- Don't Clearcut Seattle

Date/Time	Event
08/12/2020 3:00 pm - 5:00 pm	Seattle Urban Forestry Commission meeting (open to public) Meeting may be online only, check meeting details Seattle Municipal Tower Room 2750, Seattle WA
09/02/2020 3:00 pm - 5:00 pm	Seattle Urban Forestry Commission meeting (open to public) Meeting may be online only, check meeting details Seattle Municipal Tower Room 2750, Seattle WA
09/09/2020 3:00 pm - 5:00 pm	Seattle Urban Forestry Commission meeting (open to public) Meeting may be online only, check meeting details Seattle Municipal Tower Room 2750, Seattle WA
10/07/2020 3:00 pm - 5:00 pm	Seattle Urban Forestry Commission meeting (open to public) Meeting may be online only, check meeting details Seattle Municipal Tower Room 2750, Seattle WA
10/14/2020 3:00 pm - 5:00 pm	Seattle Urban Forestry Commission meeting (open to public) Meeting may be online only, check meeting details Seattle Municipal Tower Room 2750, Seattle WA
11/04/2020 3:00 pm - 5:00 pm	Seattle Urban Forestry Commission meeting (open to public) Meeting may be online only, check meeting details Seattle Municipal Tower Room 2750, Seattle WA
11/11/2020 3:00 pm - 5:00 pm	Seattle Urban Forestry Commission meeting (open to public) Meeting may be online only, check meeting details Seattle Municipal Tower Room 2750, Seattle WA
12/02/2020 3:00 pm - 5:00 pm	Seattle Urban Forestry Commission meeting (open to public) Meeting may be online only, check meeting details Seattle Municipal Tower Room 2750, Seattle WA
12/09/2020 3:00 pm - 5:00 pm	Seattle Urban Forestry Commission meeting (open to public) Meeting may be online only, check meeting details Seattle Municipal Tower Room 2750, Seattle WA

Mayor	Jenny Durkan	jenny.durkan@seattle.gov	206-684-4000
Council President	Lorena Gonzalez	Lorena.Gonzalez@seattle.gov	206-684-8809
Council Citywide	Teresa Mosqueda	Teresa.Mosqueda@seattle.gov	206-684-8808
Council Dist 1	Lisa Herbold	Lisa.Herbold@seattle.gov	206-684-8801
Council Dist 2	Tammy Morales	Tammy.Morales@seattle.gov	206-684-8802
Council Dist 3	Kshama Sawant	Kshama.Sawant@seattle.gov	206-684-8803
Council Dist 5	Debora Juarez	Debora.Juarez@seattle.gov	206-684-8805
Council Dist 5	Alex Pedersen	Alex.Pederson@seattle.gov	206-684-8804
Council Dist 6	Dan Strauss	Dan.Strauss@seattle.gov	206-684-8806
Council Dist 7	Andrew Lewis	Andrew.Lewis@seattle.gov	206-684-8807
City of Seattle	Trees for Seattle	TreesforSeattle@seattle.gov	206-684-TREE (8733)
DCI Director	Nathan Torgelson	Nathan.Torgelson@seattle.gov	206-684-0343
OSE Director	Jessica Finn Coven	Jessica.finncoven@seattle.gov	206-256-5158
Urban Forestry Commission Coordinator	Sandra Pinto de Bader	Sandra.Pinto_de_Bader@Seattle.gov
City Attorney	Pete Holmes	Peter.Holmes@seattle.gov	206-684-8200
City Auditor	David Jones	DavidG.Jones@seattle.gov	206-233-1095

Mayor	Jenny Durkan	jenny.durkan@seattle.gov	206-684-4000
Council President	Lorena Gonzalez	Lorena.Gonzalez@seattle.gov	206-684-8809
Council Citywide	Teresa Mosqueda	Teresa.Mosqueda@seattle.gov	206-684-8808
Council Dist 1	Lisa Herbold	Lisa.Herbold@seattle.gov	206-684-8801
Council Dist 2	Tammy Morales	Tammy.Morales@seattle.gov	206-684-8802
Council Dist 3	Kshama Sawant	Kshama.Sawant@seattle.gov	206-684-8803
Council Dist 5	Debora Juarez	Debora.Juarez@seattle.gov	206-684-8805
Council Dist 5	Alex Pedersen	Alex.Pederson@seattle.gov	206-684-8804
Council Dist 6	Dan Strauss	Dan.Strauss@seattle.gov	206-684-8806
Council Dist 7	Andrew Lewis	Andrew.Lewis@seattle.gov	206-684-8807
City of Seattle	Trees for Seattle	TreesforSeattle@seattle.gov	206-684-TREE (8733)
DCI Director	Nathan Torgelson	Nathan.Torgelson@seattle.gov	206-684-0343
OSE Director	Jessica Finn Coven	Jessica.finncoven@seattle.gov	206-256-5158
Urban Forestry Commission Coordinator	Sandra Pinto de Bader	Sandra.Pinto_de_Bader@Seattle.gov
City Attorney	Pete Holmes	Peter.Holmes@seattle.gov	206-684-8200
City Auditor	David Jones	DavidG.Jones@seattle.gov	206-233-1095

Your letter will be sent to:

