The Delaware Shade Tree Commission will continue its review of the city’s tree preservation regulations at its meeting on Tuesday.
The review was prompted after the Building Industry Association of Central Ohio voiced concerns about updates to the regulations. Delaware City Council approved the changes to clarify the use of the tree bank fund to allow for the planting and maintenance of street trees.
The fund is an option developers can utilize to meet tree replacement requirements. Developers must replant half of the removed trees at the development site but can make up the remaining balance by replanting trees at another location or pay a fee in lieu to the fund. BIA officials’ concerns were about the cost of the tree replacement fee and the variance procedure.
The commission started its review last month.
“This is a complex issue with many details to consider,” Shade Tree Commission Chairman Paul Olen said. “I think that STC members will continue to process the many areas where we can improve the tree preservation policy, wording, and in some cases, enforcement.”
The commission will hear from Parks and Natural Resources Director Ted Miller to provide clarifications on some of their questions from the last meeting.
The commission will also review plans for:
• Belmont Place Sections 4 and 5 development, located on the east side of Glenn Parkway and north of Peachblow Road on the city’s southeast side. The development consists of 21.5 acres for 72 single-family lots.
• Communities of Glenross Section 11, located on the south side of Cheshire Road and east of the Glenross Golf Course. The development consists 22.74 acres for 58 single-family lots.
• Coughlin’s Crossing, located between U.S. 23 and Stratford Road, north of Meeker Way. The nearly 80-acre site is zoned mixed-use for retail, office, and residential purposes. The plan to be reviewed is for landscaping.
• Burr Oak Commons, located on the north side of State Route 37 west of Westfield Shopping Center. The developers presented a concept plan for the more than 20-acre site to the Delaware Planning Commission in May. The area would have apartments for residents ages 55 and older, according to the concept plan.
• General Castings Condos, located between near Berlin Station and Curve roads intersection. Information about the nearly 29-acre site was not available. A development plan has not been submitted yet.
The commission will meet at 7 p.m. in City Hall, 1 S. Sandusky St.
