Commission approves Titan Commerce Center tree removals after applicant revises design to save trees

Karina Castillo of the Planning Department presented an application for the Titan Commerce Center (TRP‑25‑0045) on Jan. 8, asking permission to remove trees that conflict with proposed roadways, parking and building footprints. Staff recommended approval, listing mitigation credits and fees that would be required with the site development permit if the commission’s recommendation is forwarded and the Council approves.

Representatives for the applicant identified Holla Scheffler with Westwood as the project civil engineer and described a series of design iterations aimed at minimizing tree loss. The team said it realigned a sanitary sewer line to avoid impacts to roughly 37 trees, removed some parking to save about 25 trees (including two significant trees), and shifted a water‑line alignment to avoid additional impacts. The applicant also showed a landscape plan that uses low‑water‑use species per the City of Austin Grow Green Guide.

The applicant’s mitigation proposal listed credit for 236 caliper inches and a payment in lieu that staff packet language recorded unclearly (the transcript records "108,638 thousand"); staff also cited a heritage fee based on 64 caliper inches at a $300 per‑inch rate. Commissioners praised the design concessions as amenity‑building and voted unanimously to approve the request.

Per staff, mitigation fees are collected with the site development permit and the commission’s recommendation will be forwarded to City Council for final action.