CITY COUNCIL AGENDA
March 14, 2019
________________________________________________________________________
Item/Subject: (OA-18-007) Second Reading And Approval Of An Ordinance To Amend
The Cedar Park Code of Ordinances, Chapter 12, Subdivision And
Chapter 14, Site Development Regarding Tree And Landscape
Requirements And Tree Mitigation Standards. The Planning And Zoning
Commission Voted 6-0 To Recommend Approval Of The Amendments.
________________________________________________________________________
Commentary
The Comprehensive Plan recommends updating development regulations to address
design characteristics within the City. Additionally, the recently adopted 2018-2020
Sustainable Future Strategic Goal specifically recommends evaluating the landscape
regulations. In response to these recommendations, staff has drafted the following
amendments to the Tree and Landscape regulations of Code of Ordinances Chapter 14,
Site Development as well as tree mitigation requirements in Chapter 12, Subdivision. As
the City continues toward build out and as existing tree cover decreases, revising the
minimum requirements will aid in the retention of existing trees on site.
Below is a summary of the existing tree and landscape regulations, a summary of
proposed ordinance amendments, and a benchmark city analysis. A redline version
reflecting the proposed ordinance amendments is attached for your information.
Existing Tree and Landscape Requirements
Tree and landscape requirements are typically imposed on commercial lots as they
develop or re-develop within the City limits and ETJ. These regulations dictate the
amount of planting and the size of trees (caliper inches) and shrubs/grasses/groundcovers
(gallon size) that shall be planted on site. The required tree survey shows the existing
hardwood trees on site and requires mitigation and replacement of any protected and
heritage trees proposed for removal. Protected trees are defined as hardwood trees

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 having a trunk that is 16 inches or more in size. Heritage trees are defined as hardwood
trees having a trunk that is 26 inches or more in size.
Required Tree Survey
Cedar Park currently requires a survey of hardwood trees 8” and above. The tree survey
is required during the subdivision application and is used as part of the review for the Site
Development process to identify existing trees on site, as well as those proposed for
removal.
Protected Tree Mandatory Mitigation
Cedar Park currently requires that hardwood trees 16” and above that are proposed for
removal be mitigated at a 1:1 ratio. If the inches cannot be mitigated by planting on site,
or on public property, a fee in lieu of $100 per inch is required.
Heritage Tree Mandatory Mitigation
Cedar Park currently requires that hardwood trees 26” and above that are proposed for
removal be mitigated at a 3:1 ratio. If the inches cannot be mitigated by planting on site,
or on public property, a fee in lieu of $300 per inch is required.
Minimum Planted Tree Caliper Inch
Cedar Park currently requires that the minimum caliper inch for a shade/canopy tree
planted on site be 1.5”. The minimum caliper inch for trees planted within Major
Corridors is 2” and the minimum caliper inch for trees planted within any transitional
buffer yards (typically where commercial property abuts residential property) is 4”
(updated 11/17).
Each development or redevelopment project is handled on a case by case basis for
mitigation, either by planting on site, planting on public property, or paying a fee in lieu
of planting. In most cases, if all inches removed cannot be mitigated by planting on site,
the applicant is able to meet the mitigation requirements by utilizing a combination of
planting (either on site or on public land) and payment of the fee in lieu of planting.
Proposed Amendments
Four significant amendments are proposed. These include:
1. Revise minimum tree mitigation caliper from 16” and above to 8” and above and
update fees in lieu for mandatory mitigation to have three tiers instead of two
2. Reduce the minimum size of trees surveyed from 8” to 6”
3. Allow a 50% credit for existing 6” to 7.9” trees to count toward tree mitigation for
heritage and protected trees in addition to overall site preservation requirement
4. Increase minimum caliper inch of trees required to be planted from 1.5” to 3”

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 Amendment #1
Tree mitigation ratios are utilized to help offset the loss/removal of existing protected and
heritage trees. Fees for mitigation are used when inches removed cannot be replaced on
site or on public property. Currently, there are two tiers of tree mitigation. Protected trees
(16” – 25”) are mitigated at a 1:1 ratio per inch and Heritage trees (26” and greater) are
mitigated at a 3:1 ratio per inch. The tree mitigation classifications are proposed to be
further divided to create three mitigation tiers instead of two. The additional tier would
provide mitigation for smaller trees and put Cedar Park more in line with surrounding
communities. Funds paid into tree mitigation allow for installation and maintenance of
trees in city parks and other city owned properties. The current fee in lieu for tree
mitigation was last updated in 2013. Below are the proposed mitigation ratios and fees
along with the comparison from some of our surrounding communities.

