Planning commission recommends expanding grand‑tree protection radius to 1.5:1
Summary
York County planners voted Jan. 8 to amend tree protection rules to increase the protection radius for grand trees from a 1:1 to a 1.5:1 canopy‑to‑DBH ratio for new projects; staff said the change aligns with best practice and aims to improve survival of large trees.
The York County Planning Commission on Jan. 8 approved a recommendation to amend section 154.202 (tree protection during construction) to increase the protection radius for grand trees from a 1:1 ratio (one foot canopy radius per 1 inch DBH) to 1.5:1 for new projects.
Planning staff explained the change is intended to better protect feeder and structural roots and increase survival rates for older, larger trees — commonly white oaks in the county — and cited comparative practice in neighboring jurisdictions. Staff said the amendment would not conflict with the comprehensive plan or adopted land‑use maps and that mitigation remains available for trees that cannot be preserved.
Commissioners asked whether the amendment would be retroactive; staff said it would apply to new projects and approvals going forward. A motion to approve the amendment was made, seconded and approved by voice vote with no opposition recorded on the transcript. Commissioners discussed that while many trees are mitigated, the change aims to protect the small subset of grand trees most likely to survive if properly preserved.
