Mayor proposes cutting down on tree-cutting

| Development | Environment | West Seattle news

City leaders have talked a lot lately about saving trees and even increasing the city’s “tree canopy” — and yet the tree-cutting doesn’t seem to have slowed. This afternoon, the mayor’s office sent a news release about “interim regulations” just proposed to “close a loophole” — take a look and see what you think:

Mayor Greg Nickels proposed today new interim regulations to protect trees in Seattle. The new regulations would close a loophole used by developers to take down trees before applying for a development permit. The proposed interim regulations will be transmitted to City Council for review and would stay in place until permanent tree protection regulations are adopted.

“The people of Seattle strongly believe in good stewardship of our trees and we expect developers to act in good faith,” said Nickels. “These interim measures will help hold the line as we prepare more comprehensive regulations to protect and grow Seattle’s urban forest.”

There are currently few limits on tree cutting for most developed sites in Seattle, other than in environmentally critical areas. This proposal would restrict tree cutting prior to development on single-family zoned lots of more than 10,000 square feet, as well as all low-rise and mid-rise multifamily and commercially zoned property. The additional regulations in these zones would:

● Expand the definition of exceptional trees to include more trees with substantial canopy as well as groves of trees. Currently an exceptional tree is defined as having unique historical, ecological, or aesthetic value and is an important community resource.

● Prohibit the removal of all exceptional trees unless associated with a corresponding development permit.

● Prohibit the removal of more than three non-exceptional trees, 12 inches or greater in diameter, in one year when not associated with a corresponding development permit.

● Increase penalties for willful or malicious violations of tree protection regulations.

The city published its State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) determination today and the ordinance will be transmitted to the City
Council this month.

The Department of Planning and Development is also developing additional new regulations and will make them available for public review early next year.

KT September 8, 2008 (7:26 pm)

And this is why I will not ever vcte for Nickels again….we have attacked the bag tax issue and now the tree cutting issue and we still await his plan to curb youth violence.

Steve September 8, 2008 (8:37 pm)

We live in a city, not a forest.

My house gets broken into and the police do nothing about it, people park and drive illegally and the city does nothing about it, dogs run off leash all over the place and animal control does nothing about it, yet the mayor has enough time and recourses to stick his nose into private property owners business to tell them what they can and can’t do with their own trees.

What a load of crap.

J September 8, 2008 (9:54 pm)

I disagree; I think they mayor’s right on this one. (But it’s not enough to get me to vote for him ever again.) It’s tricky defining private property when we’re all affected by actions taken on it. All of us city dwellers would benefit from increasing our tree canopy and be harmed by decreasing it.

Big Tree nulu September 8, 2008 (10:02 pm)

Take a spin by the mayor’s house. Does he walk his talk? He has lived here long enough to eliminate a grass lawn and grow an urban forest around his house. Let’s count how many exceptional trees the mayor has stewarded on his own parcel.

CB September 8, 2008 (10:15 pm)

You can count on the WSB to cover every tree trimming. It’s their top priority.

Jenny September 8, 2008 (10:50 pm)

Over at another forum we’re trying to decide if this is for real or Poe’s Law in effect:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tFUDEmMjC-c

chas redmond September 8, 2008 (11:23 pm)

jenny, lots of strange things happen in the western hills of north carolina. the smokies (and the blue ridge, either side) are mysterious places where strange creatures and entranced humans meet – and sometimes mix. a great place to visit and – I’ve heard – an even better place to get lost.

Karen September 9, 2008 (8:33 am)

I don’t really understand. If I want to remove three trees on my property I have to get permission? This seems to be kind of a blanket statement. I have three large trees that have to come down. Would have been four but one fell on it’s own. The trees were planted in poor locations and have become unhealthy. I would love to keep them but as one has already come down, I can not risk it.
So, would I have to get a permit if this went through or what? I think trees are great but once again, it seems like someone is trying to control the little guy and not the big problem.