Aug. 26, 2025 — The Huntersville Planning Board voted to recommend approval of a zoning text amendment that tightens tree-mitigation requirements and adds a limited arborist-based flexibility for small-lot development.
Staff, filling in for Brad Priest, told the board the proposed amendment to Article 7.4 would keep existing maximum mitigation caps (30% for residential, 50% for commercial), raise heritage-tree mitigation from 100% to 200% of caliper, clarify tree-preservation language across the ordinance and allow developments under two acres to seek an arborist-signed preservation plan that permits controlled encroachment into a tree's drip line when the arborist certifies the tree can be protected.
"Small-lot tree save would still be applicable, but you would have that added flexibility," the staff member said, describing plan examples showing how an arborist's recommendations (root barriers, modified grading, alternative pavements) could allow a building envelope that otherwise would conflict with a specimen tree.
Staff said it reviewed five recent small-lot projects (0.39, 0.37, 1.72, 2.73 and 1.914 acres) and found that with the proposed arborist flexibility some sites that previously required mitigation could meet the revised tree-save standard. Staff recommended approval and said the item will go to the Town Board for a public hearing on Sept. 16, 2025.
Board members discussed several concerns before voting. Several members said they supported the arborist option and the goal of preserving mature canopy, but others voiced concern that the change could increase conditional district rezonings if applicants could not meet mitigation requirements without rezoning. One member suggested expanding the arborist flexibility to sites up to five acres; staff said they could include that in a recommendation but recommended starting with the two-acre threshold and tracking rezoning activity.
The planning board motion recommending approval cited consistency with the Huntersville 2040 Plan (policies EOS-3, EOS-3.1, EOS-4 and the tree-canopy goals on page 84) and said the amendment supports preservation and growth of the mature tree canopy for environmental and community benefits. The board voted to recommend approval.
Staff and several members said additional ordinance refinements remain possible: counting multiple smaller trees toward mitigation credit, raising mitigation fees or developing a land-banking approach were raised as ideas for future text amendments. Staff also said the town intends to hire a certified arborist to support ordinance application and future revisions.
The planning board recorded a recommendation of approval; the amendment will be forwarded to the Town Board for a Sept. 16 public hearing.