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Staff recommends 'work within right-of-way' approach for tree replanting on road projects
Summary
Director O'Connor recommended that the city standardize tree replanting by working within acquired right-of-way and installing landscaping after construction, noting a modest expected cost increase; council asked for flexibility and earlier design concepts when warranted.
Director Brian O'Connor presented three options for replacing tree buffers tied to transportation projects and recommended Option 1 — work within the right-of-way and install landscaping after construction — as the least financially impactful approach. He told council that "establishing a policy for landscaping tree replanting as part of transportation projects will increase project costs" and gave staff estimates: roughly a 1%–5% increase for Option 1 and a higher estimate (5%–10% plus ROW costs) for Options 2 and 3.
Councilmembers generally supported a cautious, flexible approach: they want staff to provide upfront cost estimates and concept designs during the engineering stage when feasible, and to reserve the ability to recommend additional right-of-way when neighborhood context warrants it. O'Connor said staff can develop design concepts during the design phase and noted that using landscape specialists rather than roadway contractors could improve implementation. Staff will return with refined policy language and examples showing when acquiring additional right-of-way is appropriate.
