Item 1B Tree Preservation Ordinance

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Since there are a number of tree preservation regulation methods, the goals of a new ordinance must be firmly defined so that the purpose of the regulations is clear. Staff requests direction on what the priorities ofthe city should be regarding tree preservation in order to determine what, if any, incentives should be built into the new ordinance Once the goals and priorities of the tree preservation ordinance are set, Staff will prepare additional information and optional code language for review. Staff will also consult with the Parks, Trails, and Recreation Committee to gather their input. Due to the complexity of preparing tree preservation regulations, this process will likely take more than one meeting and will be an iterative process. Tree Preservation The potential impact of a tree preservation ordinance is great. It can be written to regulate only the most extreme and largest redevelopments within the city, but it also has the potential to shape every redevelopment within the city. The benefits of a well written tree preservation ordinance can also be great. It has the potential to preserve open space, protect woodland areas, encourage responsible land redevelopment, and protect the beauty of the natural landscape of a community. However, a poorly written or misguided tree preservation ordinance can be cumbersome, difficult to enforce, and unintentionally overwhelming for even small projects. If not crafted to meet the goals of the City, the tree preservation could increase the complexity of many proj ects without producing a clear and beneficial outcome. The ordinance can also add cost to proj ects for the City review and for property owners. The following discussion should address both the economic and physical constraints of construction on wooded lots as well as the benefits of established trees in our community. Goals Determining the goals and scope is an important part of developing this ordinance. It will flavor the outcome of the regulations. For example, if the goal is tree preservation over tree replacement, then an outcome might be a regulation that requires new development to impact as few trees as possible during planning and construction. However, this regulation can affect the location, size, scope, and economics of a proj ect. The city might put in place incentives to encourage tree preservation and help with the cost of development, such as height bonuses and setback reductions for significant trees saved, or reduced landscaping requirements in return for preserved trees. These potential goals of a tree preservation or replacement ordinance are as follows: City of Arden Hills City Council Work Session for October 22, 2007 \\AhdocslIAHlAHdata\P/anning\Planning Cases\2007\OX-OXX Tree Preservation Ordinancel102207 - CC Work Session - Tree Preservation.doc Page 2 of6