Council reviews zoning code redraft covering street trees and portable storage units

The New Franklin City Council reviewed a redraft of the zoning code that adds a tree inventory and street-tree requirements for new development and revisits rules for portable storage containers.

Council members and staff said the redraft (dated for a council meeting reference of 02/25) includes a new tree inventory and assessment section and a separate street-tree model that calculates required trees from the linear feet of new streets. Planning staff said the street-tree requirement applies to new development only and does not force owners of existing homes to replace trees removed after adoption.

The code language requires a tree inventory and an assessment before development proceeds; the street-tree requirement produces a count (for example, 50 trees for a given linear footage) and delegates species selection and placement details to the zoning department and the Planning and Zoning Commission. Council and staff…