Proposed Tree Ordinance Summary

By Kirk Ericson (8/6/2008)

The loss of existing, mature trees and the need for additional new high quality trees have been long-standing concerns in our community. These concerns led to the development of a Tree Ordinance proposal by the Community Appearance Commission in 2004-1005, and the creation of a Tree Committee, which met from 2006-2007. This committee included members representing various community organizations and different perspectives. The Tree Committee was assembled to help determine the content of a future Tree Ordinance, and their recommendations were summarized in a report released in December 2007. Planning staff, in conjunction with other City departments, has developed a Tree Ordinance which balances the recommendations of the Tree Committee with the costs to 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,a nd 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 establish an urban tree canopy.

 updated 8/6/08