Letter to the Editor: Proposed tree code will not support the maintenance of the existing tree canopy
Sunday, July 12, 2026
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Save Shoreline Trees recognizes the effort on the tree code update, led by City staff with input by the Community Advisory Group (CAG) and the public.
The proposed draft tree code relies on the Tree Density Credit Method (TDCM) for retention of trees on all zones. The TDCM is based on the square footage (SF) of a lot divided by 1,000 and multiplied by the assigned zone multiplier. This calculation determines the Required Tree Credits for each lot.
See the Engage Tree Code Update page for information.
It is incorrect to refer to the TDCM as a “tree retention method”. Upon close evaluation, the TDCM requires less tree retention on the seven primary development zones, 20% of land where development will take place, while residential zones, about 80% of land, will be allowed to cut down many of their trees. As stated in staff presentations, the tree code cannot “treat homeowners and developers differently”.
How will this draft tree code maintain and increase the existing tree canopy? The City’s goal is to increase the tree canopy, currently 37%, to 40% by 2050. Maintenance of the tree canopy is not possible with minimal tree retention.
On March 7, 2026 Kevin Hickenbottom, Shoreline’s Urban Forester, informed Council that to increase the tree canopy to 40%, 12,000 trees would have to be planted. It is doubtful that the proposed tree code will support the maintenance of the existing tree canopy or the increase of the tree canopy to 40% by 2050.
The Planning Commission will review the proposed tree code on Thursday, July 16 at 7 p.m. at City Hall. Shoreline residents have the opportunity to protect our tree canopy by asking for adjustments to the proposed tree code to retain more trees.
Kathleen Russell, Susanne Tsoming
Save Shoreline Trees Co-chairs
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8 comments:
Ban tree height rules in view neighborhoods.
I've calculated the tree credits for my property. I have far more credits than the minimum required. The propose "minimum retention" would allow the next owner of this property to remove most of the trees in a period of three years. How is that preserving our canopy?
I have calculated the number of "Tree Credits" for the trees at my home. They equal far more than the "Minimum Retention" requirements of the proposed code. The next owner of this property will be able to simple remove 6 trees over a period of 3 years for no reason whatever. How is that preserving our canopy?
Also, can we talk about the need to prohibit removal of our massive trees in ALL zones, such as the Sequoia on Firlands Wy N? This has not been included in the Tree Code Update. These 60"+ dbh giants also dot some of our parks and there's even one (White Pine) along the ROW at the eastern edge Richmond Highlands Park.
Last summer, 1,137 Shoreline residents signed a petition to the City Council, showing their support for "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." A great deal of effort has gone into this proposed draft tree code that will apply to private land. Yet it does not appear to fully support preserving our current tree canopy, which the City's surveys have shown to be of primary importance to residents. Neighborhoods east of Aurora have already paid a price in heavy tree loss, and with up-zoning planned in 2033, they will lose even more. The draft code is available on the Tree Code Update Engage Page, Meeting #6.
I greatly appreciate the Save Shoreline Tree letter above for pointing out needed improvements to the tree code. Tree codes must be more protective for all of us and future generations coming in these times of climate chaos in our urban environment. Our urban tree code must protect our mature tree canopy, which is really an important public infrastructure that cannot be replaced in many lifetimes if ever. Shoreline’s mature urban canopy is so important to better mitigate urban heat island effects, manage stormwater runoff, filter pollutants, and to improve air quality. Fragmentation of tree canopy must also be avoided; trees function best in groves as an interconnected canopy. The tree code needs to better protect the trees to achieve these community needs now and for the future.
Please explain how some neighborhoods can cut down all of the native conifers to preserve views and save on maintenance costs, but, other neighborhoods are prohibited from cutting down the native conifers?
The whole tree code is really a Tree Penalty. People who now have trees are being penalized for owning their trees. They receive no additional value for trees in their property assessments, but they are being made to keep the trees or lose a lot of money in penalties and fees. This is utterly ridiculous. No one will want trees. I intend to cut down every tree I own that is under the minimum and never plant another. Tree owners are being totally victimized to subsidize the "bush and tree" folks (my term) who were wise enough not to have trees. No one will be planting any trees anytime soon once they are aware of this PENALTY....
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