Lewisville planning commission recommends changes to tree protections, sends UDC amendments to council

José Martinez, senior administrative analyst for the Lewisville Parks and Recreation Department, presented proposed amendments to the Unified Development Code and city code dealing with parkland dedication, tree mitigation and commercial landscaping during the Planning and Zoning Commission meeting on Nov. 4.

Martinez said staff moved Bodark (Osage orange) and cottonwood trees that are 12 inches diameter at breast height (DBH) or greater from the unprotected list to the protected list and proposed a heritage-tree category for slow-growing species. "Post oaks and blackjack oaks over 12 inches DBH will go into the heritage tree category," he said.

Staff also proposed that all trees over 26 inches DBH, except for specifically excluded nonnative species, be included as heritage trees. Martinez said the changes were discussed with the commission on Oct. 21 and presented to city council on Nov. 3.

On species guidance, Martinez told commissioners that the sawtooth oak has been deemed invasive in recent federal research and that staff recommends removing it from the approved shade-tree list. "It is deemed invasive, so we want to go ahead and remove that as well," he said, citing recommendations from the National Park Service and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Commissioners pressed staff on practical implications. When asked whether age is considered in addition to DBH for cottonwoods and whether a property owner would face obligations if a protected cottonwood dies, Martinez said protected trees must be surveyed when a development proposes tree removal and that landowners would be required to replace dead trees according to approved landscaping standards. He explained that the city is proposing a mitigation fee of $200 per caliper inch for protected trees when removal is approved in development contexts.

A commissioner asked whether the federal and state forestry agencies support the sawtooth recommendation; Martinez summarized that federal agencies conduct ongoing research on invasive species and their recommendations inform local actions.

Martinez clarified that the proposed protections and fees apply to commercial properties and developments, not private single-family home yards. "It's private property in your house, so it doesn't apply to this. This is for commercial property and developers' development," he said.

After discussion, the commission moved and voted to recommend the amendments as presented. The motion passed 6–0 with one member absent. City council is scheduled to hold the second public hearing and make a final decision on Dec. 1, 2025, at 7:00 p.m.

What happens next: the commission's recommendation will be forwarded to Lewisville City Council for a final public hearing and vote on Dec. 1 at 7 p.m. The proposal, as described to the commission, would add protections for selected native trees, establish a heritage-tree classification for certain large or slow-growing species, remove sawtooth oak from the preferred shade-tree list, and apply a $200-per-caliper-inch mitigation fee for protected trees in development situations.