Planning Commission not told of heritage tree cuts

November 14, 2005

According to a member of the San Antonio Planning Commission, City staff never told commissioners they were voting to cut heritage tree preservation by 75% on November 9th. Our source said that staff never mentioned the 75% reduction during their presentation to the Planning Commission meeting or during their staff briefing/work session.

Staff's failure to disclose the effect of the tree ordinance amendments was repeated at the November 14th Urban Affairs Council Committee meeting. Neither staff's presentation nor its written materials revealed that the amendments reduce preservation of old heritage trees by 75%.

Similarly, staff failed to mention that the amendment was submitted by a land development industry lobbyist. In light of this, it cannot be argued that City Council should vote for the amendments based on their approval by the Planning & Zoning Commissions.