Improve the Takoma Park Tree Protection Process

These do not seem like outrageous suggestions, because they are all about reducing bureaucracy and cost to homeowners, not about reducing tree protection. It is especially outrageous to require folks to pay for a 3rd party arborist, when that in no way has been discussed as public policy and we have a city arborist? It seems like if he is overwhelmed, then the streamlining suggested here would actually help.

7 years ago Featured

Ward 6 - I support this petition and encourage the city to recognize that minimizing harm to trees while keeping costs to a minimum should be the goal... not eliminating all harm to trees irregardless of expense or time required. Trees can be protected just without metal wire fencing and air spading!

I am shocked to learn of these recent difficulties. My own past experiences with the city arborist were much easier.

All of these problems are a result of the recent hire of a new arborist who has decided to make the process as difficult as possible rather than serve the residents as a resource. He is the problem.

In addition to streamlining the approval process as detailed, i would support modification of the Regulations to permit removal of trees to allow roof-solar installations.

Sensible proposed modification to the process.

I love our city's trees but the process described sounds both clearly broken and easily fixed.

Suggestions sound like common sense and a win for all in the community, while still maintaining tree canopy.

Our improvement was done under the old, simpler, quicker, cheaper system. This new system sounds horrible, and it should be fixed. In addition to dealing with that, there should also be changes that enable homeowners to take down trees planted too close to the house whose roots threaten the foundation.

Ward 3

I agree completely and would be happy to discuss my own experiences in detail.

7 years ago Featured

As a contractor i feel a lot of unnecessary and unreasonable steps are taken to satisfy the city arborist's tree protection plan in takoma park. This causes significant delays and unseen costs when dealing with new projects in the area.

I am an architect and live and work in Takoma Park. I appreciate the City's tree protection process and have worked with the City arborist for many years both for my residential projects and for my own house. I agree, however, the process has been noticeably ineffective the past year. In addition to issues described, the City's Tree Ordinance has been clearly misinterpreted by the Public Works. The Ordinance spells out that tree removal is granted when 1) The tree clearing is necessary to achieve proposed development or land use, or 2) applicant will suffer the hardship from rejection of application. Tree removal applications submitted by my homeowner clients have been denied without reasons and without exceptions the past year, keeping homeowners from being able to achieve the improvements to their homes within their zoning rights, causing major hardship and forcing them out of their homes in some cases. The tree protection process needs to be revisited.

Living/building in an urban forest should not be this complicated, time consuming, and expensive.

Agreed. Current practices are inefficient at best.

I strongly support protection of trees but within reason.

Having experienced many of the delays and additional costs mentioned here, I very much appreciate the suggestions outlined here and urge prompt consideration by the city.

Let's make some common sense changes!

Very reasonable recommendations. I support this petition.

Anonymous. I live on Garland and completely support this petition.