Development Guide

Objective

Preserve historic Cross Timbers and other upland forests to the maximum extent practical to maintain the following benefits:

• Ecosystem services
• Habitat preservation and connectivity
• Air quality
• Stormwater management
• Mitigation of the heat island effect
• Preservation of natural heritage

Guidelines and Best Practices

Development in areas where upland forests are indicated on the following map should strive to achieve the objectives outlined above by following the guidelines and best practices to the greatest extent possible. If guidelines and best practices cannot be achieved, different preservation or mitigation alternatives should demonstrate how the proposed development will achieve the objectives of this section.

Avoidance and Minimization

• Strive to maintain as much native Cross Timbers tree cover as possible, including the native understory, based on the following preservation goals. These goals may be reduced if a Certified Arborist determines that the health of the tree canopy is considered poor or diseased, or the canopy consists of predominantly invasive species. Presence of non-native, non-invasive species is insufficient to justify removal unless such species are replaced with native species.
• Reduce fragmentation of habitat and forests by preserving existing forest connectivity within the property and between adjacent properties. Often this is accomplished by retaining large blocks of Upland Forests under common ownership or easements.

Restoration

• Where new-growth or re-growth upland forest trees are removed during construction, replant trees and other native plants on-site. New trees should be planted in clusters that mimic the original tree canopy.

Offset

• Where new-growth or re-growth upland forest is removed during construction, offset losses by replanting a native forest in an off-site location in need of restoration that provides similar ecological benefits.