Council committee backs variance to reduce interior shade trees at public works campus

The committee reviewed a major variance request tied to the City of Urbana’s public works campus at 706 South Glover Avenue that would reduce the required interior parking‑lot shade trees because interior plantings would interfere with large municipal vehicle turning movements.

Zoning staff explained the site accommodates large vehicles and salt storage operations and that adding interior shade trees would create circulation conflicts. Staff said the zoning board of appeals unanimously recommended approval with conditions, and staff recommended approval with a condition that up to eight shade trees be installed where feasible and that final placement be determined by the zoning administrator in consultation with the city arborist and city engineer.

Councilmembers pressed staff on whether the recommendation should specify a minimum number rather than a maximum and asked how many existing trees would be removed. The zoning administrator and public works staff said the eight‑tree figure follows the ordinance logic based on net new spaces (73 net new spaces → eight trees) and that a minimum could be specified; staff offered to return with an exact count of removed trees if council wished.

Councilmember Mary Alice moved to forward the matter to City Council with a recommendation to approve and to change the condition wording to require eight shade trees rather than a maximum of eight; the motion was seconded and the committee voted to send the item to City Council on the consent agenda.