Flower Mound commission approves removal of three specimen trees for Hindu temple site

The Flower Mound Environmental Conservation Commission on April 1 approved a tree removal permit to allow removal of three specimen trees on the 2.2-acre site proposed for the Flower Mound Hindu Temple, located south of Peters Colony Road, east of Old Settlers Road and north of Flower Mound Road.

Commissioners approved the permit by voice vote. Commission member Sharma, Commission member Workman, Commission member Spurlock, Commissioner Atherton, Vice Chair Bowman and Commission member Takash recorded “aye” on the motion; no no votes or abstentions were recorded.

The town staff presentation identified five specimen trees on the parcel and said the applicant requested removal of three that fall within the required 26-foot unobstructed fire lane/access from the only point of vehicular access to the lot. Staff said the three trees requested for removal were in “good to fair” condition and that the applicant proposed $45,000 in mitigation cash-in-lieu based on mitigation credits and debits.

Jason Kilpatrick, identifying himself as the project engineer, said the design team initially requested removal of four specimen trees but, after coordinating with staff, reduced that request by saving one tree and relocating parking. “When we started this, we were originally requesting 4 specimen trees to be removed. ... after working with Jake, we removed a couple of the parking spots to stay out of the drip line and saved that tree,” Kilpatrick said. He said the site’s only access and the need to provide a 26-foot fire lane left only about 29 feet for the drive and constrained the layout. Kilpatrick added that the project originally aimed for about 115 parking spaces but the design changes reduced that to about 87.

Staff identified the three specimen trees by survey numbers and measurements during the presentation: Tree 1620 — a 35-inch post oak at the site entrance; Tree 1630 — a 47-inch multi-trunk post oak showing some dieback; and Tree 1640 — a 27-inch pecan. Two other specimen trees on the lot were shown to be preserved on the submitted plan.

The staff report noted a condition: if a future builder cannot work around a preserved tree, the builder must return to the ECC and Town Council for review. That caveat was explained in the presentation and repeated in discussion.

The commission’s action approves the applicant’s current request to remove the three specified specimen trees with the stated mitigation and the condition that future changes affecting preserved trees require further review.

The applicant and staff said they will continue coordination as the site plan and permitting process proceed.