How Can We Incorporate Considerations of Trees and Environmental Benefits into Community and Site Development Planning? T. Davis Sydnor, The Ohio State University Developers often clear cut any existing vegetation on a site before development begins and replant later with 2-inch trees. Considering which trees to retain, evaluating some of the commonly overlooked development costs, and determining future environmental benefits that would be lost can lead to a more environmentally responsible development. Additionally recovering, deferring or retaining benefits may lower initial development costs as well as long term living and maintenance expenses.

2. By
T. Davis Sydnor
Professor Emeritus
School of Environment and Natural Resources
The Ohio State University
sydnor.1@osu.edu
614-738-0667

4. We are “always” asked for comments
after the planting fails to meet the
original design intent.

6. Resistance to change starts here

7. Resistance to Change
40
35
30
25
20
15
10
5
0

8. Enter the One Framework Plan

9. Some university constraints
No net gain in academic space

10. Now (left) and Proposed (right)

11. Buckeye Village today

12. Now (left) and Proposed (right)

15. Estimated Expenses for Removal and Replacement of Trees in
the Area Slated for the Athletic Complex Development
REMOVAL
COSTS PER
TREE
REMOVAL
TOTALS
REPLACEMENT
REPLACEMENT
COST/TREE
TOTALS
(2-in)
REMOVAL AND
REPLACEMENT
SIZE
NUMBER
1-3
28
$100
$2,800
$290
$8,120
$10,920
3-6
123
$375
$46,125
$290
$35,670
$81,795
6-12
136
$375
$51,000
$290
$39,440
$90,440
12-18
125
$675
$84,375
$290
$36,250
$120,625
18-24
87
$675
$58,725
$290
$25,230
$83,955
24-30
40
$1,290
$51,600
$290
$11,600
$63,200
30-36
20
$1,625
$32,500
$290
$5,800
$38,300
36-42
9
$2,150
$19,350
$290
$2,610
$21,960
TOTALS
568
$164,720
$511,195
$346,475

16. Landscape Values of 568 Existing Trees in the Area Slated for
Development into the Athletic Complex.
BASIC
VALUE
SPECIES
VALUE
CONDITION
VALUE
LOCATION
VALUE
LANDSCAPE
LANDSCAPE
VALUE
VALUE
EACH
SIZE
NUMBER
1-3 (2)
28
$205
0.80
0.80
0.80
$105
$2,939
3-6 (5)
123
$750
0.80
0.80
0.80
$384
$47,232
6-12 (9)
136
$2,170
0.80
0.80
0.80
$1,111
$151,101
12-18 (15)
125
$4,100
0.80
0.80
0.80
$2,099
$262,400
18-24 (21)
87
$6,570
0.80
0.80
0.80
$3,364
$292,654
24-30 (27)
40
$9,630
0.80
0.80
0.80
$4,931
$197,222
30-36 (33)
20
$13,300
0.80
0.80
0.80
$6,810
$136,192
36-42 (39)
9
$17,100
0.80
0.80
0.80
$8,755
$78,797
TOTALS
568
$1,168,538

17. Annual environmental benefits
Benefits
Stormwater
Aesthetic/Other
Energy
Air Quality
CO2
Total Benefits
Total ($)
$/tree
$21,483
$38
$21,312
$38
$16,390
$29
$2,439
$4
$2,088
$4
$63,712
$112

18. Annual Environmental Benefits for Years 1-75 and Cumulative
Benefits for Three, Selected Twenty-five Year Segments
YEAR
ANNUAL
BENEFITS
YEAR
ANNUAL
BENEFITS
YEAR
ANNUAL
BENEFITS
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
$2,937
$3,129
$3,331
$3,547
$3,777
$4,022
$4,282
$4,560
$4,855
$5,170
$5,505
$5,862
$6,242
$6,646
$7,077
$7,535
$8,024
$8,544
$9,097
$9,687
$10,315
$10,983
$11,695
$12,452
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
$14,118
$15,033
$16,008
$17,045
$18,149
$19,325
$20,578
$21,911
$23,331
$24,843
$26,453
$28,167
$29,992
$31,935
$34,005
$36,208
$38,555
$41,053
$43,713
$46,546
$49,562
$52,774
$56,193
$59,835
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
$67,841
$72,237
$76,918
$81,902
$87,209
$92,860
$98,878
$105,285
$112,107
$119,372
$127,107
$135,344
$144,114
$153,453
$163,396
$173,984
$185,259
$197,263
$210,046
$223,657
$238,150
$253,582
$270,014
$287,511
25
$13,259
50
$63,712
75
$306,142
YEARS 1-25
$172,534
YEARS 25-50
$829,045
YEARS 50-75
$3,983,629

19. • Report now appended to development plans
• OSU will try to move plants smaller than 8 inch
• Will consider trees greater than 22 inch when siting buildings