Keep the Forest in Lake Forest Park

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Keep the Forest in Lake Forest Park

• Presentation to LFP City Council
• August 26, 2008

Tyson Greer, David Hepp, Mark Phillips, Steve
Plusch
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Forest is Our Middle Name
Whats the Goal?
Whats the Problem?
Value of Urban Forests
The UFTF Solution
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Forest is Our Middle Name
Whats the Goal?
Whats the Problem?
Value of Urban Forests
The UFTF Solution
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Whats the Goal?

• No net loss is the stated goal of the 1999 tree
  ordinance.
• According to American Forests, a reasonable
  forest canopy goal for suburban residential areas
  is a minimum of 50, and 60 for a healthy forest.

• Atlanta lost 60 of tree cover in 20 years

• Sacramento planting 4 million new trees

• L. A. only 21 canopy planting 1 million new
  trees

• Washington DC, Baltimore, Minneapolis, Chicago,
  and Denver -- are all undertaking massive
  replantings

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Whats the Goal?

• No net loss is the stated goal of the 1999 tree
  ordinance.
• According to American Forests, a reasonable
  forest canopy goal for suburban residential areas
  is a minimum of 50, and 60 for a healthy forest.

Closer to home

• Seattle plans to plant 1 million new trees

• Bellevue value of tree canopy 11 million in
  stormwater cost avoidance

Perception We have LOTS of trees why worry?
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Whats the Goal?
Whats the Problem?
Value of Urban Forests
The UFTF Solution
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Puget Sound Regional Ecosystem Analysis
Satellite Imagery
Whats the problem
Landsat TM 1996
Landsat MSS 1972
Landsat TM 1986
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Whats the problem
Bellevue Tree Cover - Satellite Imagery
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Whats OUR Problem?
The tree canopy of LFP is in decline.

• FACT 1 More than 3 significant trees are being
  cut down every 2 days (source City permits)

FACT 2 Fact 1 figure does not include trees
that were cut without a permit.
FACT 3 The majority of trees cut in LFP are cut
by homeowners on existing home sites, not by
developers preparing the land for development
projects.
FACT 4 The current tree ordinance only requires
replacement if more than two trees are being cut.
We are losing our urban forest, one tree at a
time.
The current ordinance is not achieving our goals.
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The ProblemTracking Tree Loss LFP Planning
Dept.
The data ONLY reflects the trees that have been
cut WITH a permit, not those that were felled
without benefit of permit.
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The Problem
Homeowners have reasons for wanting to cut trees
on their property

• I want more sunlight
• I want more open space..
• I want to preserve my view

• I dont want the government telling me what I
  can and cannot do on my private property

• Im afraid that a tree might fall on my
  house...

The UFTF considered and addressed these concerns
in our proposal.
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The Problem for Our Community
Trees are a community asset.
Our proposed changes do not forbid homeowners
from cutting trees, but instead create a process
for replenishing our forest asset, which plays a
vital role in our community.
The UFTF considered and addressed these concerns
in our proposal.
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Whats the Goal?
Whats the Problem?
Value of Urban Forests
The UFTF Solution
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The Value of Trees to Our Community

• Hydrological cycle
• Ecological functions
• Dollar Cost Avoidance

When trees are removed, the tree functions are
lost to the community.
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The Value of Trees to Our CommunityOverview
SOURCE 1999 Tree Ordinance, statement of
Findings.

• 6. Providing and protecting varied and rich
  habitats for wildlife
• 7. Providing visual relief and screening
  buffers
• 8. Buffering unwanted sound
• 9. Enhancing the economic value of properties
  and
• 10. Providing a valuable asset to the community
  as a whole.

• 1. Reducing soil erosion and runoff from
  precipitation .2. Stabilizing and enriching the
  soil .3. Improving water quality .4.
  Improving air quality .5. Moderating the
  effects of wind and temperature

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The Value of Trees to Our CommunityThe
Hydrological Cycle
Trees intercept both falling rain and its kinetic
energy. Some rain drips to the ground as
through fall.
An average tree intercepts 1,271 gal. of
precipitation each year
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The Value of Trees to Our CommunityEcological
Function Reduces Stormwater Runoff
In the NW, we get about 36 rain per year. If
primeval forests were still here, it would take a
full month of rain before runoff occurred. Today,
it takes only minutes.
Source Steve Moddemeyer, Senior Strategic
Advisor to Seattle Public Utilities and Dept
Planning Development
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The Value of Trees to Our CommunityEcological
Functions Prevents Erosion
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The Value of Trees to Our CommunityDollar Cost
Avoidance

• Puget Sound Region 1972-1976
• Air pollution removal 95 million
• Stormwater retention capacity 2.4 Billion

• City of Bellevue 2008
• Air pollution removal more than 1.5
  million/year
• Stormwater more than 11 million/year

• City of Lake Forest Park
• Stormwater ?
• Air pollution removal ?

