Commissioners approve Parker Road cottage neighborhood PDP after an extended debate on protecting large oaks

County planners presented a preliminary development plan for a 36‑unit cottage neighborhood on about five acres at NW 122nd Street. The design clusters single‑family cottages around shared greens and meets the cottage‑neighborhood code (maximum 1,400 sq ft single‑family cottages, required common greens, a minimum 5% tree canopy requirement for this housing type). The applicant’s survey and county forester identified many large live oaks, including a 62‑inch specimen that staff recommended preserving in a common green.

Commissioners raised strong concerns that many other high‑value live oaks would be removed to meet stormwater and layout requirements and questioned whether design alternatives (attached units, different internal layout, drip‑line permitting flexibility) could protect more large trees while still providing infill density. Staff and the applicant explained how code, stormwater modeling and tree‑protection rules interact and that drip‑line preservation rules are applied strictly; staff noted options for limited drip‑line impacts subject to mitigation (the code allows partial impact with mitigation in some cases). The applicant committed to work with staff between preliminary and final plan submittals to explore measures that could reduce tree removals.

The board approved the preliminary plan but directed staff and the applicant to collaborate before final submission to identify opportunities to reduce tree loss, consider geotechnical remediation for two sinkholes identified on site, confirm gopher tortoise surveys and relocation plans, and ensure stormwater designs minimize clear‑cutting of canopy where feasible.

Next steps: applicant to submit final plans and geotechnical/gopher tortoise surveys; staff to report mitigation and any design changes at final review.