What: Unified Development Ordinance text amendment that moves street-tree requirements into the subdivision standards and limits them to the main road types instead of all roads.
Where it stands: The Planning Advisory Board unanimously recommended approval on October 12.
Street trees (in the right-of-way) would be required only along arterial, collector, feeder, primary major and secondary roads, as defined in UDO Article 9.4, and only where a new road is built in a subdivision (Article 6.1). Commercial and residential lots stay covered by the landscaping standards (Article 5.2), and the front-yard canopy tree requirement is unchanged.
The street-tree language in Article 5.7 and the downtown sections is consolidated in one place, and the understory tree height conflict (40 versus 30 feet) is resolved at 30 feet.
Staff cited damage to curbs, sidewalks and utilities, hurricane debris and storm drain flooding, and Wilmington's tree costs. A city tree canopy assessment showed canopy up about 4% from 2014 to 2020. Staff said the change lessens costs for developers because fewer roads would require street trees.
Consistent with Land Use Plan goal 27 (policy 27.7) on gateway and corridor landscaping.
Presented by Ryan King after earlier board input and a City Council workshop. Motion to recommend approval, finding consistency with the land use plan, passed unanimously.