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Commission approves New Riverside Village preliminary plan with conditions to protect three live oaks
Summary
Planning commissioners approved the New Riverside Village Parcel 4B-3C preliminary development plan for two commercial buildings (20,000 square feet) after securing conditions requiring reconfiguration to preserve three nearby live oaks and a tree risk assessment; staff allowed certain design exceptions to save canopy if necessary.
The Planning Commission approved a preliminary development plan May 27 for New Riverside Village Parcel 4B-3C, covering two two‑story commercial buildings totaling roughly 20,000 square feet on a 2.35‑acre site, with conditions intended to preserve several existing live oaks.
Staff presented the plan and noted the property is limited to a maximum of 20,000 square feet and is subject to New Riverside PUD and master-plan standards. Commissioners expressed concern that three trees (identified on the plan as 13, 16 and 19 inches DBH) near the northern entry would likely be removed under the submitted layout and would materially change the neighborhood’s tree canopy. Commissioner comments emphasized the character of the entry drive and urged design options to retain those trees.
Griffin Savage, the project engineer, said the design team had focused on preserving the largest specimen live oaks on the site and that the current layout was an initial solution given tight parking constraints; he told commissioners the team was developing a revised layout and a robust replanting plan and asked whether staff could allow limited exceptions to the "every 8 spaces" island standard if needed to preserve trees. "My name is Griffin Savage. I'm with Thomas and Hutton. I'm the engineer on this project," he said.
The commission approved the preliminary plan with two conditions: (1) reconfigure the parking areas and drive aisles to save the three identified live oaks (reconfiguration may be approved by town staff), but if one or more of those trees must be removed the plan must return to Planning Commission; and (2) provide a tree-risk assessment and survivability rating of the referenced trees for staff review. Commissioners also discussed the use of pervious pavement and additional on-site landscaping to minimize impacts.
The motion carried by voice vote.
