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Commission approves landscape-tree variance for 5905 E. Sam Houston Pkwy S.; Rosenberg recorded as opposed
Summary
The commission granted a variance allowing the project at 5905 East Sam Houston Parkway South to purchase tree-planting credits for up to 30% of required street trees and approved not meeting the remaining street-tree requirement because easements constrain planting; Commissioner Rosenberg recorded opposition.
The Planning Commission approved a landscape variance for a new office-warehouse development at 5905 East Sam Houston Parkway South that reduces the on-site street-tree planting requirement because utility and pipeline easements limit plantable areas.
Planner Ed Buckley and Jeff Butler explained that the freeway right-of-way is owned by TxDOT and that roughly 100 feet of private frontage along the freeway is overlain with utility, pipeline and related easements; easements of approximately 70 to 80 feet wide line Grayson Road. Based on the frontage, staff said the project would be required to plant 107 street trees under Chapter 33 but that up to 30% of required trees may be satisfied by purchasing tree-planting credits. The variance requested relief from the remaining 75 street trees; the applicant proposed planting 3-inch-caliper parking lot trees (double the minimum size) and meeting the full shrub requirement.
Because the easements constrain the available planting area — and because one easement nearest the building is a proposed city water-line easement that the city will require as part of development — staff recommended approval of the variance to not meet the full street-tree requirement.
The commission approved the variance by voice vote; the public record shows Commissioner Rosenberg opposed the motion when the chair called for the vote: "Please note commissioner Rosenberg goes opposed." Staff said the variance is supported by the site constraints and the applicant’s offer to plant larger caliper trees and purchase credits for up to 30 percent of the requirement.
The approved variance allows the project to proceed with an adjusted landscape plan; final landscape compliance and any purchased credits must be documented at permitting.
