Letter to the Editor: Petition to Council about Urban Trees
Friday, August 15, 2025
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Since 2019, Save Shoreline Trees' mission is the preservation of native and tall trees in Shoreline. Supporters frequently make public comments to Shoreline City Council and participated in the submission of policies to the 2044 Comprehensive Plan. Over the last several years, it has been suggested that the Council would like to hear from more residents on the subject of tree preservation. To this end, Save Shoreline Trees is sponsoring a petition to be presented to City Council with signatures of Shoreline residents who support the purpose of this petition:
"To increase the City of Shoreline’s existing tree canopy, we support the preservation of existing healthy trees and the equivalent tree canopy replacement for trees cut down on private and public land and in public parks.”
This petition is in accordance with the 2044 Shoreline Comprehensive Plan, Natural Environment (NE) Goal 7: “Maintain and increase the urban tree canopy to provide wildlife habitat, support community resilience, mitigate urban heat, manage stormwater, conserve energy, protect and improve mental and physical health, and strengthen economic prosperity.” If residents are interested in signing this petition, please stop by the Save Shoreline Trees booth on alternate Saturdays including August 16, August 30, September 13, September 27, October 11 and October 25. Or, email saveshorelinetrees@gmail.com and we will meet up with you for your petition signature.
Kathleen Russell
Save Shoreline Trees, Co-chair
This petition is in accordance with the 2044 Shoreline Comprehensive Plan, Natural Environment (NE) Goal 7: “Maintain and increase the urban tree canopy to provide wildlife habitat, support community resilience, mitigate urban heat, manage stormwater, conserve energy, protect and improve mental and physical health, and strengthen economic prosperity.” If residents are interested in signing this petition, please stop by the Save Shoreline Trees booth on alternate Saturdays including August 16, August 30, September 13, September 27, October 11 and October 25. Or, email saveshorelinetrees@gmail.com and we will meet up with you for your petition signature.
Kathleen Russell
Save Shoreline Trees, Co-chair
Shoreline WA
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8 comments:
All for it when it comes to public lands but stay out of private property; those trees belong to the landowners. This needs to be made clear.
The Save Shoreline Trees booth is located at the Shoreline Farmers Market, Shoreline Park & Ride, 192nd St N and Aurora. We are at the Farmers Market on alternate Saturdays including Aug.16, 30, Sept. 13, 27, Oct. 11, 25.
Not a criticism, just trying to be helpful... you might mention where the booth is located on the dates you mention.
If your concern is about trees in urban areas then your efforts should be used in Seattle. Afterall, that is the urban area that was clear cut. We live in a suburban area crammed with trees. In the Spring many of us have to dig them out of our yards. Urban and suburban are two different words to describe two different living environments for a reason. There is zero reason to panic about every single tree in Shoreline. At least consider property rights.
Agree with the comment above. Protect trees on public lands. Propery owners should decide what to do with their own trees.
Property ownership is regulated by local building codes, height restrictions, tree codes, sound codes, and property taxes. There are both property rights and responsibilities.
Owning property comes with both rights and responsibilities. Trees are primary producers of the very oxygen we breathe and do it without boundaries. They offer benefites to everyone and without them we will all suffer. Protecting the trees is life affirming and needs to be done before Shoreline looks and feels like Seattle.
Agree with comments above regarding both property rights AND responsibilities, of which one is giving consideration to tree protection. The 2024 King County guide to "Developing Urban Tree Regulations on Private Property" identifies the need to protect/maintain/increase tree canopy where possible. Shoreline's tree canopy east of Dayton Ave N is diminishing. Heat islands have increased in size. Shoreline has a relatively low % of land devoted to Parks & open space (compared to our regional neighbors). We private land owners do have a responsibility to help retain our trees.
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