Citizen Connection March 2019Trees are an important part of every landscape, offering a number of benefits from filtering pollution to
providing shade. In this edition of the Citizen Connection, you will find resources and information that
can help you find, plant, and grow trees, while adding beauty and benefits to your home or property.
CITIZEN CONNECTION
MARCH 2019
CITY OF DENTON
CELEBRATE TREES & MORE AT ANNUAL
DENTON REDBUD FESTIVAL ON APRIL 13
On Saturday, April 13, Keep Denton Beautiful
will host the 26th Annual Denton Redbud Festival
from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Civic Center,
321 E. McKinney St. This award-winning
community festival and home & garden show
offers fun for attendees of all ages, with a focus
on trees and community beautification.
This year’s festival features dozens of vendors
with plant sales, home products, and handmade
gifts. Free educational workshops on tomato
gardening, beekeeping, and North Texas trees
will be offered; Denton residents who complete
a 30-minute tree-care class are invited to take
home a free tree. Family-friendly activities include
bounce houses, face painting, a photo booth,
appearances by Critterwoman and her animal
friends, as well as a tree-themed story time for
young children and their caregivers, hosted by
the Denton Public Library.
The ever-popular TRASHion Fashion Runway
Show returns for its eighth year displaying vibrant
designs made from trash and reused materi-
als, hosted by SCRAP Denton. Create a custom
event T-shirt at the live screen printing booth,
and enjoy delicious festival foods and live music
performances throughout the day. To view the
full event schedule, visit www.kdb.org.
Increase the value of your property and improve the livability of our city by planting trees! Denton
utility customers can apply for a $50 rebate for each qualifying native or adapted tree purchased—
up to five trees per property. Visit www.dentontreerebates.com for step-by-step instructions,
list of qualifying trees, and to apply. Deadline to submit Tree Rebate applications is May 15.
Trees provide many benefits to you and our community:
• Trees shade buildings and decrease ambient temperatures. Strategically placed
trees can save you up to 56 percent on your annual air conditioning costs.
• Trees provide aesthetic benefits and increase property values. Healthy, mature
trees add an average of 10 percent to a property’s value.
• Trees filter pollution out of the air and reduce greenhouse gases. Each year,
100 trees remove 53 tons of carbon dioxide and 430 pounds of other pollutants.
• Trees help manage stormwater and prevent flooding. At maturity, 100 trees can
catch about 139,000 gallons of rainwater each year.
(Statistics provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service)
The Tree Rebate Program is one of six programs under the Denton Tree Initiative, a campaign from
Keep Denton Beautiful and the City of Denton designed to increase Denton’s tree canopy by offering
free trees, forestry education, and tree planting incentives to Denton residents, businesses,
neighborhoods, and schools. For more information, visit www.dentontreeinitiative.com.
REBATES AVAILABLE FOR PLANTING TREES
A publication of the City of Denton Department of Public Affairs
ADA/EOE/ADEA • TDD (800) 735-2989 • www.cityofdenton.com
Questions about the Citizen Connection? Call (940) 349-8171.
The City is in the process of updating the Denton
Development Code (DDC), which regulates what,
where, and how development occurs in Denton.
The last comprehensive DDC and Zoning Map
updates were made more than 16 years ago. With
the recently adopted City comprehensive plan,
Denton Plan 2030, and Denton’s ongoing growth,
it is time to reevaluate the Code and make the
changes necessary to implement our vision for
Denton’s future.
The goal of the DDC Update is to promote
responsible and quality development while also
protecting and preserving Denton’s unique charm
and character. To ensure that we balance smart
growth and community preservation, the new
DDC will center on the following themes:
• Focus on customer service
• Provide flexibility
• Protect neighborhoods
• Coordinate efforts throughout the City
• Build a strong foundation
• Tailor development standards to specific
context
Because the DDC includes the standards and
processes that regulate development and set
zoning designations, the DDC update will affect
UPDATE TO DENTON DEVELOPMENT CODE
AND ZONING MAP IN THE WORKS
Properly pruning your trees can promote growth in all the right places. Improper pruning can have
the opposite effect, ultimately shortening the life of your trees. Below are a few helpful tips to think
about when getting your trees ready for spring:
• Trees do not heal, they seal. Try to make the smallest cut possible.
• Use the right tool for the job. If the branch is less than half an inch thick, use a hand pruner.
If the branch is larger than half an inch, consider using a lopper or pruning saw.
• Establish a strong structure. Each tree needs primary or scaffold branches that will help anchor
and support the growth of the tree. You will want to keep a single dominant branch growing
upward. This will help lead the tree as the trunk grows.
• Don’t remove them all. Never remove more than 25 percent of the branches on the tree.
• Wound Dressing is only necessary if you are worried about a disease or pest affecting the tree.
PRUNING CAN EXTEND THE LIFE OF TREES
all Denton residents, businesses, and property
owners.
While you may find yourself in a new zoning
district, the current policies affecting
single-family neighborhoods or existing
developments will not change. However, if
you own or live near undeveloped property,
you are likely to see new zoning and
development regulations and processes.
If you would like more information regarding
your property or how the DDC update could
impact you, call Development Services at
(940) 349-8541 to speak with a member of
the City’s Planning staff.
A draft of the DDC update, the proposed Zoning
Map, and FAQs are currently available online at
www.dentoncode2030.com. You will also find
details about upcoming Planning and Zoning
Commission and City Council Work Sessions
and Public Meetings.