Kyle City Council votes to relocate live oak tree to make way for road improvements

Since the tree sits within 6 inches of the road’s pavement, Kyle City Council explored multiple design options, according to city agenda documents.

The second option, relocating the tree to the 6 Creeks Subdivision, would cost between $730,000 and $950,000—and is the option the council chose to pursue.

City Manager Bryan Langley said the cost of moving the tree is something the city can accommodate in the bonds related to the road.

Relocation risks include the potential removal of six existing trees at the new site, water service disruptions for approximately 14 homes, and detour impacts affecting an estimated 5,926 vehicles daily, with increased traffic in 6 Creeks expected to last four to five weeks, according to city agenda documents.

While the tree's survival rate remains uncertain, Environmental Design Inc. reported a 98% success rate for similar transplants. Long-term maintenance is recommended, including automated irrigation, annual mulching and monthly inspections by a qualified arborist.

Environmental Design Inc., a company specializing in tree supply and transplantation, states on its website that it operates “a fleet of state-of-the-art, truck-mounted hydraulic tree spades capable of transplanting trees.” While it's unclear if Kyle will officially contract the company, it was cited in the City Council presentation.

The third option was to redesign the road around the tree, and included three different outcomes.

The road redesign would slightly impact the existing detention pond, requiring its expansion. Three potential solutions were proposed by City Manager Bryan Langley:

• Modifying and enlarging the detention pond
• Exploring basin expansion options elsewhere if detention pond enlargement proves unfeasible
• Acquiring four nearby homes to facilitate the pond's expansion

“My wife was so upset she couldn’t even make it here this morning,” Richter said. “I’m 76. I can’t move to another place.”

The discussion

Mayor Travis Mitchell advocated for the compromise of moving the tree, which he said gives the tree a chance and also gives the residents a chance to have "right-sized infrastructure."

Council member Lauralee Harris discussed the criticality of the detention pond that would be impacted by the realignment of the road, stating that Cypress Forest and 6 Creeks are built in an area where you have to be sensitive to where the water flows since both are built on the Blanco River Watershed.

“I’m thinking that our best option for the tree is to move the tree,” Harris said. “There is an excellent plan to take care of this tree forever. Every effort will be put into its survival, and I think that it will be around maybe another hundred, 200 years. It’s an extraordinary tree.”

Council member Miguel Zuniga advocated for the option of curving the road, and enlarging the detention pond, but not relocating the four homes. He said that he would not want to risk the tree’s survival rate by moving the tree.

“If we really are sincere about protecting and saving the tree, then the best thing to do is to leave [the tree] there and design the road slightly around it,” Zuniga said.

Looking back

A timeline of past City Council discussions about the tree was detailed in the council presentation:

• Feb. 24, 2020: An arborist assessment deemed the tree a poor candidate for preservation.
• April 7, 2020: Council voted 7-0 to proceed with road engineering and an art initiative to repurpose the tree.
• May 19, 2020: Council reconsidered tree removal and paused engineering to explore alternative road designs.
• Sept. 7, 2021: Council approved the transportation master plan, upgrading Old Stagecoach Road to a minor arterial.
• November 2022: Kyle voters approved $294 million in bonds for streets, bridges and sidewalks, including Old Stagecoach Road.
• Jan. 16, 2024: Council approved a resolution to revisit the tree's removal, incorporating the Arts and Cultural Commission in an art initiative.
• April 16, 2024: Council directed staff to evaluate the feasibility of relocating the tree.
• Aug. 20, 2024: Council instructed staff to identify potential relocation sites.
• Dec. 3, 2024: Council reviewed relocation costs and impacts. A motion to bid the relocation failed 2-4, and council voted 4-2 to remove the tree, commemorate it with an art piece, and plant or conserve land for future trees.