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Board presses applicant on specimen trees, canopy and arborist plans
Summary
Board and staff required the applicant to retain or relocate specimen trees and to maintain 50% canopy coverage; applicant said it would consult an arborist and may replant to meet the requirement.
Preservation and relocation of specimen trees were recurring topics during the hearing on the 6240 SW 65th Avenue subdivision. City staff reminded the board that the land development code requires retention or relocation of specimen trees and a minimum 50% canopy across the site, while invasive species must be removed and do not count toward the canopy percentage.
Applicant representative Sergio Porinos acknowledged the requirement and said the design team will work with an arborist and seek to retain the largest trees where feasible, but that some trees may need relocation or replacement to meet both building needs and canopy rules. “We’ll bring in an arborist and make sure that we do what needs to be done,” Porinos said. Board members asked the applicant to remove invasive species now, if feasible, rather than later, and emphasized that final site plans must show how the canopy requirement will be achieved.
The board included tree protection and invasive‑species removal among the conditions attached to the variance and plat approvals; staff and the applicant said specific mitigation details will be provided during site plan review and prior to recording.
