TREE TRANSPLANTING DAY POLICY

The purpose of the Tree Transplanting Day is to encourage the "... preservation of mature, healthy trees and natural areas, and to ensure the consideration of protected trees during the planning and design process for development and/or redevelopment within the City …"  [Article 09, Tree Preservation, of the Unified Development Code].  A Tree Transplanting Day is intended to encourage developers and property owners to have a day to allow citizens the opportunity to transplant trees that have been identified for removal resulting from a proposed development, prior to beginning construction.  The following guidelines have been established for developers and property owners for conducting a Tree Transplanting Day.

• Any large development that requires an approved Treescape Plan from the Planning and Zoning Department of the City of Rockwall shall require a Tree Transplanting Day.

• A Tree Transplanting Day shall be conducted a minimum of 14-days -- or as otherwise approved by the Director of Planning and Zoning -- prior to the beginning of clearing and/or grading the subject property.  To request a Tree Transplanting Day please fill out the Request for a Tree Transplanting Day form and provide it to the Planning and Zoning Department a minimum of seven (7) days prior to the date of the proposed Tree Transplanting Day. 

• After the Request for a Tree Transplanting Day form has been submitted to the Planning and Zoning Department, the time and date of the Tree Transplanting Day shall be advertised on the City of Rockwall's Planning and Zoning website.

• All trees to be saved according to the approved Treescape Plan for the subject property shall be clearly identified and flagged by the developer or property owner at least two (2) days prior to the Tree Transplanting Day.

• The developer shall have a representative on the subject property during the date and time of the Tree Transplanting Day to answer resident questions and ensure that protected trees -- as depicted on the approved Treescape Plan -- are not removed from the subject property.

• For each tree removed from the subject property during a Tree Transplanting Day, the developer or property owner shall document the size and species of the tree and take a photograph of the tree prior to and after removal.  This information can be provided to the Planning and Zoning Department for a credit towards any outstanding tree mitigation balance resulting from the proposed development.

• Residents who wish to claim a free tree should come prepared with any tools and/or equipment that may be needed to dig and transport the tree, or hire a professional to remove, transport, and transplant the tree.  All costs associated with transplanting a tree shall be the responsibility of the resident.

• Residents shall be responsible for the removal and replanting of any non-protected trees they wish to relocate.  The City of Rockwall and the developer or property owner shall be held harmless for any damage or injury caused from the removal of trees on the subject property. 

RESOURCES

REQUEST FOR A TREE TRANPLANTING DAY | RESOLUTION NO. 05-06 

NOTICES OF TREE TRANSPLANTING DAY

The following are a list of upcoming Tree Transplanting Days in the City of Rockwall.  Included is the date, time, and contact information associated with each Tree Transplanting Day.  If you have any questions concerning any of these Tree Transplanting Days, please feel free to contact Planning and Zoning Department staff at (972) 771-7745, email us at planning@rockwall.com, or use the Contact Us form on this website.