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Committee reviews street-tree and landscape plans for Kroger Center, 4 Seasons Addison and Briar Hills
Summary
The Forestry Advisory Committee reviewed several landscape plans that will guide street-tree plantings along Glen Road and in multiple new developments. Staff described species choices, sight-line adjustments and which plantings are subject to landscape review versus formal approval.
City forestry staff presented two street-tree plans and one tree-management plan to the Forestry Advisory Committee and invited comment from members. "Today, we have 2 street tree plans, that need approval. That's gonna be the 4 seasons section 3. That's Addison," the staff member said, and also identified plans for the Kroger Center near Glen Road and the Briar Hills tree-management plan.
Staff explained species selections and changes requested to favor native trees in several locations. On the Kroger Center project off Glen Road and the 36/37 corridor, staff said they replaced a nonnative choice with chestnut oak "just to give another native" and removed four plantings to address potential sight-line issues at driveway and turning points. Staff told the committee that most of the detailed landscape plantings on some parcels are subject to landscape review and do not require committee approval.
Committee members asked about planting sizes and durability in urban conditions. Staff said the city has moved to using larger stock going forward — "Everything will be 8 foot or larger going forward" — referencing a new zoning/planting standard. Members also discussed species performance in the city’s soil and drought conditions; staff noted mixed experience for species such as serviceberry in open transplant situations and expressed preference for drought-tolerant natives in challenging locations.
On Briar Hills, staff identified the project as an active-adult (55-plus) development with a 62-unit footprint and described the planting palette proposed along the project’s perimeter and access drives. Staff said the plantings along interior private drives are subject to the developer’s landscape review, while street trees along public-facing roadways may require city sign-off.
No formal vote to approve or reject the listed plans was recorded in the meeting transcript; staff asked for committee feedback and said the landscape-review items that do not need committee approval would proceed through the city’s landscape-review process.
