The Rockwall Planning and Zoning Commission on Oct. 14 voted 7 to 0 to approve an alternative tree mitigation settlement agreement that allows a developer to pay $200,000 in lieu of planting the remaining required tree caliper inches on-site and to direct those funds toward improvements at the adjacent Alma Williams Park.

John Arnold of Scoreboard Company (applicant) requested the alternative mitigation as part of development of the Urban Farm subdivision (PD 104), a 98.4-acre project that will include 123 residential lots. City staff reported the applicant’s preliminary tree survey estimated 4,188 caliper inches would be removed during development. The applicant’s landscape plan proposes planting 269 canopy trees within buffers, open space and lot trees; staff estimated that results in 547 canopy trees (2,188 caliper inches) on-site and a remaining mitigation balance of about 2,000 caliper inches. Under the city’s mitigation schedule, that balance equates to $200,000 at $100 per caliper inch.

City staff and the applicant told commissioners the developer already is committing to the park improvements required by the PD ordinance — an 8-foot concrete hike-and-bike trail, a pavilion, two multiuse courts, two retention ponds with a fountain, benches and planting — and asked that the remaining cash mitigation be allocated to enhance Alma Williams Park amenities rather than placed in the citywide tree fund. Staff explained the tree fund is restricted to tree purchases and planting citywide and has grown to balances that are not always spendable in the near term; the alternative agreement mechanism allows commissioners and council to accept a different proposal for community benefit.

Commissioners pressed staff on whether the $200,000 reflected the real cost of planting mature trees and whether directing the money to the park would benefit the subdivision’s future residents. Bethany, planning staff, explained the ordinance normally permits up to 20% of a mitigation balance to be paid in cash to the tree fund; the developer is asking to pay the remaining balance in cash and for an alternative use. The developer argued that accelerating park construction and amenities closer to the subdivision provides more immediate community benefit than placing money into the city’s tree fund.

Commissioner Hagman moved to approve the alternative mitigation settlement agreement; Commissioner Shane seconded. The motion passed 7 to 0. The approval directs staff to work with the developer and Parks Department on details and to forward the settlement agreement to City Council for final review according to the city’s established procedures.

Key figures: estimated removed trees = 4,188 caliper inches; proposed on-site planting = 2,188 caliper inches (547 canopy trees); remaining mitigation balance ≈ 2,000 caliper inches; cash alternative requested = $200,000 ($100 per caliper inch).