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Commission hears concerns over removal of 428 trees for VA clinic; staff says replacement exceeds code
Summary
Commissioners and staff discussed removal of 428 trees (401 identified as invasive Siberian Elm) and a staff-supported replacement plan calling for 118 new trees to replace 27 non-invasive specimens; commissioners expressed interest in stronger preservation standards.
Commissioners pressed developers and staff on the project’s tree removal and landscape mitigation plan during a June 18 hearing for the 3711 South State Street subdivision. Senior City Planner Spencer Cawley and Director of Neighborhoods Sharen Hauri explained the Land Use Code’s replacement rules and the applicant’s inventory, which listed 428 total trees, 401 of which were identified as Siberian Elm and classified in the packet as invasive by USDA standards.
The staff report states that because Siberian Elm is not on Utah’s noxious weed list, but is identified by the USDA as invasive, removal of documented invasive species does not trigger the city’s four-to-one replacement requirement for non-invasive trees; the applicant plans to replace the 27 non-invasive trees with 118 new trees (ten more than code requires). Ms. Hauri told the Commission that "she trusted Mr. Cawley’s judgement on the matter" and that staff is preparing clearer tree preservation standards and engineering standards to better protect valuable trees in future projects.
Commissioners asked whether specific Honey Locust trees along 200 East could be preserved; the applicant’s landscape architect said they hoped to save 17 Honey Locusts but that proposed utilities might prevent salvaging all. Commissioners and staff said they expect tree preservation standards to be included in forthcoming ordinance updates and engineering standards.
