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Applicant says 58 mature trees will be retained; DRB flags budget and credit questions
Summary
Applicants told the DRB they plan to retain 58 trees (6–36 in. DBH) and estimated a landscaping cost of $2.5 million versus a required budget of $32,000; staff accepted a rough retained-tree credit approach for now but warned the board may revisit if retained counts fall.
During review of SP 2607, the applicant described a landscaping plan that retains dozens of existing trees and requested credit against the landscaping requirement.
"We're saving these, and they are worth at least $16,000," the applicant said while citing an inventory of 58 trees with diameters between 6 and 36 inches and an "anticipated project cost of 2,500,000." Staff acknowledged that, given the circumstances and the detailed tree mapping submitted, a rough estimate in this case is reasonable but said the DRB could revisit the evaluation if the number of retained qualifying trees drops in future revisions.
Board and staff discussed tree protection during grading and whether the proposed swale and minor grading would compromise the drip lines of trees flagged for retention; applicants said they would attempt to slide the swale or adjust grading so protected trees remain viable, and that if disturbance is unavoidable, those trees would be removed from the retained list and replaced per LDR requirements.
