: (0)

13. QUESTIONS?