The third time was not the charm for WillowTree Custom Homes, as the developer again presented a rezoning request to the Colleyville City Council and again was denied.
At a Dec. 19 council meeting in Tarrant County’s Colleyville, residents who live near the planned WillowTree development fought for their right to greenspace, arguing that building multimillion-dollar homes on the 14-acre tract would destroy “heritage trees,” part of an urban forest in what is supposed to be a protected area.
After hearing a proposal from developers that would reduce the number of planned homes from 19 to nine and designate more than 5 acres of native forest for preservation, Colleyville City Council members denied for the third time since February WillowTree’s rezoning request.
The developers were asking to rezone 2417 Wilkes Drive from agricultural and residential estate to higher-density residential, according to The Fort Worth Report.
But prohibiting the rezoning doesn’t necessarily save the trees, some city leaders countered.
The Fort Worth Report quoted Colleyville Mayor Bobby Lindamood raising concerns about the city’s ability to regulate tree preservation if the land remains zoned agricultural.
“He pointed to legal uncertainty surrounding how the city could enforce its ordinances under a new Texas constitutional amendment protecting the right to farm,” according to an article by Haley Samsel. “If the landowner wanted to, he could begin cutting down trees less than 10 caliper-inches wide tomorrow under the current ordinance, Lindamood said.”
Save Colleyville Trees
More than 300 residents who submitted letters of opposition and those representing Save Colleyville Trees didn’t see it that way. They say more than 1,000 mature trees are at risk.
“Here sits 15 heavily wooded acres of cross timbers forest,” a Colleyville resident says in a five-minute video posted on the Save Colleyville Trees site. “A Southlake developer wants to tear down the trees and build 19 McMansions on this site. Please help us save this forest and stop the rezone.”
One resident who lives near the proposed development suggested there might be an opportunity to extend Parr Park to connect to Kimzey Park, creating a win-win for the community rather than just allowing “nine multimillionaires” to enjoy the green space.
The WillowTree proposal was denied without prejudice, meaning developers can update the plan and try again a fourth time.
Dallas Offers Neighborhood Forest Overlay to Protect Residential Trees
Neighbors wanting to save their trees isn’t unique to Colleyville.
There are tools in place to protect special Dallas trees, but not many people know they exist or how to use them.
City leaders of late have emphasized the importance of trees for economic development, environmental benefits, and preserving neighborhood character.
A Neighborhood Forest Overlay, approved by the Dallas City Council in 2019, allows neighborhoods to petition for an ordinance specific to their area that will protect the community’s forest canopy. That means builders planning to clear-cut a site for new development either can’t remove certain trees or have to go through a permitting process.
Additionally, residents can designate a “historic tree,” meaning a tree or grove of trees that has been recognized by resolution of the City Council as having “cultural or historical significance.” A process is in place through the Texas A&M Forest Service to designate “big trees” or “champion trees.”
The Dallas City Council voted in October to designate 86 trees “historic,” meaning they can only be removed with City Council approval or due to a dangerous public safety issue.
Trees making the historic cut include the Big Spring bur oak, a grove of trees at Dealey Plaza, a grove of 35 post oak trees at Pioneer Plaza Park, a Cherokee Park tree at Dallas Heritage Village, a California Crossing Comanche Marker tree, and the Moore Park Big Tree Grove.
