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Brookhaven work session considers 10‑foot minimum planting strip in zoning text amendment with waiver for constrained rights‑of‑way
Summary
Staff presented TA25‑06 to align overlay district landscape requirements with the city tree ordinance by establishing a 10‑foot minimum planting strip for overstory trees, with a waiver process when rights‑of‑way, utilities or existing trees prevent compliance; commissioners discussed alignment with multimodal plans and supported administrative flexibility.
City planning staff introduced a zoning text amendment (TA25‑06) in a Brookhaven work session proposing to set a 10‑foot minimum landscape strip or planting area in overlay districts so overstory street trees have adequate space to grow, while including a waiver process where right‑of‑way or utilities make that standard infeasible.
"The tree preservation manager has recommended that there be a minimum 10 feet landscape strip or landscape zone to allow for a planting area for an overstory tree to fully grow and develop," the presenting staff member said while describing the amendment to chapter 27 and its alignment with chapter 14 (the city’s tree ordinance).
Staff said the amendment includes a waiver mechanism authorizing the tree preservation manager or community development director to reduce the planting area in locations with insufficient right‑of‑way, existing trees, or overhead/underground utilities, avoiding the need for applicants to pursue a variance or board appeal in many cases.
Commissioners raised questions about how the proposal would interact with the multimodal plan and bike‑lane or multiuse path projects. One commissioner noted that "an additional 4 feet is a lot when we're trying to cram in bike lanes," and staff responded that the waiver is intended to preserve flexibility where multiuse paths or other city plans make the full buffer infeasible.
Staff emphasized the change is primarily aimed at private development in overlay districts; it does not bind city projects in the same way, and staff retains discretion to reconcile overlay requirements with multimodal plans on a case‑by‑case basis.
Several commissioners said the amendment is a pragmatic way to resolve past instances where developers had to seek variances for constrained sites; commissioners expressed support for the staff recommendation and the administrative waiver process. The amendment will return in a later agenda for formal action.
