PD161-CS 970609COMMISSIONERS
Texas Parks and Wildlife Dept/ Ray Whitney
YGNACIO D. GARZA
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LEE M, BASS
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JOHN WIL$ON KELSEY
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PERRY R. BASS
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iuu'''-'''''~- ~ TEXAS j'i; '" ILL//:
AND WILDLIFE DEPARI~MI~N~T~;
4Z00 Smllh $ohool Road · Austin, Texas 78744 ·
Urban ~ish and
~a]ias / ~t. Wo]lh Office
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Cedar Hill, TX 75104
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Phone: {.a44t 2~3-3841
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Fax: (~W4+
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TEL: Jun 06,9? 10:16 No.O02 P.02
June 6, 1997
~ON~AME AND
URBAN
MICKITY EIUR'Lr~K)N
RtCI4AR~) (OICK) HIr'ATH
T£NIEBE T&RI-TON HI:R$14L-Y
WALT[Iq i,,J MpHI~EY
Mr. Jim Witt
Coppell City Managcr
and Council Members
Dear Mr. Witt:
I am writing in support ofthc decision to leave a 20 foot greenbelt along the eut
and west property boundaries of the l $ acre property Ioc~te~l north of DoFor~t
Road and east of MacArthur Boulevard and to urge the city planners to extend
that easement to at least 50 feet on both sides.
It was my pleasure to attend the City of Coppell Planning and Zoning
Commission meeting on May ! 5, 1997 during which the proposed development
of p~D-161, Str~.fford Manor was discussed. I commend the city planners for
their foresight in wanting to leavc a 20 foot buffer zone for a number of reasons,
not the least of which include aesthetics, noise reduction, erosion control, and
wildlife habitat. I am concerned, however, that the 20 foot zone is too small to
accomplish those purposes. According to current literature on conservation
design for subdivisions, a minimum of 50 to 60 foot zones are recommended.
A single mature American Elm, one of the trees commonly found on the
property, for example, has a horizontal spread of up to 70 feet. That means the
roots ofthe tree extend approximately 35 feet in each direction. If the root zone
is impacted by construction, the tree will die within 3 to 5 years. That fa. vt has,
unfortunately, been dcmonstrated many times. Also, this tree requires well-
drained roils, and would become subject to stress and disease if excess water is
diverted to the root zone, eventually resulting in the loss of the tree.
From an aesthetic perspective, it goes without saying that dead or dying trees do
not meet the objectives of beautification, visual screening, or noise reduction.
My major concern, however, is in regard to the inadequacy of a 20 foot zone to
serve as a corridor for wildlife.
Thc 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 freely from their feeding and reproductive areas and easily
escape from predators. Corridors help mitigate thc loss of habitat due to
construction and development and are cotnpatible with recrcational uses.
4ZOO ~MITH ~;CI-d~OL kOAl~
aUGTIN. TExA~ Y~.Ydd
TEL: Jun 06,97 10:17 No.O02 P.O$
Mr. Jim Witt
Page 2
June 6, 1997
The absence of adequate corridors, as would re, suit from the proposed 20 foot
casement, results in undesirable contact with nuisance wildlife species, such es
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 disease to humans would be likely to eec, ur.
On a more positive note, the 50 to 60 foot corridor would encourage more
desirable species, specifically songbirds. Forest bird species, such as thrushes,
vireos, tanagers, wood warblers, and flycatchers are 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 hats has been highly over-
exaggerated. Bats are effeetive biological control agents for mosquitoes and
undesirable insects. Having a wider corridor helps ensure that bats, among other
creatures, will be able to continue living and performing their ecological setvioes
in their native habitats.
Thank you for tho opportunity to comment. For your records, I am the head of
Texas Parks and Wildlife's Urban Fish and Wildlife Program, I have a Master's
degree in Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences from Texas A&M University, and 1
serve on the board of the Trinity Blacklands Urban Forestry Council. My staff
and I are experienced in working with conservation designs for subdivisio~ and
would welcome the opportunity to participate in the ecologically sengtive
development of the proposed property. May I suggest the followin8 National
Arbor Day resources for your consideration: Tree City USA Bulletins number 7,
How to Save Trees During Constnwtion, number 20, ,4 b'ystemattc Approo~ to
Building With Trees, and number 28, Plachtg a l/alu¢ on Trees. These end many
other useful publications are available through the National Arbor Day
Foundation, 211 N, 12'~ St., Lincoln, NE 68508 for approximately $2.00 each.
Sincerely,
Ray Whitney
Urban Fish and Wildlife Prosram Leader