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Planning commission backs change to subdivision rules to add natural‑features language; will forward recommendation to city council
Summary
The Delaware Muncie Metropolitan Plan Commission issued an 8‑0 favorable recommendation to the city council on a text amendment that adds "Natural Features" (street‑tree provisions) to the city subdivision ordinance; supporters urged trees be in the right of way while the mayor cautioned against mandatory right‑of‑way planting because of infrastructure damage.
The Delaware Muncie Metropolitan Plan Commission voted 8‑0 to forward a favorable recommendation to city council for MPC 05‑25a, a text amendment that inserts a "Natural Features" subsection into the city subdivision regulations to require street trees in new residential subdivisions.
Staff said the change began in 2023 after a request from the Muncie Urban Forestry Committee to align city language with the county subdivision ordinance. The amendment would recodify and supplement Article 5 — Improvements and Requirements — to add requirements similar to the county standard.
Malcolm Cairns, chair of the Muncie Urban Forestry Committee, told commissioners he supported the proposal but urged the commission to require trees "in the right of way" as the county ordinance does, reading county language that calls for at least two trees per front yard in the street right of way and stressing that "trees matter" as urban infrastructure that filter air, sequester carbon and moderate urban heat.
Mayor Dan Ridenour said the city supports the ordinance as currently drafted but opposed mandating right‑of‑way planting, citing recent work on University Avenue where street trees damaged sidewalks and streets. "We want the trees," he said, "but not necessarily in the right of way." He added that decisions about bonds and certificates of occupancy remain with the mayor's office and the building commissioner.
Commission discussion touched on species selection, root behavior and practical tradeoffs between placing trees in rights of way versus front‑yard segments. Staff said the focus group — which included city and county staff, the Urban Forestry Committee chair and local contractors — recommended language mirroring the county ordinance while leaving bond and certificate‑of‑occupancy matters to the mayor and building commissioner.
A motion for a favorable recommendation passed on roll call with eight yes votes. The commission will forward its recommendation to the city council for introduction at the council's next meeting.
