Planning manager seeks input on proposed Farmers Branch landscaping ordinance

Tara Bradley, the city's new planning manager, presented proposed amendments to Chapter 94, Article 4, Section 4.1 of the Farmers Branch code to introduce updated landscaping requirements for private development and alternatives for mitigation. "This is to introduce landscaping requirements for private development," Bradley said, explaining the draft updates existing minimum standards, expands tree-canopy goals and includes a preferred plant list.

Bradley told the Parks & Recreation board the draft would not apply to city-owned property and would add new requirements such as irrigation plans, which would need to be stamped by a landscape architect or other professional, and a sustainable design initiative to encourage tree diversity. "Irrigation plans were not required; now they are required stamped by a landscaping architect or professional," she said.

Board members asked practical questions about where screening and buffering standards would apply, whether homeowners adjacent to multifamily or commercial developments would see changes, and how the preferred plant list would interact with native species. One member urged flexibility for native plantings; Bradley said the ordinance includes a mechanism to propose alternatives and that staff would accept emailed suggestions after the meeting.

Staff said they will compile the board's feedback and bring the draft forward to Planning & Zoning for a study session on May 11, then to city council for further comment. The presentation noted the landscaping effort has been in development since 2022 and incorporates prior city-council feedback. Next steps are public and internal review rather than adoption; Bradley emphasized the meeting was to gather input rather than to vote on the ordinance.

The draft ordinance as presented would: exclude city-owned property, establish updated minimum landscaping percentages for different land uses (including multifamily and industrial), require stamped irrigation plans, incorporate a preferred and prohibited plant list, promote tree diversity and support a sustainable design initiative. Staff identified developers as primarily responsible for installing required plantings; planning staff (including planners Brett Magnum and Brian Campbell) would use the updated standards in project reviews.

The board did not take formal action during the meeting; staff will collect the comments and return the revised draft to Planning & Zoning and city council as part of the regular review process.