Commission approves Hibberry Point master plan despite dispute over tree‑bank calculation

On June 9 the Fairview Planning Commission approved the master development plan for Hibberry Point Townhomes (PC Resolution 22‑26), allowing a 110‑unit townhome project on approximately 20.26 acres, subject to conditions and standard permitting requirements.

City planning staff told the commission that the project was submitted under RM8 standards and requested two exceptions under the Fairview design review manual: a tree‑bank fund contribution shown on the applicant’s materials as $134,450, and a reduction of the 70% brick coverage requirement to allow Hardy board as an approved material. Staff recommended approval with conditions including securing T dot permits and addressing outstanding staff comments.

Allison Corolla of Tsquare Engineering presented the project and highlighted tree canopy and stream buffer preservation, private rights‑of‑way to remain privately maintained, and on‑site amenities such as a playground.

A substantive point of contention arose when Commissioner Callie Pap questioned the tree‑bank calculation. Pap described an alternative averaging method for the tree inventory plots that, when run through the replacement calculation he showed during the meeting, yielded a substantially larger required payment (he cited a figure of about $684,000) compared with the $134,450 that staff and the applicant had reported. "When you just do a really simple average... you come up with 1,911 per acre... you end up with 15,510 required inches to be saved... that totals $684,000 instead of $134,000," Pap said.

Staff responded that the project’s tree‑inventory methodology mirrored calculations used on a prior Hibberry multifamily application in 2021–2022, and that staff lacks documentation on whether earlier plots were formally approved by previous staff. Staff suggested that standardizing calculation methods would be appropriate for the Board of Commissioners to consider, but said the planning commission must act on the materials before it.

After discussion, the commission voted to approve the master development plan, including the requested exceptions and the staff conditions; the chair announced the motion passed 7–0. Staff asked Commissioner Pap to share his calculations so staff could review them; the record does not show a change to the fee calculation at the meeting.