"Rooted" In Tree Conservation and Planting, A Draft Tree Ordinance is Considered

By Kirk Ericson & Paul Norby (8/22/2008)

The loss of existing, mature trees and the need for additional high quality trees have been longstanding concerns of many in our community. These concerns led to the development of a Tree Ordinance proposal by the Community Appearance Commission in 2004-2005, and to the creation of a Tree Committee, which met with the assistance of a facilitator from 2006-2007. This committee had representation from various community organizations and perspectives. The recommendations were summarized in a report released in December 2007. Planning staff, in conjunction with other departments, has developed a draft Tree ordinance that attempts to balance the recommendations of the Tree Committee with the effect on the development community and the needs of local government administration.

The proposed Tree Ordinance expands upon the existing landscaping requirements of the Unified Development Ordinances (UDO), including landscaping requirements for areas such as bufferyards, streetyards, parking lots, and floodplains, and the ordinance establishes requirements for minimum Tree Save Areas (TSAs) for residential and nonresidential development, as well as planting and maintenance standards. Where the minimum amount of required trees does not exist on site, new large-variety trees must be planted to augment the minimum Tree Save Area requirements in accordance with the recommendations of the Tree Committee report. The ordinance also includes provisions to balance site-specific development needs with Tree Save requirements and other UDO requirements. The proposed ordinance strikes a practical balance between saving existing trees and planting new, high quality trees. New trees must be able to take the place of large older trees as they naturally die out. Over time, new large-variety trees will help distinguish our community with an urban tree canopy.

A Planning Board Public Hearing on the proposed Tree Ordinance has been scheduled for October 9, 2008 at 2:00 p.m. in the Stuart Municipal Building 5th floor Public Meeting Room. If you have further questions, please contact Kirk Ericson (747-7045) or Glenn Simmons (747-7065) for more information.

updated 9/17/08