Standards

Cedar
Park
Existing

Cedar Park
Leander
Proposed

Georgetown

Pflugerville

Round Rock

Ratio 1:1
Caliper Inch

16” to 25”

8” to 18.9”

8” to 18”

12” to 25”

8”-17.9"

8” to 19.9”

Fee Per Inch

$100

$150

$150

$150

$150

$150

Ratio 2:1
Caliper Inch

N/A

19” to 25.9”

19” to
25”

26” + (nonheritage spp.)

18”-24.9”

20” to
monarch

Fee Per Inch

N/A

$300

$150

$200

$450

$300

Ratio 3:1
Caliper Inch

26”+

26”+

26” +

26”+
(heritage
spp.)

25”+

Fee Per Inch

$300

$450

$300

$200

$450

25

Monarch +
$450

 Amendment #2 and #3
The minimum caliper inch of existing hardwood trees to be surveyed on site is proposed
to be revised from 8” to 6”. The code currently requires that 50% of existing tree cover be
preserved on site. This requirement is a challenge to meet within some proposed
developments due to site constraints such as lot size, grading and proposed building
location.
The amendments also propose allowing hardwood trees between 6” and 7.9” to count as
50% credit toward tree mitigation for protected and heritage trees, in addition to counting
toward the overall tree cover requirements. This proposed allowance will assist in
offsetting the potential cost of mitigation planting or fee in lieu and protect smaller trees
that are more valuable to a site than a newly planted tree. The proposed tree survey and
tree credit amendments, as well as a summary of tree survey requirements from
surrounding communities, are provided below for reference.
Cedar Park
Existing

Cedar Park
Proposed

8” +
(hardwood)

6” +
(hardwood)
Credit for
6” to 7.9”
trees

Leander

Georgetown

Pflugerville

Round Rock

8” +
(all)

12” +
(credit for
6” to 11”
trees)

8” +
(all)

8” +
(all)

Amendment #4
The minimum caliper inch of trees to be planted on site is proposed to go from 1.5” to 3”.
Revising the minimum caliper inch to 3” would put Cedar Park more in line with the
surrounding communities. A comparison of Cedar Park’s requirements to those of
surrounding communities is provided below.
Cedar Park
Existing

Cedar Park
Proposed

Leander

Georgetown

Pflugerville

Round Rock

1.5” caliper

3” caliper

2” caliper

3” caliper

3” caliper

3” caliper

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 Other Amendments
Additional minor amendments are proposed as noted below:
Establish an expiration date of 2 years for a tree survey to ensure that trees being
surveyed are of an accurate size when the project is submitted for review; and
Update the City’s Preferred Plant List to remove invasive species
General text updates to reflect current terms
Planning & Zoning Commission Public Hearing:
The Planning and Zoning Commission held a public hearing on January 15, 2019. No
public testimony was received.
Planning & Zoning Commission Recommendation to the City Council:
On January 15, 2019, the Planning and Zoning Commission voted 6-0 to recommend
approval of the proposed amendments.
In favor: Mark McDonald, Randy Strader, Sara Groff, Kevin Harris, Candace Lambert,
Bob Ingraham
Opposed: None
Absent: Audrey Wernecke
Stated Reasons for P&Z Recommendation:
Support staff recommendation.
City Council Public Hearing:
City Council held a public hearing on February 28, 2019. No public testimony was
received.
Public Information Plan:
January 2, 2019:
January 15, 2019:
February 6, 2019:
February 28, 2019:
March 14, 2019:

Public notice of the Planning and Zoning Commission public
hearings published in the Austin American Statesman
Planning and Zoning Commission public hearing and
recommendation
Public notice of the City Council public hearings published in the
Austin American Statesman
City Council 1st reading and public hearing
City Council 2nd reading of the ordinance

Initiating Dept: Development Services
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Fiscal Impact

Budget
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