Council accepts 15% tree‑caliper reduction for Windrose Green, tables Freedom Park mitigation
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Summary
Council accepted a 15% credit adjustment to Windrose Green’s tree‑mitigation calculation (to be added into Phase 3 plantings) after staff and an arborist estimated 10–20% growth in planted trees. For Freedom Park preservation, the council tabled action pending clearer documentation and separated the developer’s haul/reimbursement questions for later review.
The council voted to accept a 15% adjustment to the tree‑caliper credits for the Windrose Green development and to add an equivalent caliper‑inch amount into Phase 3 plantings to meet the city’s aggregate mitigation requirement.
City and applicant presentations explained the technical issue: trees planted in late‑2022 matured by a 2024 survey, producing a higher measured caliper than the initial planting sizes used to compute replacement credits. The applicant’s arborist estimated growth of 10–20% over the two‑year period; staff and council settled on a 15% adjustment as a middle ground.
Joe (applicant representative) walked council through the math showing 24 removed trees equate to 198 caliper inches and noted Phase 1 and Phase 2 plantings’ measured calibers. Councilman discussion focused on verifying original tree orders, the need for planting receipts, and an enforceable follow‑up with code enforcement for counting and confirming planted stock.
Separately, the Freedom Park tree preservation item — which concerns preserved heritage live oaks impacted by park drainage work — generated more contention. HDR’s survey identified 34 live oak heritage trees (~455 caliper inches), and staff presented a 3:1 replacement calculation (aggregate). Applicants argued the work was a public‑works drainage project benefiting the whole watershed and asked for a lesser effective ratio or fee‑in‑lieu. Council debated costs, truck haul reimbursements the city incurred (~$92,000 cited by staff), and whether to accept a fee or planting. The council tabled Freedom Park mitigation for additional documentation and to separate the computation of tree mitigation from the truck‑haul/compensation discussion.
