Lewisville council approves $12,052 to relocate crepe myrtles ahead of Great Wagon Road work; 6-1 vote

The Town of Lewisville council voted 6-1 to approve Ordinance 2025-020, a $12,052 amendment to the fiscal-year budget to relocate crepe myrtle trees in Shallowford Square that would be affected by Great Wagon Road construction.

The allocation covers removal by a contractor, soil and incidentals and anticipates an on-site contractor presence of about three to five days. Town staff said they expect to attempt relocation of up to eight trees.

Council members debated the merits and risks of paying to relocate mature trees now versus letting the construction contractor remove them and replanting later. Town manager Stacy Tolbert told the council staff solicited quotes and recommended the amendment to avoid losing mature shade trees that residents value. Tolbert said staff’s arborist estimated a roughly 60% chance of successful transplantation and that, if relocated trees do not take, replacing them later with smaller nursery trees would cost about $500 per tree. Tolbert also explained a later alternative would be to buy mature replacement trees in October–December, which could cost between roughly $9,000 and $12,000 if contractor planting is required.

Council members asked whether the $12,052 amount is a not-to-exceed figure and whether the town would be financially responsible if relocated trees die. Tolbert confirmed the money is intended for removal and replanting; she said if the contractor determines a tree cannot be salvaged (for example because roots are embedded in the surrounding brickwork), staff would cancel that relocation and only contractor labor costs would apply. She also said the contractor for the Great Wagon Road would otherwise remove the trees as part of construction if the council chose not to relocate them.

Council members weighed residents’ desire to preserve mature trees and the financial risk of partial failure. After discussion, the ordinance passed 6-1, with Mayor Ivan Huffman recording the lone “no” vote. Several council members cited the town’s tree-preservation goals and past successful saves as reasons to proceed.

Clarifying details recorded at the meeting: staff intends to attempt relocation of up to eight crepe myrtles; the budget amendment is $12,052; staff’s arborist estimated about a 60% chance of successful transplanting; if replacement planting is needed later, an in-house replant of small nursery trees would be roughly $500 per tree, while planting larger mature trees by contractor during October–December could cost roughly $9,000–$12,000.

The council did not adopt any additional mitigation or warranty for tree survival at the meeting; council discussion indicated staff will return to council or proceed based on contractor findings and the practical conditions encountered when work begins.