DAPHNE, Ala. — Which came first: the tree or the dirt? The Daphne Planning Commission is more concerned about which of those will stay.

Drainage solutions for 8 acres at Johnson Road and U.S. Highway 98 require vast tree removal; the property is home to many significant oak trees.

Commissioners on Thursday approved a site plan with several requirements: Developers must have a tree survey performed so the city will know how many developed trees would be removed and can then decide how many should be planted; they must include a 50-foot buffer to make the project more aesthetically appealing to adjacent landowners; they must await the Core of Engineers’ jurisdiction for wetlands — since the boundary is unclear — before beginning construction; and finally, they must remove a billboard from the property.

Modified tree planting guidelines will be added after the property is sold and development plans are presented.

Joe Bullock of Engineering Development Services said the felling is an unfortunate but necessary maneuver.

“We need 50 (thousand) to 60,000 cubic yards to grade it properly,” he said of severe erosion issues developers had asked to correct.

The land’s eroded materials have been washing downstream to the Daphne-Montrose boundary, according to city officials.

“I have a lot of concerns that we don’t add to the problem that’s downstream,” Ashley Campbell, site containment inspector, said.

Bullock said the project aims to remediate erosion and make the property marketable.

Trees must be removed as the only economically feasible way to gain fill material and make room for a drainage basin, Bullock said.

City Councilwoman Cathy Barnette, a planning commission member, explained the commission’s role in relation to developers’ needs.

Also Thursday, commissioners approved:

•a plat review for The Renaissance Center, Phase III — 42 acres on the north side of U.S. Highway 90 and Alabama Highway 181.

•a plat review for St. Charles Village — 11 acres at Baldwin County 64 and Pollard Road.

•a site plan review for Malbis Place Commercial Shopping Center — nearly 3 acres at the northwest intersection of U.S. 90 and Alabama 181.

•a site plan for Eastern Shore Baptist Church — nearly 2 acres at the northeast intersection of U.S. 98 and Park Drive.

•a plat review and site plan review for Family Security Credit Union — 1 acre on the west side of U.S. 98.

•a motion to recommend that the city council decide fiscal and enforcement responsibility to return the T-shaped turn-around on Via del San Francesco in LaCasa subdivision to ensure safe vehicle maneuvering.