Board debates specimen-tree rules, appeals and perceived subjectivity in draft

The commission spent substantial time on section 6.7.0.8, the proposed specimen-tree removal provisions. Staff described a layered approach: removal may be permitted following review and approval by the county landscape architect when the tree lacks a favorable assessment, when the specimen tree is located within a required building footprint, fire access, utility corridor, or code-required parking/drainage area, or where preservation would prevent compliance with zoning standards or cause disproportionate site inefficiencies. The draft also requires demonstration that reasonable alternative site configurations were evaluated.