Planning & Designing Services To Hold Land Development Code Public Meetings To Increase And Preserve Tree Canopy

In response to the passage of a Metro Council resolution, Louisville Metro’s Planning & Design Services, the city’s agency responsible for reviewing development applications and ensuring they align with our planning and zoning regulations, will hold public meetings to engage with the public on an update of Chapter 10 of the Land Development Code. Chapter 10 concerns trees, landscaping and open space.

The resolution passed by Metro Council on October 11 asked the Planning Commission to review the Land Development Code and to review the tree preservation and planting requirements to preserve and increase Louisville’s tree canopy.

The updates to Chapter 10 of the Land Development Code will only affect tree canopy requirements for development applications submitted to Planning & Design Services.

The update follows a tree ordinance aimed at preserving and increasing the tree canopy on public rights of way, which was passed by Metro Council in 2017.

“I was pleased to see the unanimous Metro Council vote to begin the process of improving Louisville’s Land Development Code, reducing tree loss and increasing our shrinking tree canopy,” Metro Council District 9 Councilman, and one of four sponsors of the resolution, Bill Hollander said. “There’s a bipartisan consensus that changes are needed. I encourage everyone to attend a meeting or make a comment as part of this process.”

The meetings will take place at the following dates, locations and times:

• November 13: Jeffersontown branch of the Louisville Free Public Library (10635 Watterson Trail) from 12-2 p.m.
• November 27: Okolona Fire Department (8501 Preston Highway) from 12-2 p.m.
• December 4: Portland branch of the Louisville Free Public Library (3305 Northwestern Parkway) from 6-8 p.m.
• December 11: East Government Center (200 N. Juneau Drive) from 6-8 p.m.

Proposed changes to Chapter 10 of the Land Development Code are due to Metro Council by March 1, 2019.

Changes related to tree requirements were last reviewed in 2014. Increases to preservation and planting requirement were deferred at that time pending the completion of an Urban Tree Canopy Assessment. The Assessment was complete in 2015 and showed a loss in tree canopy from 2004 to 2012 and predicted further losses without changes to City requirements.

For more information and a public comment form, please visit https://louisvilleky.gov/government/planning-design/land-development-cod…