(A) The tree canopy requirements of this section may be satisfied at the applicant’s discretion by any combination of the following means:
(1) Preservation of existing trees or tree stands on the development site;
(2) Planting new trees on the development site or as street trees on adjacent rights-of-way; and/or
(3) Planting new trees on an alternative site approved by the Planning Commission, at the applicant’s expense.
(B) The Planning Commission may approve an alternative site for the planting of an equivalent number/amount of trees that meets any one of the following criteria:
(1) A site within a public park approved by the Metropolitan Parks Department;
(2) A site on a public road right-of-way, not adjacent to the development site, approved by the Director of Works or by the appropriate state or federal official in the event that the site is on a state or federal road;
(3) A privately developed site upon which affordable housing has been constructed or is to be constructed; and/or
(4) A site of existing development where the Planning Commission finds that additional tree canopy would be in the public interest. In any such case, the Planning Commission may condition its approval of an alternative site upon the agreement of the applicant to plant a tree or trees of a type that is deemed appropriate for the site. It should be noted that using an alternative site to meet the tree canopy requirements is an option available to developers that must be approved by the Planning Commission. In no case shall the Planning Commission require the off-site planting of trees to meet the requirements of this section.
(LDC § 10.1.3)