Delaware Shade Tree Commission Meeting – July 29, 2026

Note: The agenda listed the meeting date as July 28, 2026, but the official meeting date is recorded as July 29, 2026.

The Shade Tree Commission met to approve previous minutes, receive an arborist report, and review five landscape and tree canopy management plans for various commercial and industrial developments. No public comments were received.

Consent Calendar

• Motion to excuse Commissioner Dave (absent) was approved.
• Motion summary from the May 26, 2026 meeting was approved unanimously.

Public Comments

• No members of the public signed up to speak or submitted written comments.

Discussion Items

• Arborist Report (July 2026): Staff reported pruning 2,326 trees year-to-date (1,816 in-house, 510 contracted), 60 removals (46 in-house, 14 contracted), 22 stump removals (all in-house), and 203 service requests. A new 35-foot working height limit for safety will result in more contracting for high work.
• Howald Industrial Landscape Plan: The plan preserves existing trees and adds hedge maples, silver lindens, and eastern redbuds, achieving 31% canopy coverage. Commissioners noted the species selection as acceptable.
• Snappy Automotive – Belle Commons Tree Canopy Management Plan: Located at Bell and Liberty, the plan preserves 1.4 acres of existing trees (box elder, green ash, cottonwood) for 36% canopy coverage. Commissioners noted no species list for new landscaping and questioned whether the existing trees were appropriate.
• 1137 Trailhead Crossing West (Lots B and C) Landscape Plan: Proposed use of honey locust (podless hybrid) and London plane trees in parking lot islands, along with shrubs like witch hazel and gray owl juniper. Commissioners discussed the need to confirm non-invasive cultivars.
• 1137 Trailhead Crossing West Overall Tree Canopy Management Plan: The plan shows 20% canopy coverage on a non-industrial site. Commissioners struggled to identify the location.
• Chick-fil-A Landscape Plan and Tree Canopy Management Plan: The plan includes a planting called "creeping lily" (possibly creeping lily turf). Commissioners noted it is listed as invasive in Virginia and Indiana and suggested an alternative. They also discussed the potential for pollinator-friendly plantings.

Key Outcomes

• Minutes from May 26, 2026 were approved.
• The arborist report was accepted as information.
• Plans were reviewed with comments; no formal votes were taken on the plans. The commission directed staff to convey concerns about species selection, particularly the invasive potential of creeping lily, and to request a species list for the Snappy Automotive plan.
• The meeting was adjourned.