Halloween Deadline for the Tree Ordinance Proposal

Ruth Williams (ruthalice@comcast.net) sent the following information on the Tree Ordinance Proposal and offerered to answer any questions people have one the issues involved. The deadline is coming up soon so get your comments in ASAP.

Please be sure you can type through that goblin sheet! October 31, 2010 is the last day to send in comments about the DPD new tree ordinance proposal. Please don’t miss this deadline! Keeping Seattle’s forest infrastructure in balance with urban density needs is an important part of our legacy to future generations. While the proposal in its current form has some useful ideas for tree protections during construction, it removes all protections from trees and groves outside of construction.

Here is the DPD proposal, “City of Seattle Proposed Tree Regulations” from the DPD’s website.

Comments should be sent to DPD’s Brennon Staley (brennon.staley@seattle.gov).

Please also send a copy of your comments to the Mayor and City Council.

Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn (mike.mcginn@seattle.gov)
Seattle City Councilmember Richard Conlin(richard.conlin@seattle.gov)
Seattle City Councilmember Nick Licata(nick.licata@seattle.gov)
Seattle City Councilmember Sally Clark(sally.clark@seattle.gov)
Seattle City Councilmember Sally Bagshaw(sally.bagshaw@seattle.gov)
Seattle City Councilmember Mike O’Brien (mike.obrien@seattle.gov)
Seattle City Councilmember Jean Godden(jean.godden@seattle.gov)
Seattle City Councilmember Tim Burgess(tim.burgess@seattle.gov)
Seattle City Councilmember Tom Rasmussen(Tom.Rasmussen@Seattle.gov)
Seattle City Councilmember Bruce Harrell(bruce.harrell@seattle.gov)

Richard Conlin has made it clear he is interested in incentives to plant trees. If you have any ideas along those lines they are certainly welcome.

Save Our Urban Forest Infrastructure (SOUFI) is a coalition of concerned citizens that has drafted a list of ideas we would like to see as part of the ordinance, as follows:

1. Maintain and expand protection for exceptional trees and tree groves
2. Expand current SDOT permit system for street trees to include all trees over 6 inches in diameter on public and private property; two week posting of permits on internet and visible sign on site; appeals process
3. Comprehensive regulations that cover both public and private sectors
4. Consolidate oversight, regulation and enforcement in an independent department other than DPD, that does not have a conflict of interest
5. License and train all arborists and tree cutting operations; with fines and suspension for violations of law
6. Give priority to native trees and vegetation to help preserve native plants and animals
7. Emphasis on habitat and ecological processes and soil as part of urban forestry
8. All real estate sales to require disclosure of exceptional trees on property or all trees requiring a permit to remove
9. Define canopy cover in terms of volume and area
10. Rebate on utility bills based on exceptional trees (or all trees over 6 inches in diameter) on property; property owners file to get rebate like file for seniors property tax exemption
11. Meaningful and descriptive site plans that show existing and proposed trees to scale