This is an emergency that cannot be ignored. We are at a crossroads; our mature trees are being torn down at the hands of developers, as they build large single-family homes that do little to address the statewide housing shortage. It’s clear our tree code just isn’t working. How do we fix it? On City Council I will:
· Act to ensure that applicants for tree removals are on notice, that “no reasonable alternative” is interpreted as originally intended.
· Draft a clear and objective tree ordinance to be placed in the development code with input from an environmental lawyer. We are losing our tree canopy at an alarming rate, even as we watch our summers grow hotter by the year. As a city, we should recognize that the existence of large, mature trees must dictate development, just like any other site condition. We must stand up for what is right.
