Title
Conduct a Public Hearing to Consider/Discuss/Act on Amendments to New Article 4, entitled "Tree Preservation," to Chapter 150, entitled "Unified Development Code," of the Code of Ordinances, and Accompanying Ordinance
Summary
COUNCIL GOAL: Direction for Strategic and Economic Growth
(1C: Provide a strong economy by facilitating a balance between industrial, commercial, residential and open space)
MEETING DATE: September 19, 2023
DEPARTMENT: Development Services - Planning Department
CONTACT: Jennifer Arnold, AICP, Director of Planning
Aaron Bloxham, AICP, Principal Planner
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
* Staff recommends approval of the proposed amendments.
ITEM SUMMARY:
* Staff proposes amendments to the city's tree preservation processes and requirements in order to improve the function, administration and overall usability of the standards. This includes the creation of a new Article 4 (Tree Preservation) of the Unified Development Code (UDC) and updates to the following:
o tree permitting requirements;
o limited purpose tree permit procedures; and
o violations and penalties.
* The proposed amendments will bring the McKinney code into better alignment with our sister cities, allow for a more consistent and fair application of the standards and penalties, and improve the city's overall ability to administer the code.
PROPOSED AMENDMENTS
Reorganization
* Staff proposes to reorganize the standards for Tree Preservation into the following sections: Administration, Tree Preservation Standards, Tree Protection Measures, Tree Removal Procedures, Tree Mitigation and Replacement, Violations, and Tree Reforestation Fund.
Tree Permit Requirements
* Staff proposes to expand the tree permitting requirements, expand the exemption/exception allowances, and clarify the use of limited purpose tree permits.
* Currently, tree permits are only required for the critical alteration (i.e. removal) of a protected tree. There is currently no clear process for ...
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