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Tree canopy study shows small net loss; council weighs coverage goals and zoning approach
Summary
A 2017–2023 canopy analysis found Stonecrest's tree cover fell from 61.46% to 58.73% (a loss of about 657 acres); GIS staff presented maps and an interactive tool and council discussed whether to set citywide canopy targets or adopt project-based requirements.
Caitlin, the city’s GIS analyst, presented results of a tree canopy study comparing September 2017 and September 2023 NAEP aerial imagery and said the study’s classification accuracy was about 95% for both years. She reported citywide canopy of 61.46% in 2017 and 58.73% in 2023, a loss of about 2.73 percentage points — roughly 657 acres (about 1.03 square miles).
Caitlin said areas with canopy loss included the city center, industrial zones and office-professional areas; gains appeared in conservation/open-space, institutional and some residential neighborhoods. She demonstrated a work-in-progress interactive map that lets users swipe between 2017 and 2023 imagery, inspect parcel zoning and see where canopy changed.
Council members and the mayor discussed policy responses. Several members noted competing goals: preserve canopy in conservation overlays such as the Arabia Mountain area while supporting economic development in other zones. Mayor Jasmine Cobble emphasized aligning any canopy target with the city’s future land-use map and economic-development strategy so staff have consistent direction when reviewing plats and site plans.
Council members debated whether to set a single citywide canopy requirement or keep a project-by-project/zone-based approach. Councilman Terry Fye and others argued a zone- or project-based standard offers flexibility by land use, while others said a clear percentage goal would give planning staff and the public a concrete target. Caitlin provided an illustrative estimate that, when certain proposed developments advance, canopy could fall from 58.73% to about 57.83% depending on the acreage affected.
Council directed staff to schedule focused work sessions (small-group, technical briefings with planning, arborist and economic-development staff) to develop options — including tree‑recompense (replacement) rules, overlay protections and how a canopy target would interact with zoning and transportation projects — before returning to the full council for policy direction.
