Tree board asks plan commission to follow arboricultural specifications, urges reconsideration of excluding arborvitae for solar-site screening

The Evansville City Tree Advisory Board voted June 5 to have staff send a letter to the Area Plan Commission recommending that arborvitae not be automatically excluded from screening plans for a proposed solar project and that the commission use the board's arboricultural specifications as guidance.

Board member Sarah moved to direct staff to send the letter; Larry seconded, and the motion passed by voice vote. The motion asks staff to address the letter to Ron London and Dirk Stahl, and to reference the Tree Advisory Board's arboricultural specifications document, which members said the board adopted years ago and which lists plant varieties and masking strategies the board recommends.

Board members said the request stems from a northeast-county solar project where some in the planning process suggested arborvitae are an inappropriate species for screening. The board emphasized diversity in buffers: "No one wants a monoculture," a member said during discussion, and urged the plan commission to use the board's guide as a resource.

Why it matters: screening requirements in zoning and site plans influence how large utility-scale projects are masked from adjacent properties and roadways. The board's letter asks the plan commission to consider the board's species recommendations and to weigh arborvitae as one tool among several to meet buffering objectives.

The motion specified staff would send the letter; members said if the plan commission requests a meeting, staff or board members could attend. The transcript records the voice vote in favor; no roll-call tally was recorded.