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Draft landscape master plan aims to expand tree canopy; commissioners push to avoid palms
Summary
Consultants presented a citywide landscape master plan focused on corridor themes, canopy restoration, and implementation costs; commissioners consistently urged prioritizing mature canopy trees over palms and asked staff to narrow palettes into deployable design guidelines.
City landscape consultants presented draft concepts for a Miller Lake‑centered landscape master plan covering major corridors and gateways. The team explained constraints from overhead utilities and recommended themed planting palettes and hardscape choices. The draft includes cost ranges for themed areas and potential grant opportunities to increase canopy and resiliency.
Multiple commissioners pushed back on palm trees in prominent rights‑of‑way. As one commissioner put it, “I think historically on this dais, we have an aversion to the palm tree,” and asked the consultants to produce a narrowed, implementable palette with specific tree selections for roundabouts, medians and sidewalks. Staff said next steps would tie the master plan to site‑specific designs and to grant and capital priorities.
