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Farmers Branch sustainability committee hears GIS data showing low tree canopy, high impervious cover
Summary
City staff told the sustainability committee that a Feb. 2023 LiDAR analysis shows about 15% tree canopy and roughly 52% impervious cover citywide, prompting discussion of planting targets, demonstration sites and ordinance work to protect and expand trees.
Farmers Branch staff presented GIS data to the Sustainability Committee on Sept. 11 showing the city’s tree canopy and impervious-surface coverage, and members discussed targets and incentives to slow canopy loss.
City staff said a LiDAR-derived survey flown in February 2023 shows roughly 15% tree canopy (about 50,000,000 square feet out of approximately 336,000,000 square feet citywide). By comparison, staff cited a 2019 Texas Trees Foundation urban canopy assessment that estimated about 22% canopy for Farmers Branch; staff cautioned the LiDAR flight in February may undercount deciduous canopy and that recent windstorms and development have reduced canopy since 2019. Staff noted a commonly cited best-practice target of about 30% canopy and said reaching higher coverage will require additional plantings and budget support.
Committee members said the data justify continuing and scaling tree-planting efforts. Staff described current planting rates of roughly 200 trees per year and noted Parks planted about 37 trees last year; members said those rates are unlikely to meet an elevated canopy target without increased funding or demonstration projects that show residents the look and maintenance of native plantings.
Members suggested demonstration 'grow zones' or pilot sites that would illustrate cost savings (reduced mowing and irrigation) and aesthetic outcomes. The committee discussed inviting Parks & Recreation leadership to present (a staff member referenced 'Mark Moffick' as a possible presenter) and encouraged aligning tree-planting with outreach events such as the city’s tree giveaway and composting workshops.
Staff also presented impervious-surface findings and implications for stormwater management: the dataset identified about 52% impervious coverage citywide, broken down with roads and paved alleys at roughly 10% of city area, parking lots about 15%, buildings about 18% and sidewalks about 2.4%. Staff said the stormwater group is exploring whether rate structures or credits could be designed to incentivize permeable pavements, increased canopy or green roofs to reduce runoff.
The committee asked staff to refine and present follow-up materials: clearer methodology for canopy estimates (seasonal variability), an estimate of how many trees are needed to increase canopy by 1 percentage point, and potential demonstration sites and cost/benefit framing (labor and water savings). Staff said they will follow up with the Planning & Zoning Commission and report back on a potential tree-preservation ordinance and the status of the landscape-ordinance update.
The committee moved the discussion into next steps for outreach, data transparency (interactive maps or event QR codes) and a council presentation later in the year to highlight sustainability progress.
