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C0MMI$$10NERS PARKS AND WILDLIFE DEPARTMENT-
YGNACIOD G^RZA 4200 Smith School Road · &u$11n, Texas 78~44 · o~=-=o---q~...' [" '~''
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c ~,....ow,,.,,0 Urban Fisl~ and Wildli~
WA~I~R UMPIIHLV
~.-~..,,~.. Dallas / Ft. Wo[th Office
eo,~ P.O. B ox 94 ]
Cedar Hill, TX 75104
LEE M. BASS
FI Wodh
M~KEY BtJRI.F~ON ~ 7 2
T~o Phone: ~ 293-3641 FIX: (~293-3842
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the
TE_L' _iun ~6,97 !0:!6 No.O02 P,02
June 6, 1997
nONaA.E ^nD Mr. Jim Witt
U R~.AN PRO(]~6f AM
Coppeli City Manager
and Council Members
Dea~ Mr. Witt:
I am writing in support of thc d~ision to I~ve a 20 foot gr~nbelt ~ong t~
and ~st pro~y boundaries of the 15 ~re property lo~t~ noah of DeFor~
Road ~d east of MacA~hur Boulevard and to urge the ciW plann~s to e~end
that ~m~t to at I~t 50 f~t on both sides.
It w~ my pl~sure to attend the Ci~ of Coppcll PIing ~d
Commission m~in8 on May 15, 1997 du~ng which the proposal develop~t
of PD-161. Stratford Manor was dis~ss~. I commend the ci~ plann~s for
their foresight in wanting to l~vc a 20 foot buffer ~ne for a numb~ of ~ns,
not the le~t of which include aesthetics, noi~ r~uction, ero~on ~n~ ~d ,
~ldlife habi~t. I am con~m~, however, that the 20 foot ~ne is too small
~mplish those purpo~s. Ac~rdln8 to ~rrent li~ramre on ~n~don
design for subdi~sions, ~ minimum of 50 to 60 foot zones are r~mmend~.
A single mature ~erican Elm, one of the trees ~mmonly found on t~
property, for example, hm~ a hori~nt~ spre~ of up to 70 f~t. That m~ns the
roots ofthe tr~ extend approximat&y 35 f~t in e~h dir~tion. If the r~t
is impact~ by ~nstmction, the tr~ will die within 3 to 5 y~rs. That f~
unfomunately, b~n demonstrat~ many times. ~, this tr~ r~uir~ ~il-
drain~ mils, and would b~me subj~t to stress and di~ if exmss wat~
diven~ to the root zone, eventu~ly reciting in the loss of the tr~.
From an ~sthetic persp~tive, it goes without ~ying that d~ or d~g tr~ do
not m~t the obj~ives of be~tifi~tion, visual ~re~in8, or noi~ r~umion.
My major ~n~m, however, is in regard to the inad~uacy of a 20 foot ~ne to
se~e ~ a ~rddor for wildlife.
The concept of corridors has been around for about 25 years. By definition,
corridors are strips of vegetation connecting habitat reserves, through which
animals may move frccly from their feeding and reproductive areas and e4ssily
escape from predators. Corridors help mitigate the loss of habitat due to
construction and development and are compatible with recreational uses.
4200 ~MITH I[;¢HOOL IIOAI'I
. _ TE__k: Jun _Q6,97 10:I? No.O02 P.05
Mr. Jim Witt
Page 2
June 6, ] 997
The absence of adequate corridors, as would result from tho propo~d 20 foot
easement, results in undesirable contact with nuisance wildlife species, such as
skunks, opossums, raccoons, and occasionally coyotes. These animals have no
way of traveling throughout their range without coming in contact with humans.
Unavoidable conflicts, such as damage to trash, predation on small pets, and the
potential to spread diverse to humans would be likely to occur.
On a more positive note, the 50 to 60 foot corridor would encourage more
desirable species, specifically songbirds. Forest bird species, such aa thrushes,
vireos, tanagers, wood warblers, and flycatchers arc much more likely to survive
with a larger corridor. These neotropical migrants are losing habitat all
throughout their range and need all the assistance they can get. Also, in an ideal
habitat such as the proposed development, you undoubtedly have a healthy
population of bats. I emphasize "healthy", because these are highly desirable
creatures and the potential for problems with bats has been highly over-
exaggerated. Bats are effective biological control agents for mosquitoes and
undesirable insets. Having a wider corridor helps ensure that bats, among other
creatures, will be able to continue living and performing their ecological r, orvi~
in their native habitats.
Thank you for the opportunity to comment. For your records, I am the head of
Texas Parks and Wildlife's Urban Fish and Wildlife Program, 1 have a Master's
degree in Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences from Texas A&M University, end I
serve on the board of the Trinity Blacklands Urban Forestry Council. My staff
and I are experienced in working with conservation designs for subdivisions end
would welcome the opportunity to participate in the ecologically sensitive
development of the proposed property. Ma), 1 suggest the following National
Arbor Day re. sources for your consideration: Tree City USA Bulletins number 7,
How tr, Save Trees During C ;onslruction, number 20, ,4 ~'yslemattc ,4pprom~ to
Building With Trees, and number 28, Piachtg a l/'alue on Trees. The~ end many
other useful publications are available through thc National Arbor Day
Foundation, 21 ! N. 12* St., Lincoln, NE 68508 for approximately $2.00 esr, h.
Sincerely,
Urban Fish and Wildlife Program Leade~