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Board reviews updated Chapter 30 plant list, discusses points and biodiversity incentives
Summary
Staff told the Sustainability Advisory Board that an updated native plant list approved by the Planning Commission in late 2022 had not been incorporated into the zoning code; members discussed point allocation, biodiversity and next steps for code updates.
City planning staff informed the Sustainability Advisory Board that a more comprehensive native plant list approved by the Planning Commission in late 2022 had not been properly inserted into the city zoning code, and the board discussed how point values and biodiversity requirements should be handled going forward.
Emma, a staff member, said the list approved in 2022 contained more species and higher point values for certain natives than the version the board had seen after its November meeting. Jake and other members suggested the board compare the new list against a separate list provided by UW Extension and Winnebago County resources before proposing changes to the zoning code.
Discussion focused on whether point allocations sufficiently incentivize developers to use native perennials rather than only trees and shrubs. Board members asked for case studies of recent developments to see how the points system has worked in practice, and proposed adding a biodiversity component (for example, requiring a minimum variety of species rather than many instances of a single species). Emma said landscaping points are allocated per 20 individual plants and that point requirements may be distributed among different site areas (foundation plantings, parking‑lot islands, etc.).
Members proposed inviting UW Extension and a county native‑plant specialist for a future meeting, and to review recent landscaping plans and precedent projects. No formal action was taken; the board agreed to place a comparative review of plant lists and potential biodiversity incentives on a future agenda.
