Design Review Board approves Route 44 Crossing common‑area landscaping with flexible tree‑mitigation

The City of Eagle Design Review Board voted to recommend approval of the Route 44 Crossing common‑area landscaping plan, adopting the applicant‑preferred mitigation option that allows a combination of additional plantings and payment to the city tree fund. Chair (Speaker 1) moved, a board member seconded, and the motion carried with recorded aye votes.

Nicolette Womack, a planner with Kimley Horn who represented the applicant, summarized the project's approvals and remaining items and said the application is asking for flexibility on tree mitigation: “We do wanna talk for a hot 2nd about, condition number 2, which is regarding tree mitigation,” she told the board. Planning staff Emily Falco later explained the staff packet presents four mitigation options and confirmed the applicant requested Option 4 — a hybrid of planting some trees and contributing to the tree fund — as a reasonable approach given drainage constraints and site utilities.

The board attached specific conditions to the approval. The revised landscape plan and any contribution to the tree fund must be reviewed and approved by staff and at least one member of the design review board before final plat application or the start of on‑site construction. The board also required submission of material and color selections for structures (including the pump house and the CMU wall) and a landscape selection list intended to create continuity for future commercial lots along the highway frontage.

Staff said the project has approvals from several agencies and that the remaining permit is with Middleton Mill Irrigation District; the irrigation issue will be tested at the start of the irrigation season. Next steps for the applicant include submitting the revised landscape plan and materials samples for staff review and fulfilling the condition that the additional trees be placed within common areas rather than in private lawns.