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Planning commission backs zoning text amendment to create tree fund, urges follow-up on past tree-fee payments
Summary
Lake Elmo's Planning Commission voted Oct. 15 to recommend that City Council adopt a zoning text amendment creating a dedicated tree fund for boulevard and public-tree replacement, funded by fee-in-lieu payments, council allocations and donations; commissioners asked staff to investigate prior developer payments (including from 3M).
The Lake Elmo Planning Commission voted unanimously Oct. 15 to recommend that City Council approve a zoning text amendment to establish a dedicated tree fund for boulevard and public-tree replacement.
City staff said the amendment would add a new section to the city's tree-preservation chapter to create a tree fund whose primary funding sources would be fee-in-lieu payments for required tree replacement, city council allocations and individual or business donations. Staff noted the fund would be eligible to pay for programs approved by City Council and cited a proposed boulevard tree-replacement program to be managed by the city's landscape consultant, HKGI.
The tree-fund concept arose after the city received a $50,000 fee-in-lieu payment from Stillwater Schools related to mitigation for a new elementary school; staff said the existing code allows fee-in-lieu payments but does not specify how those funds should be reserved or spent. Staff said the boulevard program would accept homeowner requests via a web form, review locations for planting standards (setbacks from curb, sidewalks and utilities), and rely on homeowners to maintain new trees with supplied watering bags for the first two years.
During the public hearing, one commissioner asked staff to investigate prior payments tied to a development that cleared trees (a 3M-related payment was mentioned) and where those monies were allocated; staff said she would look into that history. Commissioners clarified that tree replacements funded by the program would need to be within the public right-of-way to be eligible.
Commission discussion also covered prioritization and administration; staff said the initial approach would be first-come, first-served, with the council able to create additional programs or priorities in the future. The commission moved to recommend approval and the motion passed unanimously.
The amendment contains eligibility language and an open list of programs the council may approve, including but not limited to a boulevard tree program. If City Council adopts the text amendment, staff said the city would launch an online request form and aim to plant trees in spring following the council decision and budget availability.
