Stow City forestry advisers press for tighter tree‑preservation and parking‑lot landscaping in draft zoning chapter

City staff and consultants returned to the Stow City Urban Forestry Commission to discuss Chapter 8 of a proposed zoning code update, focusing on tree preservation, required replacement sizes and landscaping standards for parking lots.

The draft code would require developers to provide park or open‑space acreage in several zoning districts and set preservation thresholds and replacement standards for trees. Sarah (staff member) said the commission had been mailed the draft and that staff circulated a digital copy for review: "If you recall, Zach and I were here last time. We passed out chapter 8 of our proposed zoning code update."

Commission members raised several substantive concerns. One asked whether the required 2.5‑inch minimum caliper for replacement trees could be reduced to a 2‑inch standard to match common nursery practice. Another asked why 12 inches was the minimum diameter for a tree to be counted as preserved and urged the consultants to evaluate whether the preservation threshold could be lowered to 10 inches to conserve more small trees. The commission also sought clarity on which parties pay for required plantings and noted that developers typically bear those costs.

Parking‑area landscaping drew extended discussion. Commissioners reviewed consultant options for interior islands versus longer continuous median planting strips. Several members recommended longer, continuous medians along parking aisles because they are easier to maintain, provide more stormwater‑filtering benefits and offer better shade for parked cars. Commissioners and staff discussed soil improvements (structural soils and subsurface systems), routing stormwater to median beds, and species selection to improve tree survivability in otherwise poor parking‑lot soils.

Members also questioned maintenance and enforcement: whether the city inspects planted islands after one, three or five years and what penalties or replanting requirements would apply if trees die. Staff noted that maintenance is a requirement of the standards but said the commission should follow up to determine enforcement frequency and typical violation practices.

On open space minimums, commissioners debated whether C‑3 and industrial zones should be exempt from the chapter’s open‑space minimums; one member proposed a 5% minimum for those zones as a starting point for negotiations with the planning department.

Next steps: staff said they would follow up with the zoning consultant about reducing preservation thresholds, clarifying caliper minimums, providing examples of subsurface soil solutions for parking lots, and reporting back on enforcement practice and timelines. The item will remain on the commission’s agenda for additional feedback before the draft goes to City Council.