Title
Consider a resolution removing the monarch designation for a tree located on a proposed development site at 1651 Sam Bass Road.
Body
This request, submitted by Benito Fresquez on behalf of Freedom Church located at 1651 Sam Bass Rd, proposes to remove the monarch designation from one 26.4 inch Post Oak tree. There are four trees with monarch designation on the site. The applicant is requesting one of the four trees to be removed. In accordance with Section 8-18 of the Code of Ordinances, removal of a monarch tree requires City Council to first remove the monarch designation from those trees. The existing monarch trees are listed below.
#11 - 26” Cedar Elm
#15 - 48’’ Live Oak
#137 - 26.4” Post Oak (tree proposed for removal)
#468 - 30’’ Cedar Elm
Tree #137 is located within the proposed construction area of a new building. The applicant submitted a tree survey that depicted tree #137 as a 24” Oak. The City was notified by a member of Freedom Church that the tree is larger than 24”. The City Arborist confirmed that the tree is a 26.4” Post Oak which qualifies as a monarch tree.
It is the purpose of the Code to preserve and incorporate the city's oldest growth trees into development projects. Planning and Development Services staff have a well-established record of working with developers in designing around these unique, uncommon trees while exercising flexibility to ensure development goals are met.
Had an accurate tree survey been submitted at the outset of the development process, staff believes that the applicant could have avoided this removal request by designing around the tree. Accordingly, City staff does not support the removal of the monarch designation.