Washington: Seattle tree protection lurches ahead

Too often, tree advocates say, trees are cut simply because builders
regard them as a nuisance. But some researchers, such as Greg
McPherson of the Center for Urban Forest Research at the University of
California-Davis, say keeping trees actually enhances and adds value
to a development.

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The “interim tree grove ordinance,” or Council Bill 116404, strengthens protections against development for stands of trees — 20 or more contiguous trees; trees with trunks more than 6 inches in diameter; and those deemed “exceptional.”

“Most tree supporters don’t think it goes far enough, but the council
feels this is as far as we can reasonably (legally) go at this time,”
Conlin said. “The ordinance does stop the clearcutting of properties
and gives us a little bit better handle on that.” Conlin said the
council is waiting for more information from the Mayor’s Office before
fine-tuning the ordinance and combining it with an incentive package
for developers and property owners by the end of summer. Rapid
population growth, development and the need to balance tree protection
with private property rights have made the issue touchy.

“The mayor has been remarkably quiet on this,” Conlin said. Tree-protection and tree-growth advocates support the interim action, but want more. “The ordinance is a good first step … the community is really supportive
of this,” said David Miller, a recently announced candidate for the
City Council. Miller spent several years fighting a proposal to
clearcut a grove of trees at Waldo Woods in the Maple Leaf
neighborhood. “The interim ordinance gets rid of the loophole that
Seattle School District used (to cut trees to make space for
classrooms), but it doesn’t address the loss of trees to development,”
Miller said.

A 2007 Seattle Public Utilities study showed conifers can
help prevent stormwater runoff by trapping and slowly releasing
rainwater. A recent King County Health Impact Study found that
providing and protecting trees and other forms of nature in urban
environments bolsters mental and physical well-being. The benefits of
trees in urban environments have driven tree-protection measures in
the city’s comprehensive plan, the 2007 Urban Forest Management Plan,
and carbon footprint-reduction goals. Mayor Greg Nickels has called
for a 30-year tree-planting strategy aimed at planting 649,000 trees.
Nickels said the goal was to prevent Seattle from becoming “the city
formerly known as emerald.”

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