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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.