Mayor Jenny Durkan
Council President Lorena Gonzalez
Councilmember Lisa Herbold
Councilmember Debora Juarez
Councilmember Andrew Lewis
Councilmember Tammy Morales
Councilmember Teresa Mosqueda
Councilmember Alex Pedersen
Councilmember Kshama Sawant
Councilmember Dan Strauss
Dept of Construction&Inspections (SDCI) Director Nathan Torgelson
Office of Sustainability&Environment (OSE) Director Jessica Finn Coven
Urban Forestry Commission Coordinator Sandra Pinto de Bader
City Attorney Pete Holmes
City Auditor David G. Jones

Default letter preview

Seattle’s trees and urban forest are vital to keeping our city healthy and livable. Trees and the urban forest comprise a vital green infrastructure. Trees reduce air pollution, storm water runoff and climate impacts like heat island effects, while providing essential habitat for birds and other wildlife. They are important for the physical and mental health of our residents.

Seattle’s rapid growth and an outdated tree ordinance are reducing these beneficial effects as trees are removed and not replaced. It is urgent to act now to stop this continued loss of trees, particularly large mature trees and tree groves. It is important to promote environmental equity as trees are replaced.

Please update Seattle’s Tree Protection Ordinance as recommended in the latest draft by the Seattle Urban Forestry Commission.

Here are the key provisions that need to be in the updated tree ordinance:

1. Expand the existing Tree Removal and Replacement Permit Program, including 2-week public notice and posting on-site, as used by the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) – to cover all Significant Trees (6” and larger diameter at breast height (DBH)) on private property in all land use zones, both during development and outside development.
2. Require the replacement of all Significant Trees removed with trees that in 25 years will reach equivalent canopy volume – either on site or pay a replacement fee into a City Tree Replacement and Preservation Fund. Allow the Fund to also accept fines, donations, grants and set up easements.
3. Retain current protections for Exceptional Trees and reduce the upper threshold for Exceptional Trees to 24” DBH, protect tree groves and prohibit Significant Trees being removed on undeveloped lots.
4. Allow removal of no more than 2 Significant non-Exceptional Trees in 3 years per lot outside development
5. Establish one citywide database for applying for Tree Removal and Replacement Permits and to track changes in the tree canopy.
6. Post online all permit requests and permit approvals for public viewing.
7. Expand SDOT’s existing tree service provider’s registration and certification to register all Tree Service Providers (arborists) working on trees in Seattle.
8. Provide adequate funding in the budget to implement and enforce the updated ordinance.

On March 18, 2019 the Seattle City Council passed CB 119444 – Mandatory Housing Affordability (MHA) legislation.

As part of that legislation they passed a Companion Resolution – RESOLUTION 31870 calling for additional measures by the City and its partners that complement mandatory housing affordability (MHA) implementation to promote livability and equitable development, mitigate displacement, and address challenges and opportunities raised by community members during the MHA public engagement process.

Section 6 of that resolution dealt with updating Seattle’s Tree Protection Ordinance.

Section 6. The Council recognizes the environmental, social, and economic benefits of Seattle’s urban forest and commits to working with community members and City departments to update the City’s tree regulations, advancing the goals of the Urban Forest Stewardship Plan across Seattle. Potential measures may include, but are not limited to, the following:

A. Retaining protections for exceptional trees and expanding the definition of exceptional trees.
B. Creating a permitting process for the removal of significant trees, defined as trees 6 inches in diameter at breast height or larger.
C. Adding replacement requirements for significant tree removal.
D. Simplifying tree planting and replacement requirements.
E. Maintaining tree removal limits in single-family zones.
F. Exploring the feasibility of establishing a in-lieu fee option for tree planting.
G. Tracking tree removal and replacement throughout Seattle.
H. Providing adequate funding to administer and enforce tree regulations.
I. Requiring that all tree service providers operating in Seattle meet the minimum certification and training requirements and register with the city.

Full article here

PER CITY COUNCIL REQUEST, THE URBAN FORESTRY COMMISSION (UFC) PROVIDED LINE-ITEM INPUT TO
THE VERSION D7 OF THE DRAFT LEG TREE REGULATION UPDATES ORDINANCE.
This document is a deliberative draft used by the UFC to guide the June 14, 2019 conversation with City
Council and Council Central Staff

Outline of Revisions to SMC 25.11 – Tree Protection Ordinance by Seattle Urban Forestry
Commission 6/14/2019 draft

a. Council draft D7 is renamed to cover Tree and Urban Forest Protection and Land Use Regulations
b. Any tree 6 inches DSH or larger is defined as a significant tree and is covered by this ordinance
c. A Tree Removal and Replacement Permit is required to remove and replace any significant tree
d. Trees removed must be replaced on site or a fee in lieu paid into a Tree Replacement and Preservation Fund
e Fee in-lieu is based on size of tree removed and 5 year establishment period
f. Criteria are developed for non-development related and development related permits.
g. Reduced the upper threshold for exceptional trees from 30“ DSH to 24”DSH.
h. Reduced the number of significant non-Exceptional trees that can be removed to 2 in 36 months
i. Tree Care Professionals must be registered with SDCI

UFC recommends a low permit fee (such as $75) for non-development related tree removal and a higher based fee plus hourly for development-related permits that will require arborist review and other review.

UFC recommends in-lieu fee for replacement tree planting increase with the size of the tree removed

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