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The Value of Trees to Our CommunityDollar Cost
Avoidance Example City of Bellevue
The City of Bellevue has documented the value of
their trees to their community.
Preliminary numbers, Aug 08
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The Value of Trees to Our CommunityComprehensive
Plan

• City Council has taken steps to ensure we
  maintain our urban forest assets, by including
  these elements in the Comp Plan

From the Vision Statement p.18 The City will be
a model for preservation of the environment and
our natural resources within the surrounding
urbanized region.
Development Opportunities and Options p.32   Two
significant sub-basins that contribute surface
waters . Note the urban forest is critical to
limiting stormwater runoff and maintaining the
health of our streams.   Urban forests that
provide wildlife habitat and tree canopy
coverage, which is one of the most useful
benchmarks of urban environmental quality. p.33
From Goal EQ 8Fish and Wildlife Habitat p.
58 Protect significant trees within Lake Forest
Park. ... Protect native plant communities by
encouraging management and control of non-native
invasive plants,
Flood Hazard Areas p.51 Preservation of native
vegetation and trees, including those in or near
environmentally sensitive areas, also helps limit
the possibility for erosion.
From the Community Description p.16 The
community is known by the high degree of
visibility of its mature Douglas Firs, hemlocks
and maples
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The Value of Trees to Our CommunityComprehensive
Plan

• City Council has taken steps to ensure we
  maintain our urban forest assets, by including
  these elements in the Comp Plan

Forest Canopy p.52 Urban forests are a vital
resource of Lake Forest Park. ... The amount of
tree canopy coverage is one of the most useful
benchmarks of urban environmental quality. The
City has a tree protection ordinance that
recognizes the environmental benefits of urban
forests (see, Lake Forest Park Municipal Code
16.14). Environmental benefits of urban forests
include the following
From the Vision Statement p.18 The City will be
a model for preservation of the environment and
our natural resources within the surrounding
urbanized region.
Development Opportunities and Options p.32   Two
significant sub-basins that contribute surface
waters . Note the urban forest is critical to
limiting stormwater runoff and maintaining the
health of our streams.   Urban forests that
provide wildlife habitat and tree canopy
coverage, which is one of the most useful
benchmarks of urban environmental quality. p.33
From Goal EQ 8Fish and Wildlife Habitat p.
58 Protect significant trees within Lake Forest
Park. ... Protect native plant communities by
encouraging management and control of non-native
invasive plants,
Flood Hazard Areas p.51 Preservation of native
vegetation and trees, including those in or near
environmentally sensitive areas, also helps limit
the possibility for erosion.
From the Community Description p.16 The
community is known by the high degree of
visibility of its mature Douglas Firs, hemlocks
and maples
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Whats the Goal?
Whats the Problem?
Value of Urban Forests
The UFTF Solution
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The Solution for Our Community

• 5 key issues
• Policy Decisions
• Flow charts of Permit Levels
• LID consultant recommendations

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The Solution for Our CommunityIssue 3
Replacement Requirements Trees gt 20 DBH
Policy Decisions 1. Set higher replacement
standards for tree greater than 20" DBH (4.5
feet).  2. Apply standards to all large trees
whether they are hazard, nuisance, or healthy.
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The Solution for Our CommunityProblem --gt
Policy Needed ? Value/Outcome
1. Problem No replacement for 1-2 significant
trees removed. Policy Needed Replace healthy,
hazardous, or nuisance trees or contribute to
Tree Fund.
Value/Outcome Maintain forest canopy, provide
flexibility.
Figure 1
2. Problem No consideration of tree size in
determining replacement. Policy Needed Recognize
size of tree(s) cut in determining number (and
type) of replacement trees required.
Value/Outcome Create incentive to retain large
trees.
Figure 2
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The Solution for Our CommunityProblem ? Policy
Needed ? Value/Outcome
3. Problem When gt2 trees to be cut, no
analysis or data required to determine adequate
alternatives. Policy Needed Require input from
qualified professional re tree health and
appropriate replacements.
Value/Outcome Retain as many healthy trees as
possible, provide flexibility.
Figure 4
4. Problem Too often, replacement trees do not
survive. Policy needed Establish bonding
requirements to ensure proper maintenance and
survival.
Value/Outcome Replacement trees will survive and
maintain the forest canopy.
Figure 5
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The Solution for Our CommunityIssue 2 Removal
gt2 trees/year without development on developed lot
Policy Decisions 1. Clarify City intent regarding
peoples ability to remove more than 2 trees per
year ( or 12 mo. period).  2. Set standards for
permit support data and whether professional
input is required.  3. Set standards for City
input to the decision to grant permit.  4.
Clarify requirements for tree replacement and
replacement ratios.  5. Is variance process
necessary?
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The Solution for Our CommunityFlow Charts
(portion of Level 3 process)
To help you better understand the proposed tree
ordinance, we have created several Permit
Process Flow Charts.
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The Solution for Our CommunityLID Consultant
Recommendations
To ensure tree survival A three-year irrigation
plan for new tree plantings would be required as
part of permit application
Stronger encouragement to replant with native
species
Replanting understory In order to maintain
minimum density, understory planting of shrubs
and ground covers would also be required
Expanded protection area  3 feet beyond the tree
canopy (or drip line).
Off-site replanting The location should be within
the same drainage sub-basin as the tree(s)
removed.
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The Solution for Our CommunityCitizen Input
71 of 160 public survey respondents felt it is
very important to protect the forest character
of LFP
Ordinance should be simplified and clarified
Tree ordinance accountability and enforcement are
weak. 69 of 160 public survey respondents
felt it very important to strictly enforce the
tree code.

• The Citys forest is in decline
• Emphasize protection of old, large trees
• The type, quality and size of tree removed
  should influence the replacement requirements

Contractors should be required to post
performance bonds for replacement trees.
Educate people about thinning trees vs. cutting
them down.
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• Our ask to the Council

Help us keep the Forest in Lake Forest Park