2020-002 - Cross Timbers Upland HabitatDate: January 3, 2020 Report No. 2020-002
INFORMAL STAFF REPORT
TO MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
SUBJECT:
Provide information about the Cross Timbers upland habitat environmentally sensitive areas
(ESAs) in the Cole Ranch and Hunter Ranch master planned communities (MPCs).
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
Council member Armintor requested staff information about the regulations protecting trees
located at Pilot Knob and the protection granted under the Cole Ranch and Hunter Ranch MPCs.
BACKGROUND:
The Pilot Knob area is designated as a Cross Timbers upland habitat, one of the four types of
environmentally sensitive areas (ESAs) protected in Denton. The protected habitat at Pilot Knob
is presumed to cover approximately 99 acres. However, field assessments are needed for
verifying this information. Denton Development Code (DDC) Section 7.4.8 regulates the
protection and permitted activities within this area. Current regulations require the preservation
of 50% of the contiguous habitat (this includes both trees and understory vegetation) for
residential land uses. This comprises all housing arrangements within the residential use
spectrum. For all non-residential uses, the preservation is set at 30%.
The proposed Hunter Ranch and Cole Ranch master planned communities have modified some
of the regulations pertaining the protection of Pilot Knob, and any Cross Timbers upland habitats
located throughout the MPCs.
Hunter Ranch has set different preservation targets for the four areas currently identified on the
ESA map as Cross Timbers upland habitats, including Pilot Knob. These four areas, depicted as
A through D on Exhibit 1, are aligned diagonally west of the I-35W corridor. Pilot Knob is
identified as area C on the map. The cumulative preservation efforts throughout Hunter Ranch
would result in 56.9% of the Cross Timbers habitat being preserved.
Cross Timbers Upland
Habitat Area
Estimated Existing
Acreage*
Proposed
Preservation
Acreage
% of Preservation
A 136.3 56.0 41
B 26.2 18.3 70
C (Pilot Knob) 98.7 73.0 74
D 3.0 3.0 100
Total 264.2 150.3 56.9
*Based on current DDC regulations, depending on land use (residential or non-residential)
between 30% to 50% of the existing habitat acreage would be preserved.
Date: January 3, 2020 Report No. 2020-002
In addition, parks, open space, recreational uses, trails, walkways, and bike paths have been
added as permitted activities within areas designated as Cross Timbers upland habitats.
Currently DDC Section 7.4.8 does not list recreational activities as a permitted use.
Although Cole Ranch has adopted the same language for Cross Timbers upland habitat ESAs,
based on field assessments performed in 2008, Cross Timbers upland habitat is not present in the
Cole Ranch.
Please let me know if I can provide any additional information.
CONCLUSION:
This ISR has been provided for informational purposes.
ATTACHMENT(S):
Hunter Ranch ESA Map
STAFF CONTACT:
Deborah Viera
Assistant Director of Environmental Services
(940) 349-7162
Deborah.Viera@cityofdenton.com
Date: January 3, 2020 Report No. 2020-002
ATTACHMENT