Council approves first reading of new tree‑preservation and landscape standards

The council held a public hearing and approved on first reading Ordinance 25‑2025‑02, the second phase of the town’s landscape and tree preservation effort. Planning staff (Patreya) described a months‑long stakeholder process that produced minimum landscape plan requirements, native‑plant targets, and mitigation and enforcement provisions.

Key elements presented by staff include: submitting landscape plans signed and sealed by a South Carolina‑licensed landscape architect as part of site‑plan review; minimum sizes for planting (canopy trees 3‑inch caliper, understory/ornamental trees 8‑foot height, shrubs with 50% at 7‑gallon size); and a native species goal (70% of shrubs and trees and 50% of ground cover native to the island). Existing plant material can count toward minimums and certain species (for example pines or palms) are treated differently in mitigation tables.

Council members raised questions about applicability to single‑family lots, planning‑director discretion versus the Landscape & Tree Preservation Board, and whether the mitigation formula (70% retention/mitigation) could create impractical replanting burdens on heavily forested lots. Staff said the planning director has discretion at site‑plan approval for many items and the board retains jurisdiction over specimen‑tree decisions; applicants can seek board review where appropriate.

Roger Warren, representing resort interests, supported the ordinance but urged flexibility and partnership on high‑profile commercial projects. Council approved the ordinance on first reading and noted the language would be cleaned up before second reading to resolve circular text and clarify when issues go to the board versus planning director.

Next steps: staff will revise confusing provisions for second reading and return with clarified language and any proposed procedural changes.