What Happened and What’s Next?
Dear Tree Protection Advocates,
Thank you for your continued support of our efforts to increase the retention and protection of Seattle’s trees and urban forest. With your help we have made major progress but still have work to do.
Last year we successfully partnered with Seattle to help advance the draft Seattle Tree Ordinance, with the Hearing Examiner ruling against the Master Builders Association of King and Snohomish Counties (MBAKS) attempt to stop it. The Hearing Examiner ruled that “Appellants’ arguments that the Proposal will increase the costs of development and will have negative impacts on the City housing supply were based on speculation, not any actual quantitative analysis that was introduced into evidence.”
This year, the Seattle City Council, after 14 years of inaction, has finally passed an updated Tree Protection Ordinance (CB 120534} The Council bill is 64 pages long and is complicated. It is not a perfect bill. While it increases protection for trees outside of development and during development, it adds loopholes that also decrease protection for trees during development. The bill was passed by the Council last month and recently signed by Mayor Harrell.
After the Master Builders Association of King and Snohomish County (MBAKS) lost their Hearing Examiner Appeal against the City last year, they worked behind the scenes in the Mayor’s Office and with the Seattle Department of Construction and Inspections (SDCI) to rewrite the draft legislation to increase their ability to clearcut lots. Once the draft Ordinance was sent to the Seattle City Council, they worked with the Seattle City Council Land Use Committee behind the scenes to add amendments for more ability to override city oversight on retaining existing trees during development.
Despite this, we still got passed a number of strengthening provisions, including requiring developers to replace all 12 inch and larger diameter trees, either on site or pay an in-lieu fee to the city to replant the trees in areas with low canopy, lowering the threshold for protected exceptional trees from 30 inches diameter to 24 Inches, requiring tree services providers to register with the city, and reducing the number and size of significant trees that can be cut down outside of development.
We scored a victory in finally getting the Mayor and City Council to support and act to update the Tree Protection Ordinance. We, however, need to continue our efforts for stronger tree protection for existing trees during development because people need trees where they live for healthy communities.
We need to continue to advocate for clarifying amendments this summer, which Land Use Chair Dan Strauss publicly said he would consider. We are working now to put together a list of possible clarifications and amendments. Community organizations, including Tree PAC, stressed more time was needed to evaluate the impact of some 48 amendments, that were presented to the public and the Land Use Committee only 48 hours (2 days) before they voted! It was obvious that not all Council members or the public had sufficient time to evaluate the 114 pages of proposed amendments. Passing the proposed ordinance does implement a number of issues we have long fought for. Our work, however, is not done.
In addition, we are working on:
Monitoring and preparing to respond to the proposed draft Environmental Impact Statement to be released this summer on the upcoming 2025 Comprehensive Plan that includes urban forestry issues and increased multifamily housing across the city required by HB 1110 passed by the Washington State Legislature earlier this year.
Sending questionnaires to this year’s Council candidates on their urban forestry positions and supporting candidates that support increased tree retention and protections during development.
Ensuring the Seattle City Council and Mayor Harrell add the 4 staff positions in the upcoming budget for urban forestry as proposed.
Ensuring other urban forestry funding is increased as proposed.
Creating a One Seattle Tree Fund to accept in lieu fees and use them to replant trees in parks and street right of ways.
Urging City to fill Urban Forester position approved in last’s year budget.
Please help with a donation today so we can continue our work.
Donate now!
Thanks for your support.
Steve Zemke – Chair – TreePAC.org
See additional information here:
- “Are we really protecting our existing trees with this ordinance, Friends of Seattle’s Urban Forest, June 2023
- “Seattle City Council passed tree ordinance after years of debate,” Amanda Zhou, Seattle Times, May 24. 2023
- “Ordinance aimed at protecting thousands of Seattle’s trees is approved by Council,” Michelle Esteban, KOMO News Reporter, May 23, 2023
- “Seattle City Council passes new tree ordinance,” Hannah Weinberger, Crosscut, May 23, 2023
- “Seattle’s proposed tree ordinance is the legislative equivalent of a chain saw,” Seattle Times editorial board, Seattle Times, May 19, 2023