Peachtree City planners back drafting native-plant and invasive-species lists for landscape rules
Summary
The commission supported a council-initiated amendment to Article 11 of the Land Development Ordinance to identify native species and list invasive plants to restrict; staff will return with a recommended list and input from local experts and the city's tree/arbor staff.
Peachtree City’s Planning Commission on Aug. 11 discussed a proposed text amendment to Article 11 of the Land Development Ordinance to bring clearer native-plant and invasive-species guidance to development landscaping requirements.
Planning staff said the amendment was requested both by council and by the planning commission to encourage native landscaping and restrict invasive plants. Staff included two sample lists in the packet as starting points: an Athens-Clarke County list for native species and the City of Brookhaven’s invasive-plant listing as a model for prohibited species.
Landscape architect Warren Elwell, a Fishers Bank resident, spoke in favor of adding a native-plant list and said a defined city list would make plan reviews more consistent and easier for staff. "I like the progression towards moving to the native plants," Elwell told commissioners.
Commissioners generally supported creating a native-species preferred list and a separate invasive-species restricted list, but raised practical concerns about implementation. They asked staff to confirm whether the rules would apply only to new development (not require removal of existing plantings), to consult with the city’s tree/tree‑care staff and local nursery sources about plant availability, and to consider zoning- and site-specific flexibility. Several commissioners suggested incentives — for example, credits against tree-fund contributions — to encourage fully native landscape plans.
Staff said the proposed rules would not require the removal of existing invasive plants citywide; instead the rules would apply to new landscape plans submitted as part of development review. The commission asked staff to refine the proposed lists, solicit input from the city’s tree reviewer/arborist and local landscape professionals, and return a recommended ordinance amendment and an illustrative map.
Next steps: staff will prepare a draft ordinance and a recommended native/invasive species list for commission review, and will include expert input and availability notes.
