Weddington planning board forwards revised tree-protection ordinance to Town Council

The Weddington Town Planning Board voted Jan. 27 to forward a revised tree-protection ordinance to Town Council with several changes recommended by staff and the board.

Staff member Greg presented the draft amendment to Section D917.AQ, describing the rule’s goals: define “heritage trees,” require tree surveys earlier in the review process, and strengthen developer responsibilities. Greg summarized urban-forester input and the proposed diameter-at-breast-height thresholds for protected species.

Board members debated species and size thresholds proposed in the packet. The draft presented and discussed included a 20-inch DBH threshold for oaks and tulip trees, 18 inches for hickory and pecan, and 10 inches for southern magnolia, maples and elms; the board agreed to include dogwoods at a lower threshold (5 inches DBH) and to adjust survey requirements to capture those smaller understory species. The board discussed both tree-replacement ratios and upfront monetary mitigation; members noted the draft expresses replacement and fee options (examples discussed during the meeting included multi-tree replacement ratios and a per-inch replacement metric) but that exact fee mechanics would be worked out administratively.

Members also discussed enforcement and how state law applies to timber harvest prior to development. In the meeting staff referenced North Carolina General Statutes §160D-921 as an existing mechanism Union County uses to limit development approvals following willful timber-harvest violations; the board directed the ordinance to include a statutory reference to ensure clarity on enforcement pathways.

A motion to forward the tree ordinance to Town Council with the three changes discussed at the meeting (revised species/size thresholds, adjusted survey language to capture dogwoods at 5 in DBH, and a clear cross-reference to state statute) was made, seconded and approved unanimously. The board’s action is a recommendation; final adoption rests with Town Council.

Why it matters: the ordinance alters what trees developers must identify and how removal is mitigated, affecting future subdivision review, replacement plantings and possible mitigation fees. Staff said the urban forester will be involved in implementation and suggested further administrative detail (fee schedules, replacement-sizing) be set in municipal fee and financial policy rather than embedded in the UDO text.

Next steps: the board forwarded its recommendation to Town Council for consideration. Staff will work with the urban forester on implementation specifics and with the town financial policy to define any mitigation-fee procedures.