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Natural features board approves redesigned Westgate sports complex phase one despite tree loss
Summary
The committee reported that the Natural Features Protection board approved phase one of the Westgate sports complex at 1617 North Drake Road after a redesign to meet the 25% woodland cover rule; committee members noted the site still required removal of many trees and urged public review of the site plans.
John cursor, reporting to the Environmental Concerns Committee, said the Natural Features Protection (NFP) board approved phase one of the Westgate sports complex at 1617 North Drake Road after the developer redesigned the plan to reach the mandatory 25% woodland cover.
The project was presented to the NFP board in two phases, John said. Phase one—which covers most of the area—was approved after the redesign. "They came back and they did a redesign of the site layout because originally they were requesting a variance through the Zoning Board of Appeals," John told the committee. He added that, despite the redesign meeting the percentage requirement, "that lot itself is, I believe, almost 90% tree cover," and the approved phase will still remove a majority of the trees on the parcel.
Why it matters: the NFP board's approval clears an early regulatory hurdle for the sports complex but does not end review. John said phase two remains in the site-plan review process and will return for additional scrutiny. He encouraged members of the public and committee to consult the NFP minutes and the attached site-plan materials for details about tree removal and mitigation.
The committee discussion did not record a formal motion tied to the NFP decision; John recommended interested residents contact the NFP board to register concerns or request more information. The transcript contains no detailed mitigation plan or numerical estimate of trees to be removed; those details appear in the NFP site-plan attachments referenced by John.
