A Southlake developer proposes to ax nearly 1,000 mature trees of Colleyville’s remaining Cross Timbers forest for a 19-lot development, according to a group in Colleyville. Photo by Mark Fadden.

Feb. 3, 2023

For Colleyville resident Tim Waterworth, he sees this moment in time as a tipping point when it comes one of the last undeveloped parcels of land in the city. 

“Our community is fully developed, with citizens concerned about the rapid loss of green space,” Waterworth said. “Many of these trees stood on this settlement when settlers arrived in Colleyville. The forest presented challenges and resources. Our children and future generations should be able to stand in the woods, as our predecessors did, to imagine what it was like to live during that era.”

The issue raising the ire of Waterworth and his fellow community activists is the possible development of a 14-acre parcel of native forest located near the intersection of Pool Road and Twelve Oaks Lane. The parcel contains nearly 1,000 native Cross Timber trees, including 547 post oak trees that are up to 28 inches in diameter and likely to be between 150-200 years old, according to Steve Houser, a consulting arborist in the DFW area for more than 40 years and a Trustee with the Texas Historic Tree Coalition.

The parcel contains nearly 1,000 native Cross Timber trees, including 547 post oak trees that are up to 28 inches in diameter and likely to be between 150-200 years old, according to Steve Houser.

CAST IRON FOREST 

A southlake developer proposes to take down nearly 1,000 mature trees of Colleyville’s remaining Cross Timbers forest for a 19-lot development, according to a group in Colleyville. Photo by Mark Fadden.

The Cast Iron Forest got its name from early settlers who found its thickness and density made it almost impenetrable​. Photo by Mark Fadden.

Cross Timber ecosystems used to be plentiful across the North Texas region but have declined significantly in number, thanks to continued encroachment of farming, ranching and residential development. 

“The original settlers called it the Cast Iron Forest because it was thick, dense and almost impenetrable. It was an ideal animal habitat because its density provided protection and habitat,” Houser said. “We continue to lose native ecologies and wildlife at an alarming rate. I suspect the vast majority has been altered with less than 10 percent of the original ecology remaining.  Plants and wildlife that were once common are now becoming rare or extinct.”

SPEAKING FOR THE TREES

Concerned residents created a website called Save Colleyville Trees that contains information about the issue, observations from expert arborists, a link to an NBC 5 story as well as links to sign an opposition letter that will be given to the Colleyville City Council. 

A video created by Save Colleyville Trees illustrates the group's case for saving the wooded area.

Help us Save Colleyville Trees at SaveColleyvilleTrees.com

More than 500 residents have submitted letters opposing a Southlake-based developer’s plan to build The Bluffs at Colleyville, a gated community of 19 luxury homes with prices starting at $2 million. 

DEVELOPER PUSHBACK

Colleyville planning and zoning commissioners voted unanimously to reject the proposal in November, according to previous reporting by the Fort Worth Report.

However, after the developers — Southlake-based WillowTree Custom Homes and Sage Group Inc. — filed an appeal, council met to hear from them as well as from concerned citizens, during a public hearing on Jan. 5. A second hearing is scheduled for Feb. 21 where council will most likely vote on whether to accept or reject the developers’ proposal.

A second hearing is scheduled for Feb. 21 where council will most likely vote on whether to accept or reject the developers’ proposal.

According to the Fort Worth Report, Curtis Young, a principal at Sage Group Inc. and the lead representative for the proposal, said developers have already made several concessions to address resident concerns. Those adjustments include reducing the number of lots on the property by increasing lot size and purchasing additional land to keep traffic out of the adjacent Ross Downs neighborhood. Young’s proposal meets Colleyville rules to preserve at least half of the canopy. Developers would also be required to make up for the hundreds of removed “heritage” trees by either planting 276 large trees, paying a $176,600 fee or combining the two methods. 

Map of wooded area. Courtesy of Save Colleyville TreesA map shows the area to be developed. Image courtesy of Save Colleyville Trees. See larger version.

A city staff report found that the zoning change complies with Colleyville’s comprehensive plan. Colleyville regulations stipulate that at least 50 percent of the tree canopy in a subdivision development must be preserved. This excludes trees located in existing utility easements or right-of-way. Furthermore, once lots are ready for homebuilders, then at least 75 percent of the trees on each lot must be preserved. WillowTree’s proposal is to remove 5.48 acres of tree canopy, or roughly 47 percent of trees estimated on the property.

WHY TREES MATTER

Since Houser got involved with the issue, he’s been recommending that the city buy the property to give residents asome more much-needed green space. 

“Green spaces provide a huge amount of benefits to the physical and mental health of humans, as well as the dollar value of properties, according to sound research,” he said. “The developer mentioned that 98 percent of the town was already developed and it seems reasonable that at least some of the 2 percent that remains should be preserved.”  

Beyond leaving some of the native land alone in cities for simply aesthetic value, forest land like this parcel also provide huge benefits to the surrounding community that may go unnoticed at first glance.

A group in Colleyville is working to save a wooded area. Photo by Mark Fadden.More than 500 residents have submitted letters opposing a Southlake-based developer’s plan to build The Bluffs at Colleyville​ on this 14-acre lot. Photo by Mark Fadden.

“This forest serves many important environmental functions that improves our quality of life such as filtering water, preventing water runoff and erosion. It dampens noise, captures carbon and emits oxygen, [and is] a thriving ecosystem that provides habitat and food for a variety of native North Texas plants, bugs, reptiles, birds (including migratory birds), and mammals,” Waterworth said. “It also has historical and cultural value.”

“This forest serves many important environmental functions that improves our quality of life such as filtering water, preventing water runoff and erosion. It dampens noise, captures carbon and emits oxygen, [and is] a thriving ecosystem that provides habitat and food for a variety of native North Texas plants, bugs, reptiles, birds (including migratory birds), and mammals,” Waterworth said. “It also has historical and cultural value.”

As far as getting to a win-win where the land gets developed but most of the native trees are saved, Houser thinks that’s not feasible. 

“As the builders regrade the properties, install water/sewer/gas and electrical lines, most trees will be lost. Also, they will add landscape plants that require digging into roots of existing trees, then they add turf grass and sprinkler lines (that further damage roots) and then start watering three times a week which kills most native trees and plants by drowning them,” Houser said. 

Waterworth believes that a win-win could happen when it comes to this land, but it doesn’t involve development. 

“I attended the P&Z and City Council meetings. I’m convinced the land is not a good site for development. It would require significant grading, fill and retainer walls. The current developer's plan would decimate the forest, even with fewer houses I believe the forest would still be lost,” he said. “I do not wish the developer any ill will. My hope is that we come to a solution that's a win for our community and that the developer comes out okay, too.”

TAKE ACTION

Send a letter of opposition on the Save Colleyville Trees's website.

 

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